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The commitment to long hikes and hard work continued in 2009 with a project made possible by the Great Burn Study Group (GBSG), North Fork Ranger District of the Clearwater National Forest, Nez Perce Biocontrol Center, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Five Bears Outfitters. The GBSG inventoried six trail systems in 2009 in the Kelly Creek drainage of the proposed Great Burn Wilderness of northwestern Montana to continue their partnership with the Clearwater National Forest. This area covers over 1000 acres of inventory.

The spread of noxious weeds in this drainage has been prevented using an integrated approach with chemicals, biocontrol agents, and hand pulling. Herbicides were applied to noxious weeds and invasive plants within several key meadows.  A total of 25 root feeder biological control releases were made for spotted knapweed, with 50 insects per release, and an additional 12 releases of Klamath beetle for St. John’s wort.

This work includes monitoring the condition of weeds in the area, with the goal of maintaining healthy native plant communities.

A total of 192 acres were treated chemically including knapweed, houndstongue, yellow hawkweed rush skeletonweed, and other invasives.

For more information, please visit http://greatburnstudygroup.org.  Contact GBSG at 406-240-9901 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .