Vegetation Management & Weed Control

Mission Statement:  Our mission is to preserve and protect the agricultural, natural, and wildlife habitat areas of Western Colorado by providing leadership and education in the long term management and control of noxious weeds through an integrated, sustainable approach to weed control.

Noxious weeds are presently known to exist in Ouray County.  Weeds are classified according to a state noxious weed priority list:

Classification A:  Eradication is a must.
Classification B:  Manage and control the spread of these species.
Classification C:  Support the use of integrated management methods and provide educational research and biological control resources.

The following are weed species that are present or are of concern to Ouray County (Click on Common Name for picture):

(Some photos courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture)

Ouray County Priority "A" Noxious Weeds

Yellow Starthistle

Yellow Starthistle

Leafy Spurge

Leafy Spurge

MeadowKnapweed

Meadow Knapweed

Chinese Clematis

Chinese Clematis

Myrtle Spurge

Myrtle Spurge

Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife

Spotted Knapweed

Spotted Knapweed
 
 

Ouray County Priority "B" Noxious Weeds

Common Name State Classification County Classification
Absinthe Wormwood B B (Priority)
Black Henbane B B
Bull Thistle B B
Canada Thistle B B
Common Burdock C B
Common Mullein C B
Common Tansy B B
Dame's Rocket B B (Priority)
Diffuse Knapweed B B (Priority)
Downy Brome (Cheatgrass) C B
Hoary Cress / Whitetop B B
Houndstounge B B
Jointed Goatgrass B B
Musk Thistle B B
Oxeye Daisy B B
Perennial Pepperweed B B
Plumeless Thistle B B
Poison Hemlock C B
Quackgrass B B
Russian Knapweed B B
Salt Cedar / Tamarisk B B
Scotch Thistle B B
Wild Caraway B B
Yellow Toad Flax B B

Ouray County Priority "C" Noxious Weeds

Common Name State Classification County Classification
Kochia C C
Russian Thistle C C