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The James Ranch airstrip on the main Salmon River was treated for noxious weeds.

Airstrip and Private Land Buffer

In 2009, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness CWMA initiated a weed treatment program on the private and Forest Service airstrips along the main stem Salmon River.  Agreements were established with seven private airstrip owners.  The agreements provided for contracts to complete the initial weed treatments with the land owners taking responsibility afterwards.  These contract efforts were completed in 2009 and 2010.  In 2011, emphasis was shifted to the Selway River drainage where four airstrips need assistance.  Agreements are currently being developed for the Running Creek and North Star private air strips which have been getting some treatment by the involved owners.  Inventory data for the Selway Lodge air strip shows it being clean and having no need for assistance!  The Montana Conservation Core assisted with treating the Moose Creek and Shearer Forest Service airstrips in 2011.  The Moose Creek air strip had also been treated in 2010 with other funds.  Plans include treating all four air strips in 2012 with the remaining funds.   Afterwards, they should all be in an maintenance mode.

Back Country New Invaders

The Red River District Recreation crews did not utilize any of the available funds in 2011.  Inventory efforts were instead completed in 2011 to help delineate those trails and camp sites most deserving in an attempt to keep the relatively clean weed free areas clean of noxious weeds.  Plans to treat those weeds and use the remaining balance on other trails will be emphasized in 2012.

Rachel Winston at the Forest Service Slate Creek yellowstar thistle bio control monitoring transect.

Bio-Control

In 2009, Idaho County Weed Control, in conjunction with the RAC, US Forest Service, USDI BLM, and MIA Consulting, initiated a biocontrol monitoring program to determine the effectiveness of numerous releases that have occurred throughout north central Idaho since 1979. Four weed systems were monitored utilizing the Standardized Impact Monitoring Protocol. These efforts were repeated and expanded in 2010 and 2011. A total of 57 permanent monitoring sites spanning seven weed species were visited throughout the 2011 growing season. For Dalmatian toadflax, insects appear to be contributing alone or in combination with favorable spring weather to the weed’s control at 11 sites, have no impact at two others, and more time is needed to draw conclusions at one final site. In the spotted knapweed system, insects have likely been a major contributor in the weed’s control at one site, they may be slightly effective at another site, and appear to be ineffective at all others, though more time is needed for sites where agents were released as recently as 2009.

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