Vegetation control set for invasive species located at Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District will conduct vegetation management activities beginning the week of August 8, 2021, on the Seven Blackfoot, Billy, Wilson, McCarty, Sheep, Short, Cart Trail, Armstrong and Doney drainages, as well as the shoreline between Seven Blackfoot and Billy drainage located at the Fort Peck Reservoir in Garfield and Phillips Counties, Montana.

These areas will be closed to the public during spraying activities and for 72 hours after application.  Signs will be posted in these drainages as well as at Fourchette Bay, Devil’s Creek and Bone Trail Recreation Areas providing the dates of closure. Spraying will be done on approximately 515 acres in these drainages to control the spread of the noxious weed salt cedar along the shorelines and adjacent upland areas of the Fort Peck Reservoir.  This work is being conducted to the meet requirements of the National Invasive Species Act of 1996, Montana Noxious Weed Control Act and to comply with the Corps’ policy on the control of noxious weeds. Controlling invasive species also protects area recreation, fish and wildlife and associated habitat.

Montana certified applicators using helicopters will spray with triclopyr, approved for use in aquatic environments by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Spraying will take place only when environmental conditions allow, such as little to no wind and no rainfall in the immediate forecast. While efforts will be made to conduct spraying during the week, when public use is lower, spraying may occur on weekends since optimal spraying days can be limited due to wind or rain.

For more information on this activity please reference the ‘Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Control of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive, Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana’, released April 2016 following public review of a draft supplemental environmental assessment.

Questions may be directed to Natural Resource Specialist, Patricia Gilbert at (406) 526-3411, extension 4278.