Idaho’s Noxious Weed Law

22-2407 Landowner and Citizen Duties (1) It shall be the duty and responsibility of all landowners to control noxious weeds on their land and property (2) The cost of controlling noxious weeds shall be the obligation of the landowner (3) Noxious weed control must be prevention, eradication, rehabilitation, control or containment efforts

 
 

“INVASIVE SPECIES COME IN MANY SHAPES AND FORMS, AND ARE SILENTLY TAKING THE PLACE OF NATIVE SPECIES WE IDAHOANS DEPEND ON TO PERPETUATE OUR WAY OF LIFE.

They have invaded our farms, ranches, parks, waterways, forests, rangelands, and even our backyards. They prey upon our grasses, crops, trees, fish, birds, snails, and in the long game, even threaten to destroy us. If we don’t take action to stop invasive species, the Idaho we know will be lost forever.

Invasive species are non-native species that disrupt healthy ecosystem functions from the bottom up, causing a chain reaction which leaves nothing unaffected. Invasives such as zebra and quagga mussels, leafy spurge, Eurasian watermilfoil, yellow starthistle, bullfrogs, hydrilla, Asian carp, etc. prey upon, crowd out, displace, or otherwise harm native species. They alter ecosystem dynamics, transport pathogens, interfere with crop production, cause disease in animals and humans, and affect both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. 

Unfortunately, as worldwide commerce and travel increase, so does the threat that unwanted species will arrive in our state and spread to areas where they are not now found. Idaho is not alone in facing these threats and there is growing national awareness of the need to prevent and control invasive species..”

— Idaho State Department of Agriculture

 

State Duties / Powers County Duties / Powers

  • Determine which weeds are noxious

  • Employ a state wide weed coordinator

  • Investigate noxious weeds

  • Require information from county and state agencies

  • Quarantine infestations when there is a legitimate emergency in the State

  • Establish / maintain a coordinated noxious weed control program

  • Give notice to landowners that have failed to control noxious weeds

  • Implement enforcement action

  • Quarantine land that is infested within jurisdiction and when it is beyond the ability of the land owner to control

  • Propose, accept, and implement integrated weed management plans