Colorado Noxious Weed Act

The Colorado Department of Agriculture has been enforcing noxious weed control since 1990, but the most recent revision of the Colorado Noxious Weed Act came in 2004. 

The act specifically states, “It is the duty of ALL persons to use integrated methods to manage noxious weeds if the same are likely to be materially damaging to the land of neighboring landowners.”

The Colorado Noxious Weed Act also laid the foundation for the formation of county and municipality noxious weed plans  in order to organize a statewide, coordinated effort to stop the spread of noxious weeds in Colorado.

Read the Colorado Noxious Weed Act in its entirety at https://cwma.org/product/noxious-weeds-of-colorado-single-copy-2/.  

Noxious Weed Designations

Noxious weeds are designated in one of three lists under the Colorado Noxious Weed act according to their statewide distribution and level of required control.

• “List A" species are rare in Colorado and are subject to eradication wherever detected statewide in order to protect neighboring lands and the state as a whole.
• "List B" species have discrete statewide distributions that are subject to eradication, containment, or suppression in order to stop the continued spread of these species.
• "List C" species are widespread and well-established noxious weeds for which control is recommended but LEFT UP TO LOCAL AUTHORITy(IES) FOR FINAL DECISION.

County Noxious Weed Plans

Grand County Noxious Weed Plan

Under the guidelines of Colorado Noxious Weed Act, the Board of County Commissioners for Grand County has developed the “Grand County Noxious Weed Management Plan”.  The plan designates the noxious weeds that pose a threat to the environment and economy of Grand County by reducing wildlife habitat, agricultural production, property value, and native plant populations unique to Grand County.  The management plan also outlines means of control aimed at eradicating, reducing, suppressing or containing populations of noxious weeds.  Finally, the Grand County Noxious Weed Management Plan specifies Landowner Responsibility and Enforcement per the procedures detailed in Colorado Noxious Weed Act (CRS§35-5.5-110).

Read the Grand County Noxious Weed Management Plan at http://co.grand.co.us/DocumentCenter/View/75

Summit County Noxious Weed Plan

Under the guidelines of Colorado Noxious Weed Act, the Board of County Commissioners for Summit County has adopted the “Summit County Noxious Weed Management Plan”.  The plan designates the noxious weeds that  pose a threat by rapidly displacing native vegetation, causing a loss of native ecosystems` stability and diversity, while negatively affecting recreational resources.  The management plan also outlines means of control aimed at eradicating, reducing, suppressing or containing populations of noxious weeds.  Finally, the Summit County Noxious Weed Management Plan specifies Landowner Responsibility and Enforcement per the procedures detailed in Colorado Noxious Weed Act (CRS§35-5.5-110).

Read the Summit County Noxious Weed Management Plan at https://www.summitcountyco.gov/services/public_works/weed_controlsummit_county_weed_management_plan.php