Garlic Mustard Containment Project
We have teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to contain garlic mustard in the Columbia Gorge. Free control is available to landowners in select areas. Although garlic mustard is already widely and well established in a large area of the Columbia Gorge, outside of this area there are many smaller, newer garlic mustard infestations just starting to gain a foothold. These smaller infestations, which we call "satellite infestations", represent the spread of garlic mustard outward from the area where it is well established. Our goal is to stop this spread and contain garlic mustard through development of a containment zone and treatment of all satellite infestations outside of the containment zone.
Free Control Available Outside of the Containment Zone
Mapping of roadside garlic mustard conducted in 2006 and 2007 helped identify the sources of major infestations and the location of satellite populations, and suggested a long-term containment area. A containment zone was created by drawing an approximate line between large, well-established populations and smaller, newer satellite populations. Free control is offered on all properties infested with garlic mustard outside of the containment zone.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer free control for all garlic mustard populations within the heavily infested containment zone. If you your property falls within the containment zone, we always provide free technical assistance on control methods. Give us a call any time to talk about control options for your property, or see the garlic mustard identification and control section of this website for more information. ODOT and the Multnomah County Roads Department will continue to treat garlic mustard in right-of-ways both within and outside of the containment zone. We provide a dumpster in Corbett so you can dispose of the garlic mustard that you pull. Check back in the spring to find out when it will be available.
Results From 2008
We began our containment project in 2008 by sending out informational mailings about garlic mustard and our project along with permission forms to all landowners near mapped satellite infestations. When landowners returned the permission forms, we mapped and then scheduled treatment of the garlic mustard on their property. In spring 2008, spot spray and hand pull treatments were made to nearly every satellite infestation. Treatments were made to 23.5 acres across 171 separate properties. Annual efforts will continue as needed until eradication has occurred at target sites.
We Need Your Help
In order for our garlic mustard containment project to be successful, we need help from all landowners. A few identified satellite infestations have not been addressed because the landowner did not wish to participate in our project. If you have received a mailer from us and have not yet returned the permission form, please do so right away. Also, please talk to your neighbors and friends to make sure they know about garlic mustard, our project to contain it, and the availability of free control.
Contact
If you have any questions about this project or would like to help, please do not hesitate to contact Lucas Nipp at: 503-935-5363 or lucas AT emswcd DOT org
For more detailed information about garlic mustard's negative impacts and for help identifying it, visit our garlic mustard page.
