2005 Salmon River Weed Control Project

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

The 2005 WWA weed team was in the field from April 28 through May 1.  After loading eight boats with equipment and supplies at Spring Bar, they headed up river to James Ranch - a private in-holding within the Wilderness and the planned base camp for the project.  As the weed control activities commenced on Thursday, the team immediately began to see the fruits of a plan that had been set in motion years earlier.  The James Ranch weed control efforts were a success story.  Areas that several years earlier had been covered with heavy, waist-deep infestations of Spotted Knapweed were now sporting a thick carpet of grass.  Although Knapweed was still present, the crew was able to make short work of the residual growth.  On Saturday, the team headed for their secondary target area - Mackey Bar - where they were again able to quickly treat the residual Knapweed.  On Sunday morning, after a hearty Dutch-oven breakfast and another brief weed control action, the team loaded up the boats and headed back down the Salmon.

The 2005 weed control project demonstrated once again how satisfying it is to witness the cooperation and teamwork of the WWA membership in their pursuit of a project - public service, or otherwise.