sunset view of mountain landscape with a helicopter in the distance

BLM Oregon/Washington Weeds and Invasives Program

Invasive Plants Management

One of the BLM's highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of weeds across public lands. These invasive plants can dominate and often cause permanent damage to natural plant communities. If not eradicated or controlled, weeds will continue to jeopardize the health of the public lands and to constrain the myriad activities that occur on public lands.

Why worry about Noxious Weeds and Invasive Plants?

Non-native plants are plants that have been brought to a place either intentionally or unintentionally by people. Many non-native plants have the potential to rapidly expand unassisted and have negative impacts on these places, such as:

destroy wildlife habitat
reduce opportunities for hunting, fishing, camping and other recreational activities
displace many Threatened and Endangered Species
reduce plant and animal diversity due to monocultures of a single species
disrupt waterfowl and neo-tropical migratory bird flight patterns and nesting habitats
cost millions of dollars in treatment and loss of productivity to private land owners

Integrated Pest Management

The BLM follows the Department of the Interior’s Integrated Pest Management Policy in their efforts to manage invasive species. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based decision-making process that combines tools and strategies to identify and manage pests. IPM is “a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.”

IPM provides economic, health, and environmental benefits. IPM practitioners use knowledge of pest and host biology in combination with biological and environmental monitoring to respond to pest problems with management tactics designed to:

prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage;
minimize the risk to people, property, infrastructure, natural resources, and the environment; and
reduce the evolution of pest resistance to pesticides and other pest management practices.

Prevention

The BLM works with state, federal, and local partners to reduce the spread of invasive species, with an emphasis on early detection of and rapid response to new invasions to reduce the need for larger, more expensive treatments later.

The Pacific Northwest has 16.1 million acres of public lands that unfold into a rich tapestry of diverse landscapes, starting where the mighty Columbia River crosses into northeastern Washington from Canada and ending at the lush headwaters of the Chetco River near California. Within that landscape, you’ll find 11 designated BLM Districts. Each has their own challenges with invasive species, ranging from Medusahead in arid eastern Oregon to Scotch broom on northwest Washington’s San Juan Islands.

Use the drop-down menu below to find District-specific noxious weed and invasive plant projects, treatments, proposals and other management efforts:

Burns

PROGRESS UPDATE as of October 15, 2024