Invasive Species Management Program
What the District Does
- Identify unknown plants
- Assist the public with weed infestations by providing detailed treatment information
- Work with land owners to identify and eradicate new invasive species before they proliferate
- Deploy control measures to limit highly damaging weeds
- Ensure tansy ragwort, bull thistle and Canada thistle populations are being controlled to prevent their spread onto neighboring properties
Here is a list of Common Weeds of Tillamook County to get you started.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture website lists all the species which are considered invasive.
And you may also be interested in The Field Guide to Oregon Coast Weeds. (5.8MB PDF)
How a Plant Becomes a Problem
Many of Oregon’s invasive weeds come from nurseries, where they were sold as ornamentals or ground covers. These plants often escape their garden spaces and begin to invade adjacent properties, stream banks and forest lands. Many of our state listed weeds are prolific seed producers and, as time passes, extensive seed banks are deposited into the soil. These seeds spread by wind, water, birds, wildlife and human activity. When conditions are optimal, these seeds germinate and an infestation begins. When left unchecked, these infestations begin to spread rapidly and crowd out native species by competing for resources and, sometimes, by releasing chemicals into the soil that inhibit native plant growth. Eventually, the landscape can become a mono-culture of weeds. This conversion of the landscape and loss of vegetative biodiversity can have extremely detrimental effects on fish, wildlife and bird habitat as well as water quality, agricultural productivity and recreational value.
Prevent New Invasions
Prevention is far and away the most effective and economical strategy to control noxious weeds in Tillamook County. If we all do our part to ensure that weeds do not get established, we will never have to worry about getting rid of them. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent the introduction and spread of noxious weeds:
- Plant native species when landscaping or gardening. Native species are the most adapted species for any climate/ecosystem and native perennials are especially important when trying to create and maintain a stable plant community. They also require less maintenance than non-native ornamental plants.
- DO NOT DUMP YARD DEBRIS. Root fragments and seeds are often present in yard debris and, when dumped, can start an infestation. Dumping yard debris on any property other than your own is illegal. Thoroughly compost and/or burn unwanted yard debris. The ashes and bio-char created from a yard debris burn pit can often make an excellent soil amendment in your native garden.
- Properly clean equipment and animals. Many noxious weeds and invasive organisms are spread by boats, farm equipment, off-road vehicles and livestock. Use boat cleaning stations, especially when traveling to other watersheds. Set up a wash station on your farm or ranch. Set up and use a “clean-out” area for livestock, especially when transporting to/from public lands.
- Use weed-free forage when possible.
- Call Tillamook County SWCD or your local OSU Extension office for more ideas about native planting options and for help identifying and controlling noxious weed infestations on your property.
- Call your local nursery to see what plants they have available.
Native Plants
Native plants are a great option for planting in almost any situation. They are uniquely adapted to our climate and require very little care once they become established. They have natural resistance to many of the plant diseases common in our area as an added bonus. They also provide many benefits to our native pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
Local Nursery List Click the link to see a list of local native plant nurseries.
Stopping The Spread
There are a variety of measures you can take against unwanted plants on your property. The best methods vary from plant to plant, which is why it is important to know which one you are dealing with before attempting to remove it. Small patches can usually be removed by carefully digging them out. Larger patches can be treated by removing the above ground vegetation, covering it with cardboard and topping it off with some good soil. This should be replanted to discourage any rogue weeds that manage to poke trough. The final option for exceptionally challenging problems is responsible herbicide use.
Tillamook County SWCD is a partner of the online Oregon Invasive Species Hotline. Invasive weeds reported from Tillamook County to the hotline are referred to Tillamook County SWCD. Other species sightings (such as animals or insects) are referred to other experts. Hotline visitors can easily search for existing reports by clicking icons on a map, or typing more detailed searches into a search bar. Photos can be added to reports made from your mobile phone. The Hotline is a partner with the Oregon iMapInvasives program, incorporating reports from Oregonians into a statewide invasive species dataset that is further shared with local, state, and national agencies. Both the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline and the Oregon iMapInvasives program are housed at Portland State University and the hotline is managed in partnership with the Western Invasives Network and the Oregon Invasive Species Council.
Have questions or concerns regarding weeds?
Tillamook County Soil & Water Conservation District
Click here to email us
Office: 503-457-9017
4000 Blimp Blvd., Suite 200,
Tillamook, OR 97141