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Everyone
is affected by weeds, either directly or indirectly. It may be through
an increase in the cost of food or electrical power, or by getting
stuck by burrs and thistles as you walk home. However weeds impact
you, it's only going to get worse. The following are just a few
examples of how you may be affected in the future:
Personal
Human Health: Over 50 million people are affected by allergies,
a large number of which are caused by weeds. Hospitalization and
death has occurred due to weeds (poison hemlock, bitter nightshade,
poison ivy/oak, blue spurge). Recreation: A number of recreation
activities are impacted by weeds. A few of these are: boating, swimming
(e.g. hydrilla), fishing (e.g. scotch thistle), hunting, equestrian,
hiking (e.g. yellow starthistle), mountain biking, and rock climbing
(e.g. puncture vine, thistle).
Money Weeds make you pay,
either directly or indirectly.
Transportation: Millions of dollars are spent each year
to control weeds around highways, railroads, and airports. Weeds
cause asphalt breakup, visibility problems, and increase fire risk.
Industrial/Utility Sites: Weeds impede access, increase fire
danger, and in some cases cause physical damage to structures and
telephone/power lines (e.g. kudzu).
Drainage/Sewer Lines: Root systems clog and break pipes.
Property Values: Property that has noxious weeds on it can drop
in value (due to future management costs). Some ranch and farm lands
have become close to worthless in value.
Environmental Impacts on the
environment affect us indirectly.
Fire Hazard: Weeds cause range and wildland wildfires to
increase in speed, intensity, and frequency. Rural and suburbian
homes will be affected. Weed-choked vacant lots also increase fire
risk (cheetgrass, medusahead, kochia). Watershed: Increased
runoff causes flooding. Increased erosion and siltation impacts
aquatic life and affects your drinking water (spotted knapweed,
leafy spurge).
Species Diversity: Weeds often force out native plants. Wildlife
are forced to leave or die with the loss of their food source and
shelter.
What can you do
about it?
Noxious Weed Lists
(by state)
Other sites introducing
Noxious weeds
The status of weeds in the US
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