Testimony of Jeff Olson, Program Manager
North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Senate Bill 2319
March 13, 2003
11:15 a.m.
House Agriculture Committee
Peace Garden Room

Chairman Nicholas and members of the Appropriation Committee, my name is Jeff Olson. I am a

Program Manager in the Department of Agriculture. I am here to testify in support of Senate Bill 2319.

Saltcedar was first discovered growing in the wild in North Dakota in 2001 along the Yellowstone River in McKenzie County. Since that time, other populations have been found in all of the counties bordering Lake Sakakawea, as well as in Slope, Billings, Morton, Ransom, and Sargent Counties. Horticultural plantings have also been reported in a number of counties (Figure 1). A survey for Saltcedar was initiated in 2001, but limited funding and staff allowed for only small amounts of area to be completed. Initially it was thought that Saltcedar hadn't spread far into the state. In 2002 federal, state, and local agencies worked to survey and eradicate Saltcedar infestations in various locations. Agencies that participated included: ND Dept. of Agriculture, ND Game & Fish Dept., ND State Land Dept., ND State Water Commission, ND Parks & Rec. Dept., USDA-APHIS, USDA-Forest Service, US Fish and Wild Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Army Corps of Engineers, Three Affiliated Tribes, McKenzie County Grazing Association, along with county weed boards from Williams, Mountrail, Ward, Dunn, Slope, Golden Valley, Billings Bowman, Morton, Burleigh and McKenzie Counties. In all, nearly $120,000 was spent surveying and controlling Saltcedar on approximately 250 miles of shoreline in 2001 and 2002.

It is the desire of the county weed boards, the Department of Agriculture and other state and federal agencies to use an educational program combined with an extensive survey and control program against Saltcedar. Since the discovery of Saltcedar, the Department has worked very closely with federal agencies to acquire additional funds to fight this infestation. For example, the US Forest Service has stated they are willing to allocate about $125,000 to cost-share with state and local funds and the Corps of Engineers was able to increase their weed control budget from $25,000 this fiscal year to about $170,000 next fiscal year to help in controlling Saltcedar.

The problem is still at the stage where an aggressive program can hold the population in check and minimize the negative effects. If allowed to grow for even a year uncontrolled, it may attain a population which will be too extensive to be effectively and economically controlled.

North Dakota has the advantage of learning from the experiences of other states such as Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona in dealing with Saltcedar. By allocating $250,000 for Saltcedar survey, control and public awareness now, North Dakota can work to prevent the situations other states have experienced. Texas Extension staff calculated that to effectively control Saltcedar on only the Pecos and Colorado Rivers, and not on any tributaries, along their full length, would cost 8 billion dollars. North Dakota has an opportunity to avoid a similar environmental disaster.

Chairman Nicholas and committee members, I would urge you to pass SB 2319 as amended.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.