MRCDC Meeting Report – Jim Beck -Headwaters Eurasian Watermilfoil Taskforce
| Who: |
Jim Beck, Broadwater CD, Associate Supervisor |
| What: |
Headwaters Eurasian Watermilfoil Taskforce Meeting |
| Where: |
Three Forks, MT |
| When: |
March 10, 2011 |
| Why: |
Discuss options and methods for controlling and eradicating Eurasian Watermilfoil in the Missouri headwaters area. |
| Speakers: |
► Pam Converse, Broadwater County Weed Coordinator ► Tonda Moon, Montana Dept. of Agriculture |
| Accomplished/ |
► Meeting was an effort to foster cooperation among interested parties > County weed coordinators/districts > DNRC – Navigable streams and Toston Dam > DFWP > CDs > River users ► Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) was first found in Montana in 2007 and in Broadwater County in 2010 ► EWM control > Herbicides ¨ Limited application opportunities à Risk of herbicide migrating to an unwanted area à Herbicide must remain in solution and in contact with EWM for a relatively long period à Herbicide may kill native milfoil species ¨ Dosing is often difficult to calculate > Bottom barrier ¨ Expensive ($1/ft2) ¨ Has application in small areas > Mechanical ¨ Requires specialized equipment/expertise ¨ Plant fragmentation can be a problem > Biological controls ¨ Will not eliminate EWM infestations ¨ Controls may not be legal ¨ May target desired species ► An EA may have to be developed for treating infestations ► A 310 and 404 permits may be required, depending on control method ► Local, documented infestations > Cottonwood Creek – upper Canyon Ferry Lake > Toston Dam > Side channel of the Jefferson River near Three Forks and some locations upstream ► Input to the rapid response document is needed so that agencies will not duplicate efforts |
| Follow-up: |
► Possible formation of headwaters working group for aquatic invasive weeds |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| JB Mtg Rpt-Eurasian watermilfoil task 03102011.pdf | 61.35 KB |
