It s a testimony of their individual commitment and our agency s commitment to battling noxious weeds in the state, he said. Colorado s noxious weed problems aren t yet as bad as those found in many Western states, according to Weber. However, noxious weeds have invaded the state and are a major concern in many areas. For example, diffuse knapweed is found in large quantities along the Front Range from the Denver metropolitan area northward to Wyoming. Russian knapweed has invaded the state s southwest corner.
Leafy spurge is found in the Meeker area.
West of the Continental Divide, the noxious weed houndstongue is a problem in many counties. In the Colorado mountains, yellow toadflax is invading. And, in the San Luis Valley, perennial pepperweed has become a very serious problem. At this point in time, Colorado s weed problems aren t all encompassing or overwhelming like they are in other states, Weber said. That s why it is important to get people together and motivated about managing noxious weeds so that they never get so bad that our ecosystems become overwhelmed by them.