2004 Salmon River Weed Control Project

The WWA takes part in a Salmon River Noxious Weed Control Project within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness each spring in a cooperative effort with the U.S. Forest Service, the Idaho Department of Agriculture, and private property owners.

The 2004 project was conducted from April 29 through May 2.  Twelve jetboats owned and manned by WWA members traveled up the Salmon River from Spring Bar to the James Ranch, the principal target area for the project.  The James Ranch is a private in-holding within the wilderness area.  WWA weed projects have been conducted at the ranch for several years.  When the control efforts first began a few years before, much of the area was heavily infested with stands of Spotted Knapweed 3' to 4' high.  When the WWA team arrived in 2004, the masses of noxious weeds where largely a thing of the past.  Knapweed was still present in significant amounts, but it was obvious the control efforts were working.  The 40+ member WWA team was in the field, along with U.S. Forest Service supervisory personnel, for a full four days.  The team packed in all the gear, set up the camp, assembled the equipment, and climbed up and down the hills umpteen times with their backpack sprayers until the job was done.