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WEED SUMMIT STEERING COMMITTEE

In 1998, many land managers involved in the weed effort felt it was time to revitalize the state weed management effort. A Montana Weed Summit was held in October 1998, with the support of the Governor's Office. The Summit was well attended and participants emphasized the need to update the state weed management plan for the new century. A steering committee and task force working groups were formed to complete this goal in a timely manner.

A draft weed management plan was submitted to participants at the second Montana Weed Summit, held in October 2000. Participants made comments and suggestions to the plan and a final Montana Weed Management Plan was printed and distributed statewide in January 2001. The Weed Summit Steering Committee was officially formed with representatives from state, federal, county, and private originations. Currently there are eight members on the steering committee who meet regularly to discuss weed issues and to review the state weed plan.

Montana’s Weed Management Plan is the result of goals and issues outlined in 1995 by the Vision 2020 working group, and further refined at the Governor’s Montana Weed Summit held in October 1998. The mission of Vision 2020 was to encourage all Montana citizens and land managers to support and implement long-term resource management plans and integrated noxious weed management strategies. Critical issues and goals for four major areas of weed management were identified in Vision 2020 and the Governor’s Summit. These management components comprise the action plan for the state: 1) Public Education and Awareness; 2) Research and Information Sharing; 3) Prevention; and 4) Weed Management.

In 2004, the Weed Summit Steering Committee and the Montana Weed Control Association recognized the need to revise and re-direct the plan to increase effectiveness of the statewide weed management effort. This revision reflects progress made in the plan during the past five years and strengthens existing goals and objectives. The Management Plan continues to provide the conceptual framework and recommendations for actions to prevent introduction and manage the spread of noxious weeds in Montana. The Plan provides guidance and direction on a statewide level while maintaining flexibility for local priorities and actions. It is designed to complement regional, national, and international strategies in the National Invasive Species Management Plan.

MONTANA NOXIOUS WEED SUMMIT ADVISORY COUNCIL

Governor Schweitzer signed the Executive Order creating the Montana Noxious Weed Summit Committee on July 26, 2005.

Purpose of the Montana Noxious Weed Advisory Council is to:

Provide advice to the Governor on statewide weed management policies.
Promote weed management principles and practices consistent with current science.
Promote integrated weed management practices to meet weed management objectives.

Duties of the Montana Noxious Weed Advisory Council is to:

Review and when appropriate update the Montana Weed Management Plan; and
Promote coordination and cooperative partnerships among private, county, state, and federal entities; and
Promote coordination of programs, policies and resources to maximize opportunities and minimize duplication of effort; and
Facilitate the exchange of noxious weed management information; and
Review and establish guidelines for private, county, state, and federal land managers to develop weed management plans consistent with state and national strategies; and
Provide recommendations to the Governor related to noxious weed management in Montana.

The purpose of the Montana Weed Management Plan is to strengthen, support, and coordinate private, county, state, and federal weed management efforts in Montana.

A number of specific programs have been implemented to increase awareness and foster cooperative weed management efforts under the Montana Weed Management Plan.

The Advisory Council has a number of challenges that need to be resolved if we are to continue to be successful with weed management in Montana.

Create new, additional funding sources for state and local programs. It is estimated that Montana needs $44 million annually to decrease the weed population by five percent per year. Statewide, approximately $14 million is spent annually on noxious weed control. Without increased funding to private land managers, county weed districts, federal, and state agencies it is unlikely we will achieve our goal of reduction in noxious weeds in the years ahead.
Develop new partnerships that bring more people together to expand the resources for invasive species management.
Increase the Noxious Weed Trust Fund Permanent Trust to $10 million