On the Fly Magazine: The Greater Yellowstone Fishing Resource

Whether you are a fisherman, rafter, hunter or wildlife enthusiast, the Snake River provides a place for recreation along with its lush habitat. The diversity of plant communities explains the rich variety of fish and wildlife in the Jackson area. This is remarkable when one considers the impact of 100 years of settlement, development and the spread of noxious weeds.

According to ecologist E.O. Wilson, noxious weeds are currently ranked second to habitat destruction in the magnitude of the threat they pose. Noxious weeds are non-native plants, mostly from Eurasia, that are highly invasive and are thriving along the Snake River corridor. These plants spread very quickly and compete with native plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Unfortunately, noxious weeds do not have any of the natural enemies in their new ecosystem to keep them in check and pose long-term ecological threats to our local rivers.

A bit of education and awareness and action can help control the problem.
Spotted knapweed is the most prevalent of the noxious weeds along the Snake River. You can find it growing and thriving in the dry, rocky soils along the river and on the islands. Due to this plants close placement to water, most herbicides can not be applied. Spotted knapweed is particularly productive and invasive because it produces a chemical that inhibits growth all of the plants around it, making more room to thrive.

You can read the rest of this article in our print publication.
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