Weed Control Efforts

Camas Biological Knapweed Control Project............Camas Creek Cooperative Weed Management Area

Begun in 1998 as a possible solution to the advancing encroachment of spotted and diffuse knapweed on public and private land, the Camas Bio-Control Project employed a crew of kids each summer for five years to help deploy bio-agents and monitor the effectivensss, photos at right show the Crew at various tasks. Overall project supervision is provided by USDA Forest Health Protection by staff both in Bozeman, Montana and in Boise, Idaho while crew supervision was supplied by the Camas SCD District staff member, Nan Reedy. The project is now a part of the Southern Idaho Regional Bio-Control Program with Bug Crews in four counties. The Camas sites supplied insects for all sites in 2005 (Larinus minuts) and new several Cyphocleonus achates release sites in four counties. For more information, contact , Nan at 208-934-8481 or email at goodingscd@onewest.net. A booklet has been created with before and after photos of the nine original sites- seven years in the making. WOW!

An integrated weed management system is the key to the Camas Creek Cooperative Weed Management Area. The area encompasses the Camas Creek watershed, which extends beyond Camas County into the eastern edge of Elmore County and the western edge of Blaine County. All three counties work cooperatively to control weeds with chemical, mechanical and biological methods within the watershed. The CCCWMA will provide a centralized weed program, maintain weed mapping, treat affected areas with one or more forms of control and monitor treated areas for effectivenss. The CCCWMA replaces the former position of the county weed superintendent with a full-time watershed weed manager. Terry Lee is the contact person and can be reached at 764-3512.