Spread Good Deeds,

Not Invasive Weeds

Many pollutants like trash, fertilizers, and oil wreak havoc on our water supply in the Truckee Meadows, but did you know that weeds also impact our water quality? That’s right - weeds.

Follow these simple steps to give weeds the boot:

  1. Stay on designated trails and avoid weed-infested areas.

  2. When doing yard work, make sure to bag up any clippings or yard waste that could contain invasive species and dispose of them in the trash receptacle.

  3. See, capture, and report weeds through EDDMapS (Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System). Visit www.eddmaps.org and download the APP to your smartphone.

  4. Join KTMB for other cleanup and weed eradication projects throughout the year. Visit the KTMB volunteer page to see current opportunities.

  5. Learn how to identify and get rid of local invasive and noxious weeds. Use the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Field Guide for more information.

Below are some of the most common noxious weeds in our area:

  • Musk Thistle - weed

    Musk Thistle* - “Nodding Thistle”

    • 2 - 6 ft. tall
    • Flower is rather large at about 3 in. wide.
    • Flowers are pinkish or purple (sometimes can be white, as well)
    • Be careful during removal, stems and leaves are spiny

  • Yellow Starthistle - weed

    Yellow Starthistle*

    • Can range from 1 to 6 ft. in height
    • Famous for their yellow flowers found at the tip of the stems with spines branching out just below the flower. Spines can grow from 0.5 - 1 in. long

  • Puncturevine* - "Goatheads" - weed

    Puncturevine* - "Goatheads"

    • Low growing, grow in a mat-like form
    • Have very small, yellow flowers (0.2 - 0.6 in. in diameter); flowers have 5 petals
    • Produce woody burs (a dry fruit with hooks or teeth) that often break into 5 sections. These are also known as “goatheads” - known for poking holes in tires and sticking to shoes. Foliage can be toxic to livestock.

  • Perennial Pepperweed* - “Tall Whitetop” - weed

    Perennial Pepperweed* - “Tall Whitetop”

    • Up to 6 ft. tall
    • Small, white flowers with 4 petals, arranged in clusters at the tip of the stems
    • Grows best in moist places, such as near waterways, floodplains, etc.

  • Medusahead - weed

    Medusahead*

    • Stems can be .5 - 2 ft. long
    • Seedhead is a spike, 0.5 - 2 in. long. Bristles are stiff and can be straight or twisted.
    • Bristles can be up to 3 in. long

Here are some more resources and information

This program is supported by funding from the Nevada Division of Forestry, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources through a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant awarded by the US Forest Service.