Invasive / noxious plants pose potential impacts to habitat for native wildlife including
endangered and threatened species and other species of concern. There are multiple
invasive / noxious plants found on the Florence Military Reservation, including those
identified in the 2012 INRMP:
Common Sunflower
Buffelgrass
Fountain Grass
Mule's Fat
Russian Thistle
Sandmat
Stork's Bill
Tamarisk (salt cedar)
Yellow Star‐thistle
The 2013 Florence Military Reservation Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP)
identifies Fountain Grass, Tamarisk and Yellow Star‐thistle as the most problematic.
In an effort to manage invasive species, FMR uses their INRMP and IPMP to guide
management activities that meet the three goals for effective invasive plant
management: prevention, control and restoration.
Information from the Center for Invasive Species Management, now archived at the
Montana State University, identifies the key steps to prevention as:
Limiting the introduction of invasive plant seeds;
Detecting and eradicating small patches of invasive plants prior to their
expansion;
Minimizing the disturbance of native plants along trails, roads, and waterways;
Maintaining desired plant communities through good management;
Monitoring high‐risk areas such as transportation corridors and bare ground for
invasive plants;
Revegetating disturbed sites with native plants; and
Evaluating the effectiveness of prevention efforts, and adapting plans for the
following year.
Control measures for invasive species include mechanical, biological, and chemical
techniques, as well as prescribed burning and controlled animal grazing. Areas that have
Background Report
5-15