Cortez’s Noxious Weeds Guide Proves the Pen Can Be Mightier Than the Thorn

Montezuma County has 36 designated noxious weed species populating more than 20,000 acres of land. Trouble is, these species can easily outcompete and displace the native and/or desirable species, taking valuable water away from the water table and irrigated crops. The head of the county’s noxious weeds department reached out to LOR with a solution: Create and disseminate a noxious weeds booklet with information to help landowners identify the weeds and provide them management options. (There is a guide from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, but that includes many species that don’t exist in Cortez, making it hard for landowners to know exactly what they need to tackle on their property.) The booklet also will contain contact information for contractors in the area, herbicide information as well as re-seeding information. LOR’s funding will help print 500 copies of this guide.