Colorado Department of Agriculture awards more than $772,000 to battle noxious weeds across the state
[Broomfield, Colo., May 20, 2019] – The Colorado Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce it has awarded more than $735,000 in grants from its Noxious Weed Fund to counties, municipalities, conservation districts and non-governmental organizations across the state.
The Noxious Weed Fund was created by the General Assembly in 1997 to assist local governments in controlling invasive plants that threaten agricultural cropland and rangelands, cause soil erosion and create a fire hazard.
“Containing and eliminating noxious weed populations around the state provides a significant benefit to the citizens of Colorado in the form of sustaining food and forage production, preventing soil erosion and wildfire, and maintaining native plant communities that provide habitat for much of the state’s wildlife,” said Steve Ryder, State Weed Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
The grants were awarded through a competitive process that identified the highest priority projects for funding. A total of 30 grants were awarded from the Noxious Weed Fund, including grants for mitigation of wildfire-caused weed outbreaks.
In addition to these funds, the Department awarded an additional $37,000 from its grant agreement with the U.S. Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry Program. Three additional projects will be funded from this source, including the placement of educational kiosks near recreational trailheads.
“The funding we receive from the legislature and the Forest Service goes a long way in assisting local noxious weed control programs,” Ryder said.
To view the location of the 2019 grants and to learn more about the management of noxious weeds in Colorado, visit the Noxious Weed Program website.