Rea Wrobel, Nederland.

Noxious Weeds – Nederland’s Plan

Did you know that Nederland has a Noxious Weed Management Plan?  Here are a few excerpts, but for more info please see:  nederlandco.org/noxious-weeds/

 Diversity Sacrificed for Monoculture 

The health of Nederland’s natural environment is clearly a high priority of residents of Nederland, CO, as specified in Envision 2020. Yet the health and productivity of our ecological systems are being threatened as invasive non-native weeds are introduced to Nederland on personal automobiles, shoes of hikers, bike tires, animal fur, infested construction equipment, contaminated fill, and the like. Once these weeds take hold infesting one site, their seeds blow to uninfested lands exacerbating the problem. Moreover, weed seeds can be viable in the soil for decades. Non-native invasive plants can crowd out desirable native vegetation, reducing the diversity and quantity of native plants, threatening rare plants and animals and their habitats, reducing water supply, and altering the ecosystem processes and functions.

What is a “noxious weed” anyway? 

A “weed” is any plant growing where you don’t want it to. A “noxious weed” is a legal and regulatory definition for a non-native, invasive, ecologically damaging plant that did not exist in the United States prior to human settlement. Colorado’s native grasses and wildflowers evolved over millions of years to fill unique ecological niches, and have insects and diseases keep them in balance. The invasive noxious weeds that this plan targets were originally imported to the United States for their ornamental beauty, aggressive growth habits, xeriscape potential, or re-seeding capabilities. However, the very aggressive growth traits which made these plants desirable for a garden or landscape have enabled them to thrive outside cultivated areas and become fierce competitors with our native vegetation. Lacking environmental controls and natural predators, they have escaped cultivation and become aggressive invaders of wildlands, open space, housing subdivisions, municipal areas, private property, and roadsides.  

 Why should Nederland care? 

Some people believe that nature will “heal itself” and that as new plants come in, a new, more “resilient” ecosystem will be born. While it is true that weeds can cause a plant community shift, it is usually into a far more depauperate (less biodiverse) one. The idea that the planet will heal itself is not much more than wishful thinking. Humans created the problem. Therefore, it is our duty to try to mitigate some of our effects. It’s called stewardship. Being a good steward is realizing that there is harm being done, and thereby working to prevent further harm. If noxious weeds were simply pioneer species “doing their job” to fill in disturbed areas, there wouldn’t be a problem with them displacing wildlife and dominating an area that once held a mix of native species. Residents of Nederland have clearly voiced interest in preserving the health of the natural ecosystem. We do not want to live in a world without Indian paintbrush, columbines, hummingbirds or other species which give us so much joy. It is our love for our ecosystem that compels us to act.  

(Originally published in the June 18, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)