Invasive Weed Week

Date: February 6, 2008
Contact: Rita Garcia, [phone] ext. 273

THE 9TH ANNUAL NATIONAL INVASIVE WEEDS AWARENESS WEEK

Petrified Forest, AZ—Weeds in your front yard are a nuisance but fast-growing, non-native weeds can be devastating to croplands, parks, and other natural areas. For example the saltcedar (tamarisk) a native of Eurasia, can draw up to 300 gallons of water per day, lowering ground-water, and can cause declines in native plant and bird species. Saltcedar has spread to be a common sight along washes and waterways throughout the West.

The week of February 24th to February 29th is National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week. Petrified Forest National Park joins other government agencies to help inform the public of some of the threats invasive weeds pose to public lands. A display entitled “Weeds—the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” will be at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark at the north end of Petrified Forest National Park.

For more information call [phone] weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time; or write to the Superintendent, Petrified Forest National Park, P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028; or e-mail the park.