Resources  |  State Programs  |  CWMAs Nationally

A Cooperative Weed Management Area is a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies; tribes; individuals; and various interested groups that manage noxious weeds or invasive plants in a defined area.

• CWMAs occupy a defined geographic area with a common geography, weed problem, community, climate, political boundary, or land use.
• The majority of landowners and natural resource managers in the area are involved or represented.
• CWMAs are headed by a steering commitee.
• CWMAs are commited to cooperation.
• CWMAs operate under a comprehensive plan that addresses the management or prevention of one or more noxious weeds or invasive plants.

CWMAs are an important element of the overall weed management effort in the West, as shown on the map below:

CWMA Resources

See our Control pages for more resources.

Case studies and success stories related to the management of invasives across the United States. Presented at National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week in Washington DC.

Creating an Integrated Weed Management Plan: A Handbook for Owners and Managers of Lands with Natural Values,from the Colorado Natural Areas Program of the Colorado State Parks. Includes Weed Management Plan Outlines (88 kb PDF)

CWMA Cookbook: A Recipe for Success. From the Idaho Noxious Weed Coordinating Committee.

CWMA Cookbook: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Develop a Cooperative Weed Management Area in the Eastern United States from the Midwest Invasive Plant Network.

Developing Bid Specifications for Invasive Plant Control Programs (pdf). A thorough guide, from establishing goals, identifying and prioritizing species, and outlining tasks, to contractor requirements and types of contracts.

Guidelines for Coordinated Management of Noxious Weeds: Development of Weed Management Areas.

Includes sample contracts and agreements; information about planning, weed awareness/education, mapping, monitoring, reporting procedures, and more. Developed by the BLM, Forest Service, National Park Service, and state and county land managers.

In-Kind Rate Table, compiled 12/05 (based on info from Idaho Dept. of Agriculture)

Management Tools from The Nature Conservancy. Includes Weed Control Methods Handbook and three-part Weed Management Plan Template tool.

Introduction to the philosophy of adaptive management.

Boiler-plate language to include iin management plan; eases the process of making a weed plan; helps prioritize the weeds in your area.

Excel workbook to keep track of work and costs.

Master Naturalist Programs sponsored through state Cooperative Extension offices are promoting weed education and activities. Read about efforts in Arizona, Texas, and Virginia.

Informational Resources on Invasive Plants with a focus on New England. Extensive resource list compiled by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge for the New England Invasive Plant Group (NIPGro). 10 page pdf.

Sample Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for establishing a CWMA

State Weed Awareness Campaigns

Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign. The Reference Library links to Idaho Dept. of Agriculture CWMA page, and offers other resources.

Montana Weed Awareness. Provides references and resources concerning the serious impacts of noxious weeds on Montana's economy and environment.

Ob-noxious.org: The Utah Weed Awareness Campaign website, dedicated to bringing about greater awareness of noxious and invasive weeds and their impacts in Utah.

State and Regional CWMA Programs

Alaska: Kenai Peninusla Cooperative Weed Management Area. Includes their charter and MOU.

CA, ID, UT, NV, and WY CWMAs listed on USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region site. Most of the cooperative partnerships throughout the Region are under a Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) Participative Agreement. The Region's goal is to have 100% of National Forest System lands covered by a CWMA.

California Weed Management Areas - links to WMAs in each CA county, WMA events calendar, and more

Idaho Cooperative Weed Management Areas. Includes map and links to final reports from many CWMAs.

Midwest Invasive Plant Network. Currently working on developing training workshops on the creation of Cooperative Weed Management Areas.

CWMA Cookbook: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Develop a Cooperative Weed Management Area in the Eastern United States from the Midwest Invasive Plant Network.

Nebraska

Ash Creek Weed Management Area

Five Rivers Weed Management Area Missouri River Project/Sericea Lespedeza Awareness

High Plains Weed Management Association A partnership of Scotts Bluff, Banner, Kimball, Morrill, Cheyenne, Garden, Deuel, and southern Sioux counties.

Lower Platte Weed Management Area

Middle Niobrara Weed Awareness Group

Twin Valley Weed Management Area

Other NE CWMAS: Middle Missouri Valley Weed Management Area (Nebraska Loess Hills RC&D); Clear Creek Weed Management Area (NE Game and Parks Commission)

Nevada CWMAs and contacts

Spring Creek Region CWMA, Elko County. Noxious weed info, before and after photos, useful links, and more.

Nevada CWMA Update, 2006. An overview of the progress and current status of all Nevada CWMAs.

Oregon: Tri-County CWMA (Baker, Union, Wallowa counties)

San Juan Watershed Woody-Invasives Initiative. Mission is to plan for and implement comprehensive and culturally-sensitive restoration of riparian communities, to eradicate woody invasive species in the San Juan Basin, and to provide coordination, resources, and technical assistance.

Utah Weed Control Association Links to Utah CWMAs, info on Utah's noxious weeds, publications, and more.

Utah-Idaho Cooperative Weed Management Area. An excellent comprehensive site with maps, photos, project development, partners, weed I.D., and much more.  

Weber River CWMA Another excellent site with maps, photos, projects, links, and more.

Wisconsin 

The Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area is the first CWMA in Wisconsin. The site provides useful documents such as a draft management plan and MOU, as well as project information and photos, and more.

The Upper Chippewa Invasive Species Cooperative is now forming. It covers Price, Rusk, Sawyer, and Taylor Counties, geographically just south of the Northwoods group and sharing a border.

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