What is a Cooperative Weed Management Area?
CWMA's are formed across the U.S. as landowners, private groups and government agencies look for more effective ways to limit the growing economic and environmental damage caused by Invasive Species.
Most CWMA's are coalitions of private and public organizations – sharing knowledge, people and other resources in an effort to improve public education, prevention and eradication/ containment programs across a given geographic area.
Who is involved with the Humboldt Watershed CWMA?
HWCWMA Is a group of private land owners, ranchers, and state and federal employees. We have banded together in an effort to stop the rapid spread of noxious weeds in the Humboldt Basin. Anyone can join and everyone is welcome. We not only encourage you to join our group - we also welcome your ideas!
We all live, work, and raise our families right here in the Humboldt Basin. We collectively have a personal stake in the sustainability of agriculture, wildlife habitat, and water quality in the Humboldt Watershed.
Each year the HWCWMA funds land and water quality improvement projects proposed by landowners or land managers within the Humboldt Watershed. The group funds and coordinates treatments on approximately 2,500 acres per year.
Some types of projects that would qualify for funding include weed mapping, weed control, seeding, and stream restoration or bioengineering.
What kind of things do CWMA's do?
It depends on how long the CWMA has been established, and the resources available. In general CWMA activities include 3 broad components:
▪ Education – It is essential to make the local community aware of noxious and invasive plants and the detrimental economic and environmental impacts they can cause. Without an informed and motivated community effective weed management cannot be implemented.
▪ Prevention – Identifying ways to prevent the spread of noxious weeds. Once methods of spread have been identified, CWMA partners can work together to develop and implement plans to control the spread of the noxious weed species in their area.
▪ Cooperative work projects - CWMA's organize cooperative work projects to control existing noxious weed infestations. This is typically done through cost share programs between agencies, land owners and private citizens.
Introduction to the HWCWMA