LMCD challenges saltcedar invaders The Lower Musselshell Conservation District became aware of the extent of the spread of saltcedar along the Musselshell during the 2002 natural resource assessment of the Musselshell River. The District promptly enlisted the aid of surrounding conservation districts, weed boards and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and applied for a grant to help combat the noxious weed. The grant was awarded and the District was able to begin the public education campaign at the end of September, 2003. John Rouane (pictured above) and Andy Oxford, NRCS, sprayed some plants with Arsenal in the thick demo plot near Roundup. The plants were in their growing season and some were still in bloom. Andy Oxford, NRCS, is shown sawing down a saltcedar in Mayor Almeda Moore’s back yard. Once the Mayor of Roundup found that saltcedar is detrimental to water quantity and quality, she was one of the first to offer up her ornamental shrub to help stop the rapid expansion of the noxious weed in the Musselshell River Basin. Once the shrub was cut down, the herbicide Arsenal was immediately applied to the stump. Experts advise applying the chemical within three seconds because the plant will send out its own defense system immediately. Three large saltcedar plants were cut down and treated in Roundup in the same manner. Other methods of killing saltcedar: • LMCD board supervisor Shirley Parrott has had success with 2 4D with Tordon • A saltcedar plant in a Billings backyard was killed with “Shrub B Gone” made by Ortho. • Plans are in the works to release beetles to help kill the shrubs. The first releases could be   in the spring, in Montana, Wyoming and other western states. We will keep you posted of successful treatments. Treasure County, Petroleum, and Garfield counties have teamed with the LMCD in this grant to help manage the water-guzzling plant along the Musselshell and Yellowstone Rivers, and to publish findings of different treatments. SALTCEDAR REPORT Home | Impaired Streams | Newsletter | Outdoor Classroom | Related Links Site Design by Bull Mountain Brokerage & Design Copyright © 2000-2005, All Rights Reserved. No images, content or layout may be used or reproduced Original photo credits © Alice Wolff unless otherwise noted.