Lake Mead Invasive Plant Management Team

 

Invasive plants are a widespread problem that almost everyone is familiar with. The weeds in your backyard that you pull every weekend are an example. Within the National Park System alone, there are over 2.6 million acres infested with these non-native, invasive plants. They cause numerous problems. They destroy cultural and historical sites, increase fire hazards, deplete natural resources such as water, and they crowd out native vegetation, which serve as a food or shelter source for many animals.

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Invasive Plant Management Team

In 2000, spurred by the Congressional Natural Resource Challenge, the National Park Service acted on a national level in response to the growing invasive plant problem and created the first Invasive Plant Management Teams (EPMTs) (formerly called the Exotic Plant Management Team). Today there are 16 teams that are deployed across the entire country including Hawaii, Alaska & the US Virgin Islands.

The Lake Mead IPMT served as a model for the development of the nationwide IPMT program from 1996 to 2000. Permanent NPS funding was secured for the team in 2002. The team has leveraged this funding by creating partnerships with several federal, state and local partners. After all, these plants know no boundaries. The IPMT has also partnered with the United States Geological Survey to conduct weed control studies to improve effectiveness.

Due to its numerous years in operation and effective control methods, the Lake Mead NRA IPMT is widely regarded as one of the best invasive weed control groups in the region. Because of this, the team is often solicited by other federal land management agencies, local governments and other entities.

Lake Mead's Top Invasive Species

Salt Cedar Pucture Vine (Goatshead) Sahara Mustard Russian Knapweed Perennial Pepperweed Fountaingrass

Palm Tree (Yes, Palm Trees are not native) Malta Starthistle Athel Arundo Camelthorn

Report Invasive Plants

When you report invasive plants at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, it helps us know where to send resources to help control the weed's spread. When you send your report, please include GPS coordinates and a detailed description of the location, how you got there, and the type of weed (e.g. five tufts of fountain grass are near the shore on the northwest side of Sandy Cove we access the area via boat; Or, Puncture Vine located in a pull out on the east side of the road 1 mile down the dirt road fork to Bonelli Bay)

NPS Areas Covered

Arches NP, Utah Bryce NP, Utah Canyon de Chelly NM, Arizona Canyonlands NP, Utah Capitol Reef NP, Utah Cedar Breaks NM, Utah Death Valley NP, California Great Basin NP, Nevada Hovenweep NM, Utah

Joshua Tree NP, California Lake Mead NRA, Nevada/Arizona Manzanar NHS, California Mojave NPres, California Natural Bridges NM, Utah Parashant NM, Arizona Pipe Spring NM, Arizona Timpanogos Cave NM, Utah Zion NP, Utah

Bureau of Land Management Las Vegas District Needles District

Fish and Wildlife Service Ash Meadows NWR Bill Williams NWR Desert NWR Havasu NWR Moapa NWR

Forest Service Humbolt-Toiyabe NF

Local Partners City of Henderson Clark County, NV Southern NV Interagency Restoration Team Southern Nevada Water Authority

 

Salt Cedar removal. The first photo was taken before the teams started clearing the area. The second was taken after the control treatment was completed.