Reduce forage for wildlife and domestic livestock by out-competing native plant species in forest and range lands. Reduce soil stability by displacing desirable grasses with better soil holding characteristics. Reduce range land values by reducing forage quality and quantity. Increase land management costs due to the need to control noxious weeds. Reduce visual quality by displacing native species.
Some noxious weeds are poisonous to large mammals.
Because noxious weeds damage the environment, economy, and quality of life, the State of Washington requires that they be controlled on all state and private lands. The USDA Forest Service also recognizes the need to control noxious weeds and has demonstrated this by making the control of these exotic species a goal of the Forest Plans for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Wenatchee National Forests. Present roadside vegetation management within the project area is not consistent with these goals. Current Management Practices Current management of the proposed project area does not include a dedicated strategy for the control of noxious weeds. In general, most noxious weed control is incidental to the standard right of way maintenance, with the exception of handpulling any new invaders that are spotted by maintenance crews.