ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 20, 2009

GOEHRING WANTS CORPS TO BETTER MANAGE WEED ALONG OAHE

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s top agriculture official has called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to give greater emphasis to controlling noxious weeds along the shores of Lake Oahe.

“The Corps of Engineers should place noxious weed control higher on its list of priorities and categorize it as an authorized project,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “The corps’ failure to control weeds on its land has become a bone of contention with local landowners and has resulted in legislation mandating a study of the matter.”

In a letter to John Bartel, the Oahe Project operations manager in Pierre, SD, Goehring complimented the corps for undertaking an overhaul of a master plan for developing and managing its property adjacent to the reservoir. He also offered a number of suggestions for the corps to incorporate in their plan. These include:

• Seeking additional funding and re-prioritizing existing funds for noxious weed control.
• Regular mapping of both treated and untreated infestations of noxious weeds.
• Implementation of early season grazing as a control method, especially in or near weed infested areas. Goehring said studies have shown that grazing does not significantly impact the nesting of two endangered species, the least tern and the piping plover nests.
• Enforcing weed control requirements on lands leased to other parties. Goehring said the corps should work with lessees to develop acceptable grazing plans and to offer incentives for noxious weed management on project lands.
• Implementing integrated pest management programs, including biological control and aerial spraying.

“Most especially, we urge the corps to work cooperatively with county weed boards, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)  and neighboring landowners to control noxious weeds,” Goehring said. “By acting as good neighbors and responsible land stewards, the corps will be better able to implement its master plan.”

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ken Junkert at (701) 328-4756.