In 2005 the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) formed an Invasive Weed Program (IWP)as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Coordinating Group. The goal of this new program is to assist property owners Basin-wide with technical assistance on terrestrial invasive weed identification and control. IWP staff can also provide guidance on native/adapted plant selection. Click here to contact us to request assistance.

• Learn about our Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program
• View upcoming workshops and events
• Learn about native and adapted plants for your yard
• Homeowner Authorization Release Form
• Get a Handle on Broom

What is a Noxious or Invasive weed?

Invasive Weeds

• Plants that grow aggressively, spread like crazy and choke out native and other desirable plants from your neighborhood.
• They produce enormous amounts of seed, have spreading root systems, and lack natural predators.
• These traits enable them to dominate entire landscapes.

Noxious Weeds

• Invasive weeds that are listed in the California or Nevada law because they are particularly destructive, competitive and difficult to control.
• All noxious weeds are by nature invasive, but not all invasive weeds are listed noxious.
• The weed must pose a serious threat to the state’s ecosystems, and there must be some hope of eventually controlling it in order for the weed to become listed as noxious.

Click here to learn how to identify Tahoe's invasive weeds.

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

Ecological Problems:

• Displace native plants.
• Reduce biodiversity.
• Alter normal ecological processes (e.g. nutrient cycling, water cycling) that help maintain functioning ecosystems.
• Decrease wildlife habitat.
• Increase soil erosion and stream sediment, damaging water quality.

Economic Problems:

• Cost Millionsof dollars each year in weed control efforts and lost revenues.
• Reduce forage productionfor livestock and wildlife.
• Decrease property values.
• Reduce recreational valuesand uses and decrease tourism

Click here to view a survey map from 2006 of the distribution of terrestrial weeds in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Autumn Fest September 2007

The Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Coordinating Group (LTBWCG)is a diverse group of agencies and community members dedicated to preventing and controlling invasive weed species in the Basin. The LTBWCG mission is to better share resources and information, standardize methods for treatment and data collection, perform coordinated education and outreach activities, obtain grants, and organize effective control efforts. Talk more about accomplishments, rapid response, goals of group.

• View the LTBWCG 2007 Annual Report
• Meeting minutes
  • December 2006
  • March 2007
  • September 2007
  • Dectember 2007
• List of partners
• LTBWCG Memorandum of Understanding
• View the LTBWCG strategic plan
• LTBWCG Mapping Protocol
• Resources