Where is noxious weed control happening this week?

NO SCHEDULED WEED CONTROL ACTIVITIES AT THIS TIME

What are noxious weeds?
According to the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, a noxious weed is an alien plant or parts of an alien plant that have been designated by rule as being noxious or has been declared a noxious weed by a local advisory board, and meets one or more of the following criteria:

1. Aggressively invades or is detrimental to economic crops or native plant communities
2. Is poisonous to livestock
3. Is a carrier of detrimental insects, diseases, or parasites
4. The direct or indirect effect of the presence of this plant is detrimental to the environmentally sound management of natural or agricultural ecosystems.

Why should residents and visitors to Colorado care about Noxious Weeds?
Noxious weeds threaten valuable wildlife habitat and natural resources, cause economic hardships to agricultural producers, and are a nuisance for recreational activities. The Noxious Weed Act requires all Colorado residents to control noxious weeds using integrated methods to manage noxious weeds if the same is likely to be materially damaging to the land of neighboring landowners.

What are the designated Noxious Weeds in Colorado?
The Colorado Noxious Weed List is separated into four categories; Lists A, B, C, and the “Watch List.” The lettered lists consist of regulated species with management plans varying according to list. The “Watch List” is an unregulated list of species that may be considered noxious in Colorado once more is known about the biology and behavior of the plants.

How can Noxious Weeds be controlled?
There is no one best way to rid the state of noxious weeds. Weeds, like all plants, vary in how they reproduce, have varying root structures (extensive root systems or a single taproot), and how they respond to herbicides. That's why an integrated weed management approach is necessary. This approach assesses the best techniques for a given species, from a choice of manual (mowing, pulling, digging up), cultural (land management practices such as irrigation, cultivation, types of cover or crops), biological (using plant pests that are native to the source of the weed); or chemical (herbicides). Other tools and techniques can be used on larger, woody weeds such as Russian olive and tamarisk.

Why does the Town of Breckenridge manage noxious weeds?
The Town is required to manage state listed noxious weeds in accordance with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act.

Where is the Town required to control noxious weeds?
In Colorado, Towns have a responsibility to manage noxious weeds on Town-owned properties and have a responsibility to enforce weed control on private property within their jurisdiction, as defined by local ordinances and the Colorado Noxious Weed Act.  The Town of Breckenridge is responsible for managing noxious weeds on their own property, including parks, trails, open space areas, and public rights-of-way. 

What is the Town of Breckenridge doing NOW?
The Town of Breckenridge has the following TOWN CODE regarding noxious weeds and amongst many things addresses items such as legislative findings, definitions, duties of landowners and occupants and the management of noxious weeds on public lands. https://breckenridge.town.codes/Code/5_Ch10

The Town of Breckenridge currently utilizes and contracts out noxious weed control on our public right-of-ways and open space areas to the Summit County Weed Control Department and a local licensed noxious weed contractor.  Both Summit County Weed Control Department and the local licensed noxious weed contractor use recommended and approved selective herbicides to control noxious weeds that are present on Town public right-of-ways and open space areas.

The Town of Breckenridge and its staff also mechanically control (mowing/weed whipping/pulling) noxious weeds that are present in Town owned Parks and Town owned buildings and surrounding properties.

To notify the public, the Town of Breckenridge will list targeted areas and locations on the Town’s website each week. In addition, the Town will utilize social media and VMS messaging boards in specific work areas to help educate the community about noxious weed control activity.

 
Additional Resources

Summit County Weed Control Department: This department identifies and manages noxious weeds on all Summit County Road rights of way, facilities and open space properties, as required by state law. In addition to managing County lands, the Summit County Weed Control Department works closely and contracts with local municipalities (Town of Breckenridge, Town of Frisco, Town of Dillon and Town of Silverthorne), Summit School District, and the Colorado Department of Transportation to help control weeds on their properties. They also conduct community education to support local awareness and management of noxious weeds.  They work with homeowner associations, schools, volunteer groups and individual property owners to customize noxious weed management plans. 

Important Links:

Noxious Weed Control | Breckenridge, CO * Town of Breckenridge website page for noxious weeds, our program and where our contractors will be spraying that week during the spraying season

Summit County, CO - Official Website *Summit County Weed Control website with a wealth of information plus additional helpful links and where their crews are spraying throughout the County

Noxious Weed Species ID - Lists A, B, C and the "Watch List" *Colorado Department of Agriculture website explaining what species of Noxious Weeds are in Colorado

Colorado Weed Management Association *Wealth of information on the history of noxious weeds, with many useful links

State of Colorado Department of Agriculture

Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

Main species targeted in Breckenridge include the Oxeye Daisy, Scentless Chamomile, and Common Tansy.

Questions or Concerns?  Contact Us or call (970) 453-3170.