County redirects war on weeds

By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News

Larimer County's new weed czar has become the land stewardship manager.

The shiny new title reflects an expanded and cooperative new approach. Its goal is preventing the spread of weeds by fostering native species whenever possible rather than spraying with herbicides.

"That's the biggest part of the battle, establishing desirable plants," explained Tim D'Amato, the first holder of that renamed and restructured position.

He comes here from a similar position for Boulder County, but is quick to point out that this essentially is a homecoming. D'Amato earned a degree in range ecology from Colorado State University in 1981. He worked for the Department of Agriculture as a field research technician in Windsor and a range conservationist in the Pawnee National Grasslands before becoming an extension specialist and research associate of weed science at CSU.

D'Amato has broad practical experience with weed management practices on dryland and irrigated agricultural land, in addition to restoring disturbed prairie sites. He also gained an extensive understanding of herbicides through his research work.

But D'Amato said his work for Boulder County opened up a whole new world. He was excited by the opportunities to use a variety of environmentally friendly weed-control measures rather than relying primarily on herbicides. Mowing, grazing and bio-control using insects, he said, are effective against invasive weeds while allowing native plants to be restored or re-established.

D'Amato has other ambitious goals in addition to the reduced dependence on herbicides. For one, when spraying is necessary, "I'd like to see less competition with the private sector," he said. Instead of dispatching county crews to do the work, D'Amato prefers employing private contractors or other agencies responsible for infested properties.

He also wants to establish closer cooperation and collaboration with CSU in establishing demonstration plots and field days in the summer.

Long-term, D'Amato said, he hopes voters eventually will approve expansion of the weed control district to encompass all of Larimer County. Established in 1967, the district assesses a 0.142 mill tax on properties within the district. That property tax generates about two-thirds of the district's $586,000 budget this year. The remainder comes from grants and assessments when the county steps in to spray properties when owners don't comply with abatement orders.

The problem, he said, is that weeds know no boundary and the district must spend that money only in the limited area where it was collected. Expansion of the district, according to D'Amato, would allow for more effective weed enforcement, management and education across the county.

Why is weed control so important? "Invasive plant species can take over," he said. As evidence D'Amato points to Montana where the spotted knapweed has taken over an estimated five million acres.

If California, he said, yellow star thistle has spread over eight to 20 million acres. And D'Amato said, there already are five infestations in Colorado - including one west of Berthoud. "Our climate here is such that it would do very well," he cautioned.

Currently, D'Amato said, there are nine weed species subject to enforcement action in the county.

"Leafy spurge is at the top of the list," he said, with the epicenter of the infestation in LaPorte. "I'm amazed as I drive around the county how many people haven't done anything about it."