Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA)
Working across property boundariesThe North Fork John Day CWMA brings together private and public land managers in a collaborative, well-planned, locally coordinated effort to combat the negative effects of weeds on the economy and the ecology of our watershed. Working across property boundaries and sharing resources, we hope to have a broader impact on the problems created by noxious weeds.
North Fork John Day CWMA partners are actively involved in a variety of weed control projects throughout the watershed.
Fox/Cottonwood Leafy Spurge Project
Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) was first noted in Fox Valley approximately 30 years ago and, despite landowners’ efforts to control it, it has now spread down the length of Fox/Cottonwood Creek and onto the riparian areas of the North Fork John Day River.
Leafy spurge infestation
in Cottonwood Creek area
Leafy Spurge survey site
This is a multi-year effort to combat leafy spurge on over 2,700 acres of private lands within a 300 foot buffer along both sides of Fox /Cottonwood Creek. The project extends 41 miles from the mouth of Cottonwood Creek upstream to where Fox Creek crosses Highway 395 in Fox Valley.
Leafy Spurge treatment
along Cottonwood Creek
The project involves three years of treatment, using both chemical and biological control methods, and four years of monitoring. Surveying and mapping of the creek was completed in the spring of 2010 by the NFJD Watershed Council, and the first year of treatments implemented by Grant Weed Control.
Funding comes from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).
North Fork CWMA partners include the North Fork John Day Watershed Council (NFJDWC), Grant County Weed Control, CTUIR, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and over 25 private landowners.
Granite Area Weed Treatments
These surveys and treatments on private holdings along Granite Creek are in conjunction with a mine tailing re-vegetation project. Priority weeds include yellow toadflax, Canada and bull thistles, spotted knapweed, and houndstongue. To date over 430 acres have been surveyed and 19 acres treated. The effort compliments weed treatments on the adjacent North Fork John Day Ranger District by the Umatilla National Forest.
CWMA partners and funders for this project include the Umatilla National Forest, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the NFJDWC.
Wilderness Challenge
Doing field surveyThis project involved hiking 130 miles within the North Fork John Day Wilderness Area to survey campsite locations and weed infestations. The Umatilla National Forest will use the information to manage the wilderness so that it continues to have a ‘wild’ feel.
Over 116 new weed sites were inventoried. Recently burned areas tended to have the most widespread infestations, mainly Canada and bull thistle. Several small patches of spotted knapweed were found along the main river corridor, as were spots of St. Johnswort and sulfur cinquefoil.
The project not only supplied the Forest Service with important data, it gave the NFJDWC a chance to better know the incredible watershed where we live, work, and play.
Funding came from the National Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting projects on National Forests.
BLM Weed Surveys
BLM survey areaBy foot, ATV, and bike, over 75 miles of roads were surveyed and 530 acres of weeds mapped in 2010, as part of a two-year project on North Fork John Day BLM lands.
The area extends from just above Monument east to Highway 395 and covers over 38,400 acres.
Main weed species include: diffuse knapweed, Scotch thistle, and Canada thistle.
Rudio Creek Habitat Restoration Pre-treatment
This project involves weed treatments prior to channel realignment/restoration project set to begin in the summer 2011.
Funding provided by Oregon State Weed Board through the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture, with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the NFJDWC and Rudio Ranch.
Yellow Starthistle
This project will treat approximately 200 gross acres of yellow starthistle on steep, rocky sites on private property in the Ritter area. The work compliments previous treatment efforts and future controls planned for the area. Test plots will be established to determine perennial grass species best suited to site conditions for reseeding
Funding provided by the Oregon State Weed Board through the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture.
Pass Creek, Long Creek & Fox Valley Whitetop Project
Surveys and treatments of whitetop infestations were recently completed at sites on Pass Creek, Long Creek, and in Fox Valley as part of an ongoing effort to prevent the plant from spreading further.
Funding provided by the Oregon State Weed Board through the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture.
