Invasive plants threaten our economy, environment, and human health. Natural resource managers and land owners spend significant amounts of resources trying to manage invasive plants that are encroaching into natural areas, agricultural lands, forests, backyards, and other properties.

This Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) is a partnership of various interested groups that manage noxious weeds or invasive plants in Winona County. The goal of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to formalize the sustained strong partnerships between landowners, government units and other interested partners within Winona County, MN. This MOU will also facilitate a coordinated effort to:

  • 1
    Manage invasive species across geographic boundaries.
  • 2
    Control emerging weed threats and manage invasive species that threaten natural areas and conservation lands.
  • 3
    Facilitate the removal of invasive plant species through an integrated pest management approach.
  • 4
    Restore native plant communities through an ecosystem approach.

Partner Goals & Objectives

All Partners in this MOU have a mutual interest in preventing invasive species from becoming established and spreading, and support these common goals and objectives:

Developing a plan

for the inventory, mapping, education, monitoring, control and restoration of impacted area.

Inventory and mapping

of target species and the extent and location of the infestation.

Education

of the public and agency staff on:

  • The concerns of invasive species.
  • The controls of invasive species.
  • An ecosystem approach to restoring native plant communities.

Monitor and control

existing infestations and help reduce expansion and establishment into new areas.

Restoration

of impacted areas to reduce potential re-infestation and return the site to a balanced natural ecosystem.

Provide cost-share assistance

to landowners for the control of invasive species and restoration of infestation areas.

Resources