Dr. Steve Dewey, a professor of weed science at Utah State University (USU), has proposed a way to involve the public in noxious weed control. In a comparison of weed and wildfire suppression tactics, he presents four essential areas of focus:
          • Prevention 15%
          • Detection 23%
          • Suppression 59%
          • Site Rehabitation 3%
Both suppression and site rehabitation are done by professionals, but prevention and detection can be done by everyone. Dr. Dewey writes, "...prevention depends on widespread public awareness ...Education and regulation are key ingredients needed to raise public awareness and gain greater support for weed prevention." He continues by saying "The public plays a significant role in fire detection and reporting. Ways should be explored to involve volunteer groups, recreationists, and other interested public land users in noxious weed detection and reporting (Dewey 1995)." If the public were to participate as Dr. Dewey suggests, they would directly reinforce 38% of our control efforts. Education is the key.