Weed Management Area

Are you WILD about invasives? Does multiflora rose really get your goat? Do you fear the burn of wild parsnip? Do Japanese Hops drive you to drink? If so, we need your help.

Thanks to a couple of small grants from DNR in 2014-2015, Southwest Badger was able to help organize a Weed Management Area in Southwest Badger's coverage area, including Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, La Crosse, Lafayette, Richland, Sauk and Vernon counties.

We built a network of partners by bringing together a Steering Committee of very motivated partners to do initial planning for review and approval by a broader group of stakeholders. 

In 2016 WI DNR awarded Southwest Badger RC&D a Citizen-based Monitoring Grant to support the Weed Management Area through the coordination of terrestrial invasives monitoring on major road right-of-ways in Crawford, Richland, Sauk, La Crosse and Vernon County.  That data will be mapped and provided to each county for planning purposes. 
Steering Committee Resources
Click on the item below for more information:
November 5, 2014 Steering Committee agenda
November 5, 2014 minutes
Introduction to Cooperative Weed Management/Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area slide show
Next meeting will be:  Late January/early February - to be determined
The Steering Committee will be responsible to: 
  • Establish criteria to determine high priority areas in southwest Wisconsin that are most critical in the fight against invasives
  • Develop local best management practices for future on-the-ground weed management, eradication and prevention
  • Develop a volunteer base to assist with future survey and control of invasive plant species.
  • Develop a plan of action for the future (future projects, expected in-kind contributions, funding needed, personnel needed)
  • Communicate effectively with others outside of the committee
  • Identify additional funding and other resources and ensure action is taken to apply for additional funding
 The Broader Group of Stakeholders will be responsible to: 
  • Populate the volunteer base to assist with future survey and control of invasive plant species
  • Coordinate local projects and outreach events
  • Communicate efficiently with the Steering Committee so work can be effectively completed
  • Identify needs for additional funding and other resources
 Working with others in our region on a Cooperative Weed Management Area will allow for coordination and shared efforts. New invasive species will be identified more quickly, when control is relatively easy and inexpensive.  People participating in successful Weed Management Areas in Wisconsin have found them to be critical to getting a better handle on preventing, identifying and containing the spread of invasive species.

"We have to work smart on how we handle invasive species.  We cannot realistically eliminate all invasive species, nor can we protect or restore every acre, but we also cannot ignore the growing problem."

If you or someone you know is interested in being part of the Weed Management Area, please contact  Southwest Badger Executive Director, Wendy Warren at wendy.warren@swbadger.org or (608) 348-7110 .