Powell County Weed District annual Vegetation Management Meeting set

The Powell County Weed Board will be holding its annual spring weed management education and outreach get togethers Thursday May 3rd, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Deer Lodge Community Center and Friday May 4th, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Helmville Community Center.

Topics this year will be “Weed Rap Sheets: A New Tool for Prioritizing Weed Management” presented by Dean Pearson, Research Scientist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, and “Using EDDMapS West for Noxious Weed Management” by Jasmine Reimer, Noxious Weed Trust Fund Coordinator and Interim Statewide Weed Coordinator, Montana Department of Agriculture, Helena.

Dean Pearson is a research scientist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana, where he oversees an invasive species research team addressing questions concerning the causes, consequences, and management of plant invasions. Dean is a fourth-generation Montanan who received a BS in wildlife biology, a MS in zoology, and a PhD in ecology all from the University of Montana.

Dr. Pearson will discuss the weed surveys that are being conducted around the state of Montana to develop weed impact rankings for exotic plant species occurring in key habitats. The resulting impact rankings provide a tool for prioritizing which weeds pose the greatest threats within each habitat and which habitats are most impacted by exotic plants 

Jasmine Reimer attended the University of Montana, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture and business. She has a background in education teaching environmental studies for Boston University, and has worked in both the pesticide licensing and apiary programs with Montana’s Department of Agriculture (MDA). 

Jasmine Reimer will discuss the importance of weed monitoring and sharing that information for effective prevention and early detection/rapid response. She will demonstrate how to use EDDMapS West, a free and simple tool for mapping, monitoring, and sharing noxious weed control efforts. Land owners, land managers, universities, recreationists, agency personnel, and concerned citizens working together and sharing information is the best defense for keeping Montana beautiful and free of noxious weeds. Download the free app on any smartphone before the meeting so you can follow along and start mapping noxious weeds.

Pesticide applicator credits, refreshments, and raffle prizes will be available.