On January 4, the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) officially adopted the revised Arizona Noxious Weed list. The main changes involve the classification of noxious weeds, as well as the addition and removal of species from the list.
Below are the new classification definitions:
- Class A Noxious Weed: categorized as a species of plant that is not known to exist or of limited distribution in the State and is a high priority pest for quarantine, control, or mitigation.
- Class B Noxious Weed: categorized as a species of plant that is known to occur, but of limited distribution in the State and may be a high priority pest for quarantine, control, or mitigation if a significant threat to a crop, commodity, or habitat is known to exist.
- Class C Noxious Weed: categorized as a species of plant that is widespread, but may be recommended for active control based on risk assessment.
What Does This Mean For You?
These changes may affect your current or future projects in terms of adhering to the State of Arizona regulations regarding noxious weeds. Because species were both added to and removed from the list, your existing projects may require new inventories to determine whether all necessary species are being controlled.
SWCA Can Help
Our experts can conduct noxious weed surveys and provide mitigation recommendations to avoid spreading or introducing noxious weed species in and around your project area. In addition, we can prepare noxious weed management plans for projects needing to control existing infestations.
Contact Eleanor Gladding, a Senior Biologist and Project Manager in SWCA’s Tucson office, at egladding [at] swca [dot] com (egladding[at]swca[dot]com) or 520.348.3384.