Invasive species removal is one way we steward the land because rapid-spreading invasive plants tend to take over the native vegetation in our forests and fields.

The Scotch broom removal work that we began in the Diobsud Creek Conservation Area in 2021 has really started to pay off - a volunteer crew in May of 2024 was able to remove all the Scotch broom plants within two hours before moving on to pull other weeds, such as periwinkle.

A volunteer hard at work removing invasives at Diobsud Creek Conservation Area.

In 2024, we utilized AmeriCorps crews and hosted volunteer work parties to hand-pull flowering plants in several garlic mustard patches that we had first discovered in the Pressentin Ranch Conservation Area in spring of 2023.

Volunteers pose for a group photo at the Pressentin Ranch Conservation Area.

In June of 2024, we also removed spotted knapweed at Cascade River Conservation Area where we had previously worked to control both knapweed and Scotch broom. This year’s volunteer crew found no Scotch broom and was able to thoroughly survey and pull spotted knapweed throughout the site!

Volunteers pose with bags of spotted knapweed from Cascade River Conservation Area.

Although we aren’t “out of the weeds” yet (we probably have another 2-3 years of continued monitoring to be sure that we’ve eradicated the population), this year’s findings show how well a multi-year stewardship approach works to restore the places we love.