Aquatic Weed Program
Aquatic plant growth can be both beneficial and harmful: beneficial in that it promotes the diversification of the aquatic environment to support life forms, yet harmful if aquatic vegetation interferes with other uses of the water body.
The Montana Department of Agriculture oversees the licensing and training of aquatic pesticide applicators in Montana. The application of aquatic herbicides requires a special-use license. Applicators who intend to treat waters with State restricted-use aquatic herbicides (xylene, acrolein, or endathall) must attend a special aquatic training session and pass an Aquatic Pest Control Exam for initial certification. Training and testing is offered once a year by the Department.
The department conducts aquatic herbicide applicator recertificaton training sessions periodically. These are listed with other applicator training opporunities.
The following is the list of Montana aquatic noxious weeds:
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima)
Yellowflag Iris (Iris pseudoacorus)
Other aquatic plant species of concern in Montana are:
Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus)
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
For additional information, contact an area field office or call:
| Craig McLane | Leonard Berry | ||||
| Aquatic Plant Specialist | Pesticide Program Manager | ||||
| Phone: | 406-444-7819 | Phone: | 406-444-5400 | ||
| Fax: | 406-444-9466 | Fax: | 406-444-7336 | ||
| E-mail: | cmclane@mt.gov | E-mail: | lberry@mt.gov | ||
