CDA: Noxious Weed Management grant applications now available
BROOMFIELD, Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for 2020 Noxious Weed Management grants through December 16, 2019. This year the department is combining the Noxious Weed Fund and the USDA Forest Service state and private forestry funds in order to award $725,000 in grants to organizations and associations for projects that focus on controlling Colorado’s designated noxious weeds. An additional $30,000 from the Noxious Weed Fund will be directed toward noxious weed projects focused on mitigating the recent effects of wildfire or flooding.
“This funding from the General Assembly and the U.S. Forest Service goes a long way in controlling noxious weeds that are attracted to lands disturbed by wildfire, drought and development pressures,” said Steve Ryder, State Weed Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “Grants benefit counties, municipalities, conservation districts and non-profit organizations that focus on noxious weed management — their work is truly impressive,”
Since 2015, the General Assembly has provided $700,000 annually for projects that are carried out by more than 40 counties, cities, conservation districts and non-profit organizations. The entirety of the state’s known populations of List A species were treated in 2015 and in subsequent years, as needed, along with numerous List B species. The U.S. Forest Service state and private forestry funding has been assisting western states’ noxious weed programs for many years.
More information about these grant programs, including the application forms, can be found on the Noxious Weed program website.
For questions regarding the Noxious Weed Fund grant program, please contact Steve Ryder at 303-869-9034.