North Fork Weed Coop will help with weed control, post-fire reseeding

The North Fork Weed Coop is a community-based organization focused on promoting stewardship of the native plant and animal communities within the watershed of the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River and surrounding areas in northern Larimer County.

Ellen Nelson
North Fork Weed Cooperative

As you are well aware, the summer of 2012 brought wildfire and drought to northern Larimer County. These natural events affected the vegetation of thousands of acres. The first plants to recover after wildfire often are weeds, sometimes boosted by additional nutrients from the fire, and they can be detrimental and dominate the landscape.

To help landowners address increased populations of Noxious Weeds, an herbicide cost-share is available for members of the North Fork Weed Coop. This cost-share applies to the treatment of the following noxious weeds: diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, Russian knapweed, Canada thistle and leafy spurge.

If you think you may have any of these noxious weeds and want to know effective control methods, contact the Larimer County Weed District 970-498-5768 for recommendations on specific herbicides and application rates that are effective to help control populations of these weeds. The Weed District has made 1-acre treatments of these herbicides available for landowners to purchase. If you are a North Fork Weed Coop member (or become a member), you can mail us your receipt for the herbicides purchased from the Larimer County Weed District and receive a 50 percent cost-share (up to $100).

In addition to weed control, reseeding may be needed where native vegetation was obliterated by fire or crowded out by drought and invasive weeds. If you are a North Fork Weed Coop member, and have a reseeding project that you would like some cost share assistance on, contact us at northforkweedcoop@yahoo.com. We will help with reseeding projects focused on restoration and maintenance of natural habitats and healthy ecosystems. We have recommended seed mixes and guidance on reseeding techniques. Our Cost Share program helps with the cost of seed and replanting by paying 50 percent of the cost (up to $200). Note that the best way to reseed native grasses is dormant season seeding in the fall and winter, using a no-till drill.

For more information on how to qualify for these cost-share programs contact the North Fork Weed Cooperative at northforkweedcoop@yahoo.com or P.O. 176, Livermore, CO 80536.