Contact:

Marilyn Marler

(406) 243-6642

marilyn.marler@mso.umt.edu

Division of Biological Sciences

University of Montana

Missoula, MT 59812

The native grasslands of the Missoula Valley were historically diverse communities of bunchgrasses, perennial wildflowers, and spring ephemerals. These plant communities provide forage and habitat for many animals. Unfortunately the Missoula Valley native plant communities (below picture) have been severely degraded by noxious weeds, and only small fragments of native prairie remain.

"Noxious weed" is a legal category of invasive plants. Invasive plants are not native to the area, and tend to take over native plant communities. Noxious weeds are those that the state and/or federal governments require landowners to control because they cause significant economic losses to agricultural lands.

Weed laws were passed to protect agricultural interests, but invasive plants (many of which are noxious weeds!) are also a major threat to natural areas preservation.

Invasive plants are the second greatest threat to species conservation- second only to land development. Noxious weeds crowd out native plants, resulting in decreased plant diversity and available forage for animals. You can read more about invasive plants and noxious weeds at the web sites of the Ecological Society of America or The Nature Conservancy.  Common noxious weeds on Mt Sentinel, Mt Jumbo and the Missoula area include dalmatian toadflax, spotted knapweed, leafy spurge, and sulfur cinquefoil. There are many others, and they all threaten biodiversity in western Montana.

NOW AVAILABLE: 

Draft version of the Environmental Assessment Checklist for the Mt Sentinel Summit Trail Re-route project.  UM is applying to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to conduct this important trail project.  Click here for the draft EA.  Submit comments until June 20th to Marilyn Marler via phone (243-6642), email (marilyn.marler@mso.umt.edu) or regular mail: 

Marilyn Marler, Divion of Biological Sciences- 32 Campus Drive, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812

Final version of the UM Natural Areas Vegetation Management Plan.  

Final version of the UM Outdoor Pest Management Plan, which applies to landscaped portions of the UM campus, Residence Life, and the UM Golf Course. 

Montana House Bill 395 requires all state agencies and municipalities within weed management areas to have a noxious weed management plan in place, and approved by the county weed board. The University plan for Mt Sentinel has been approved, and City plans are being developed. Both the City and the University vegetation plans  focus on native prairie restoration, rather than on simply killing weeds.

Web Design and Graphics by Dani Taylor Copyright© Spectral Fusion Designs 2004