RIO BLANCO COUNTY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The Rio Blanco County Weed Department, Rio Blanco County Cooperative Extension, National Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management hold many types of educational programs throughout the year. Some of the programs are held in the local schools for our future leaders. We have weed contest for the biggest, meanest and prettiest weeds. Noxious Weed poster contest. We conduct educational programs that allow the kids to understand the impacts associated with Noxious Weeds and how they are spread and managed. And we provide field trips so they can understand the difference between native and nonnative species their impacts and the different management principals of Integrated Weed Management (IWM).

Not all-educational programs are targeted towards the schools. Some are for the adults in the community. We have held training's that help landowners to manage noxious weeds safely and effectively. Some of the training topics include: pesticide safety, understanding the label, proper herbicide selection, timing, proper personal protection equipment, sprayer calibration, speed calibration, environmental protection, laws, IWM concepts and plant ID. Field tours have been conducted that show the public various local weed problems and the concepts of how we are managing them.

This spring look for the (WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE -YELLOW STARTHISTLE) posters that will be dispersed throughout the main road systems in Rio Blanco County.

Last year the local Cooperative Extension Office was successful in obtaining a grant for two 200-gallon weed sprayers for public use, from the State Noxious Weed Fund. Training on the proper use of those sprayers is required before any landowner can use them. The training will occur each spring for those who want to use them.

We are hopeful in the development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) noxious weed mapping program for the county schools this year in Rangely and Meeker. This will allow the kids to have practical first hand experience in the fundamentals of mapping, GIS functions and programs.

If you have special educational programs that you feel we can assist you in please give us a call.