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INTRODUCTION <br />Noxious weeds are becoming an ever-increasing threat to the natural diversity and <br />balance of ecosystems in Colorado and Custer County. Invasive species have both an <br />economic impact on property values and agricultural production as well as an <br />environmental impact on native plant and wildlife species, including songbirds and <br />pollinators. These compelling facts justify the need for preparing a detailed county <br />management plan for weed control. <br />1. Enactment Authority <br />The Colorado Noxious Weed Act (Colorado Revised Statutes 35-5.5) was <br />originally signed into law in 1991 and amended in 1996 and 2003. Also referred to in this <br />document as the `ACT', it directs the boards of County Commissioners of each county in <br />the State to adopt a Noxious Weed Management Plan for all unincorporated land within <br />each county (CRS 35-5.5-105). The ACT further directs each Board of County <br />Commissioners to appoint a local Weed Advisory Board whose power and duties are as <br />follows (CRS 35-5.5-107(4)): <br />Local advisory boards shall have the power and duty to: <br />(a) Develop a recommended management plan for the integrated management <br />of designated noxious weeds and recommended management criteria for noxious <br />weeds within the area governed by the local government or governments <br />appointing the local advisory board. The management plan shall be reviewed at <br />regular intervals but not less often than once every three years by the local <br />advisory board. The management plan and any amendments made thereto shall <br />be transmitted to the local governing body for approval, modification, or <br />rejection. <br />(b) Declare noxious weeds and any state noxious weeds designated by rule to <br />be subject to integrated management. <br />(c) Recommend to the local governing body that identified landowners be <br />required to submit an individual integrated management plan to manage noxious <br />weeds on their property. <br />The ACT recognizes that certain noxious weeds pose a threat to the natural <br />resources of Colorado. It also states that it is the duty of all persons to use integrated <br />methods to manage noxious weeds if the same are likely to be materially damaging to the <br />land of neighboring landowners (CRS 35-5.5-104).