Idaho
Noxious Weeds 
Acres of noxious weeds on BLM-managed lands in Idaho
Noxious weeds are undesirable, potentially harmful, and usually exotic plants native to Europe or Asia that became established in the United States as settlement and commerce expanded in the mid-1800s. Noxious weeds are able to spread quickly and widely because few native insects or diseases control their growth, and because they can out-compete native plants in many areas. Weeds can also invade an area following wildland fire.
Noxious weeds severely threaten biological systems in the West. Noxious weeds can decimate the land's potential and impact many sectors of our economy, destroying wildlife habitat and lowering forage use, and adversely affecting hunting, fishing, livestock grazing, crop production, and other recreational and commercial uses.
Noxious weeds are spreading at an estimated rate of about 2,300 acres per day on western Federal lands alone. The BLM cooperates with Federal and state agencies, county governments, and private landowners to identify and control these invasive plants before they degrade ecosystems and damage land productivity.
In Idaho, the BLM works closely with the Idaho Department of Agriculture (IDA) and county governments to combat noxious weeds. The BLM participates with state and local governments in establishing Cooperative Weed Management Areas, which can utilize local, state and Federal resources to inventory and treat weed infestations on public and private lands. Idaho's Tribes also support and participate in these and other efforts.
In 2009-10, the BLM used funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to eradicate noxious weeds across the State, in partnership with state and county governments, weed districts, universities, and Tribes. Through the Great Basin Initiative, the BLM is working to prevent the spread of noxious weeds in Nevada, western Utah, southern Idaho, southeast Oregon, and eastern California.
The BLM is also helping fund a statewide database of noxious weed locations. The database is an important step in developing a cohesive strategy for reducing the noxious weeds in Idaho.
What you can do to help
Acres of Noxious Weeds on BLM-Managed
Lands in Idaho
| Species | Infested Acres Inventoried | Infested Acres Estimated |
| Acroptilon repens (Russian knapweed) | 8,367 | 13,764 |
| Cardaria draba (White top) | 1,986 | 4,335 |
| Carduus nutans (Musk thistle) | 11,367 | 19,545 |
| Centaurea diffusa (Diffuse knapweed) | 24,444 | 91,378 |
| Centaurea maculosa (Spotted knapweed) | 20,680 | 43,600 |
| Centaurea solstitialis (Yellow starthistle) | 5,102 | 7,102 |
| Chondrilla juncea (Rush skeletonweed) | 22,315 | 85,330 |
| Chrysanthemum leucanthemum (Oxeye daisy) | 100 | 4,300 |
| Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) | 22,402 | 37,682 |
| Cirsium vulgare (Bull thistle) | 315 | 1,400 |
| Convolvulus arvensis (Field bindweed) | 10 | 300 |
| Crupina vulgaris (Common crupina) | 60 | 200 |
| Cynoglossum officinale (Hounds tongue) | 100 | 400 |
| Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom) | 4 | 300 |
| Euphorbia esula (Leafy spurge) | 59,431 | 74,489 |
| Hieracium aurantium (Orange hawkweed) | 20 | 900 |
| Hieracium pratense (Yellow hawkweed) | 300 | 2,800 |
| Hypericum perforatum (St. Johnswort) | 900 | 3,800 |
| Hyoscyamus niger (Black henbane) | 1,626 | 1,573 |
| Linaria genistifolia (Dalmation toadflax) | 421 | 2,136 |
| Linaria vulgaris (Yellow toadflax) | 346 | 104 |
| Potentilla recta (Suphur cinquefoil) | 400 | 4,600 |
| Tanacetum vulgare (Common tansy) | 65 | 900 |
| Onopordum acanthuim (Scotch thistle) | 1,330 | 3,000 |
| Lythrun salicaria (Purple loosestrife) | 205 | 152 |
| Tamarix ramosissima (Salt cedar) | 3 | 49 |
| Taeniatherum capt-medusae ( Medusa head) | 701 | 14,167 |
| Conium maculatum (Poison hemlock) | 246 | 1,754 |
| Isatis tinctoria (Dyer's woad) | 990 | 1,177 |
| Aegilops cylindrica (Jointed goatgrass) | 220 | 21 |
| Lepidium latifolium (Perennial pepperweed) | 200 | 300 |
| Tribulus terrestris (Puncture vine) | 30 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 189,932 | 421,558 |
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