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Montana's Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness
and Education Campaign
Mission Statement:
For the people of Montana to realize the economic and environmental impacts of noxious weeds, to become supportive of all aspects of noxious weed efforts, and implement integrated noxious weed management
across Montana.
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Messages
Explanation of a noxious weed.
Identification of individual plants and infestations.
Rationale: A noxious weed is a non-native, invasive plant that displaces desirable vegetation. The general public should know the identifying characteristics of the major noxious weeds of Montana and be able to identify infestations of spotted knapweed and leafy spurge.
How people are affected by noxious weeds.
Rationale: The general public should be aware that noxious weeds have negative effects on their health (allergies, poison), land values (in some areas), recreation (loss of wildlife habitat, limited access), lifestyle, aesthetics (loss of riverbank vegetation and native vegetation, water quality, heritage for future generations) and cultural aspects (Native Americans). The public should also know that their noxious weeds affect
their neighbors.
How the environment is affected by noxious weeds.
Rationale: The general public must be aware that noxious weeds can cause increased soil erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, loss of native plants, loss of forage production, loss of plant diversity, threaten sensitive plant species, and alter natural fire cycles and ecosystem processes
(e.g., nutrient cycling).
Why the general public needs to support all aspects of noxious weed efforts (including the Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund).
Rationale: The general public needs to support noxious weed efforts because of the human and environmental consequences of noxious weed invasion. The importance of preserving our natural heritage and being wise stewards of our resources is paramount. The general public should understand the consequences of doing nothing about noxious weeds.
What the general public can do.
Rationale: The general public needs to become leaders and/or advocates of noxious weed efforts. The public needs to provide political and economic support of leaders, develop ownership and become responsible land stewards, gain knowledge about weeds and weed management, develop cooperative methods fostering relationships between neighbors, support research, support state and federal agencies, and support the Noxious Weed Trust Fund, know what and where to report/get noxious weed information, and become active in the prevention of noxious weed spread.
Successful weed management programs in Montana.
Rationale: The general public should understand that weeds are a long-term complicated problem - but not insurmountable. Many groups (including programs funded by the Noxious Weed Trust Fund) have contributed to successful programs throughout Montana. Success requires
cooperative efforts.
There are many ways to manage weeds.
Rationale: The general public should understand that the solutions to weed problems are diverse, long-term, and complicated. Integrated Weed Management suggests that a variety of strategies (biological, chemical, cultural) are necessary to manage weed problems economically for the
long term.
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Target Audiences
Messages that we believe will help the campaign achieve the mission are written to specific targeted audiences through the channels of communication that are appropriate for each audience. By communicating to the following targeted audiences we hope to reach all Montana citizens.
* Public at Large (average citizens both urban and rural- every Montana citizen)
* Youth, Educators of Youth, and Providers of Activities for Youth
* Environmental Community
* Government (county/state agencies and federal agencies and their employees, public officials)
* Realtors and real estate licensees
* Developers
* Landowners (not including federal and state land managers)
* Recreationists
* Sportsmen
* Tourists
* Utilities
* Transportation
* Producers
* Tribal Lands
* Allotments
* Residents on Reservations
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Charter Update is Underway January 11, 2011:
MONTANA STATEWIDE NOXIOUS WEED AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CHARTER
Montana's natural resources are at risk from noxious weed invasions. This problem has been approached from a regional perspective by collaborating with federal agencies, local organizations, and individuals to achieve successful programs that protect our natural resources. Organized in 1995 as a sub-committee of the Montana Weed Control Association, the Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Group is progressively developing an integrated, cohesive education and awareness campaign strategy for the entire state of Montana. The Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture provided funding for the development of the campaign which launched the beginning stages of implementation. The campaign has now begun an interagency funded strategy to disseminate diverse and educational information to the general public. Initial funding for the project is provided by the Center for Invasive Plant Management, Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association Ethics and Education Grant – administered by Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund – administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture, Montana Department of Transportation, Montana State University College of Agriculture Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, US Department of Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Land Management, US Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Northern Region, Forestry and Private Lands, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dow AgroSciences, and Montana Farm Bureau Foundation.
Work Groups
Since 1982, a heightened concern over noxious weed issues by many agencies and organizations prompted action to develop and distribute educational materials about noxious weeds. Work Groups are open to all interested individuals, agencies, and organizations.
Purpose and Objectives
The Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign Group developed a mission statement that reads "For the people of Montana to realize the economic and environmental impacts of noxious weeds, to become supportive of all aspects of noxious weed efforts, and to implement integrated weed management across the state."
Noxious weeds degrade our ecosystems by displacing plant and animal populations that are essential to the ecological and economic stability of our state. To preserve the natural heritage of Montana, it is clear that Montanans must dramatically increase efforts toward preventing the further invasion of noxious weeds, and develop/implement sustainable noxious weed management strategies. Therefore, it is critical that we all become aware of the threat of noxious weeds and how the people and the ecosystem will be impacted in the future.
The strategic campaign is designed to work for all state and federal agencies, local organizations, county weed management planners, and individuals in a coordinated effort to generate leaders and workers to protect our native wildlife and plant populations. The benefit of the campaign to all state and federal agencies is the effective use of combined dollars to reach a broader audience at less cost. A full-time campaign coordinator is in place to implement and provide consistency in this statewide campaign.
The Group initially focused on seven concise messages to be delivered to the general public and identified target audiences to channel these messages to. These messages are:
1) Explanation of noxious weed-identification of individual plants
and infestations;
2) How people are affected by noxious weeds;
3) How the environment is affected by noxious weeds;
4) Why the general public needs to support all aspects of noxious weed efforts (including the MontanaNoxious Weed Trust Fund);
5) What the general public can do;
6) Successful weed management program in Montana;
7) There are many ways to manage weeds.
Messages are being developed for specific actions that the general public
can take.
Target Audiences Include
* Government groups
* Utilities/transportation groups
* Public-at-large
* Conservation and environmental community
* Youth and youth educators
* Recreationists, sportsmen, tourists/Lewis and Clark focus group tribal nations, allotments, and reservations, realtors, developers, and small-tract landowners
* Producers
Tenure of Team Members and Their Responsibilities
The Group Partners will be represented by members of their organization on a continuous basis. The Partner Group will have the capability of increasing/decreasing its membership to meet the needs of the mission.
Responsibilities of Group Partners
* Attend scheduled meetings deemed necessary by the Board and scheduled by the Coordinator.
* Support the mission of the campaign.
* Share the workload necessary to implement strategic plans.
* Give progress reports of committee assignments.
Executive Committee
A twelve-member Executive Committee will meet two times per calendar year and serve in the following capacity:
* Attend regularly scheduled Campaign meetings.
* Schedule meetings, when necessary, to accomplish executive subcommittee related business.
* Maintain the Group Charter.
* Hold responsiblity for progress reports necessary to keep agency authorities/representatives informed of Campaign initiatives.
* Supervise/oversee the duties/performance of the Campaign
Coordinator position.
The structure of the Executive Committee is listed in Appendix II.
The Executive Committee representatives are appointed for two year terms.
Goals
* Assist agencies/partners in meeting their education goals.
* Promote the Campaign and recruit more partners to actively participate in the mission.
* Focus on the awareness and education aspects of the Campaign, utilizing the messages to achieve the mission.
APPENDIX II -- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Joe Weigand
Landowner Wildlife Specialist
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-3065
joweigand@mt.gov
John Simons
Invasive Species and Restoration Resources
Bureau of Land Management
5001 Southgate Drive (59101)
P.O. Box 36800
Billings, MT 59107
406-896-5043
john_simons@blm.gov
David Burch
State Weed Coordinator
Montana Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 200201
Helena, MT 59620-0201
406-444-3140
406-444-7336 (fax)
dburch@mt.gov
Phil Johnson
Natrual Resources Specialist
Montana Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 201001
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-7657
phjohnson@mt.gov
Todd Wolfe
Montana Farm Bureau Federation
P.O. Box 63
Vida, MT 59274
406-525-3533
vasinc@midrivers.com
Steve Shelly
USDA Forest Service Northern Region
P.O. Box 7669
Missoula, MT
406-329-3041
406-550-2555 (fax)
sshelly@fs.fed.us
Pete Stevenson
Bureau of Reclamation
PO Box 30137
Billings, MT 59107
406-247-7310
pstevenson@usbr.gov
Gary Adams
State Plant Health Director
APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine
1220 Cole Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
406-449-5210
gary.d.adams@aphis.usda.gov
Jane Mangold
Invasive Plant Specialist
Montana State University
Dept. of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service
P.O. Box 173120
Bozeman, MT 59717
406-994-3315
406-994-3933 (fax)
jane.mangold@montana.edu
Lindy Garner
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Montana IPM Coordinator/Strike Team Leader
Benton Lake Wildlife Refuge
922 Bootlegger Trail
Great Falls, MT 59457
406-727-7400 Ext. 213
lindy_garner@fws.gov
Jim Gordon
Industry Representative
6618 South 12th Street
Huntley, MT 59037
406-348-2009
jim.gordon@cpsagu.com
Noxious Weed Trust Fund Representative
Vacant
Larry Beneker
Bureau of Indian Affairs
316 North 26th Street
Billings, MT 59101
406-247-7925
larry.beneker@bia.gov
Becky Kington
Executive Director
Montana Weed Control Association
P.O. Box 315
Twin Bridges, MT 59745
406-684-5590
becky.kington@mtweed.org
Elizabeth Galli-Noble, ex officio
Director
Center for Invasive Plant Management
Montana State University
Dept. of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
P.O. Box 173120
Bozeman, MT 59717
406-994-6832
406-994-1889 (fax)
elizabeth.gallinoble@montana.edu
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Contact Us
weedawareness@montana.edu
PO Box 173120
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717-3120
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