Boulder Creek on the Okanogan National Forest

Case study of a weed management action gone wrong

This web page follows a series of letters to various government agencies as a case study of a noxious weed management action--Boulder Creek on the Okanogan National Forest--and what went wrong with plans. Preferred and recommended actions available to managers were ignored, in preference for more harmful actions, which impacted treated areas beyond acceptable limits.

Start here to follow the trail of information relating to the 1999 chemical applications along Boulder Creek on the Okanogan National Forest.

Selected photographs illustrating the type of damage involved, but omitted from the EA and BE (click to enlarge, then click the BACK button to return here after viewing):

Chemicals were broadcast sprayed into weed-free riparian areas

Trees providing shade and cover were killed

Native plants were killed, weakening road stability

Noxious weeds survived next to killed native plants

Erosion and sedimentation was increased in this at-risk stream

Spraying was done directly into T&E fish habitat