Umatilla National Forest to begin Invasive Plant Treatments

PENDLETON, Ore. – The Umatilla National Forest will begin invasive plant treatments in late April using an integrated approach of prevention, manual, mechanical, herbicide, biological control and cultural treatments to reduce the risk of invasive species expanding on the forest. Treatments are expected to continue through October. 

Invasive species have been shown to reduce biodiversity including wildlife habitat, wildlife and domestic livestock forage and streamside vegetation.  Invasive plants targeted for treatment include common crupina, yellow starthistle, leafy spurge, spotted and diffuse knapweeds, rush skeleton weed, meadow hawkweed, Scotch thistle, sulphur cinquefoil, dalmation toadflax, and hound's-tongue.

Treating invasive plants is one of the Forest's management priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other commercial and private activities, such as timber harvest, grazing, and dispersed recreation, are also ongoing. All developed recreation sites are closed. Employees working in the field are using extra precautions and following social distancing requirements to align with the States' executive orders.

"The majority of herbicide treatments will be spot application to individual invasive plants using truck sprayers, backpack sprayers and UTVs," said Paula Brooks, Forest Botanist.  Some broadcast application is also planned along a small subset of roadsides.

Partners include County weed boards in Oregon and Washington, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Wallowa Resources.  Funding includes appropriated dollars and grant money from Title II projects.  Treatment sites are located across the Umatilla National Forest and herbicide treatments will be signed on the ground at the time of treatment.  Maps of the proposed treatment sites are also posted on the forest's website at: www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla/.