Together we prevent, inventory, eradicate, and control noxious and invasive weeds in riparian ecosystems, forestry sites, and agricultural lands around the Hood Canal.
CWMA
Who is the Hood Canal Cooperative Weed Management Area? (CWMA)
The CWMA is a loose consortium of public, private, tribal and non-profit organizations who have individual noxious weed control responsibilities on lands within the Hood Canal Watershed.
The purpose of the CWMA is to develop a framework of cooperation to address the effects of noxious and invasive weeds across jurisdictional boundaries.
Together we prevent, inventory, eradicate, and control noxious and invasive weeds in riparian ecosystems, forestry sites, and agricultural lands around the Hood Canal
We use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy to manage noxious and invasive weeds. IPM is a system of managing noxious weeds considering a combination of methods including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods of control. IPM improves efficiency and cost effectiveness in noxious weed control by using the most appropriate and effective control methods for the particular site.
Once control efforts have been completed, the CWMA emphasizes replanting with native plant species to “fill the void” and prevent future infestation of novel species. Where appropriate, we prioritize replanting conifer tree species, which are foundational species in Western Washington riparian ecosystems. In addition, we replant with native shrub and groundcovers to increase species richness and abundance. Replanting is a necessary step to increase the quantity and quality of riparian habitat and move the successional development towards mature structurally complex riparian habitat. As Arthur Kruckeberg stated “Structure begets function, and function begets structure”, both require and must be present to provide the ecological functions and services that sustain our environment, economy, and human health.
Prevention is key for the management of noxious weeds, and the key to prevention is education. The CWMA is currently developing noxious weed flyers and informational brochures that are available on this website and are being disseminated to streamside landowners around the Hood Canal.
The Hood Canal Cooperative Weed Management Area website, offers information that is specific to the Hood Canal Watershed, to help people identify those plants which are harmful to the Hood Canal landscape and what native plant alternatives there are.
Please take a moment to explore this site and learn about noxious and invasive weeds, native plants, and what you can do as a home owner and steward of the Hood Canal to maintain healthy, functional and beautiful native plant communities. Future generations will only be able to appreciate the natural beauty of our land if we preserve the unique character of our landscape.
“Noxious weed”
is a legally defined term, that means a plant that when established is highly destructive, competitive, or difficult to control by cultural or chemical practices. RCW 17.10.10.
“Invasive Plant”
or Weed defined by Executive Order 13112 (1999): as a species that is 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
OUR PARTNERS
This diversity is important in terms of a healthy environment, for all of the animals, plants, and people who live there. You can Take Control with the Hood Canal Cooperative Weed Management Area website. Here we offer information that is specific to the Hood Canal area, to help people identify those plants which are good for the land, and more importantly those plants which are harmful to the Hood Canal landscape.
Please take a moment to explore this site and learn about Native Plants, Noxious Weeds, and what you can do as a Home Owner to maintain a healthy, functional environment. Future generations will only be able to appreciate the natural beauty of our land if we preserve the unique character of our landscape. Help us in our legacy of making Noxious Weeds history!
