Rural Weeds
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Why Eliminate Weeds?
We control weeds to increase the ecological health of our natural habitats, allowing native plants and animals the resources and space they need to thrive on their own.
Invasive plants are an extremely serious problem in our region. An estimated 4,600 acres of public natural areas are lost to invasive plant species every day.
Weed species displace desirable vegetation in our yards, on our farms and in our forests, causing multiple problems:
- Increased erosion
- Decreased property values
- Stream bank instability
- Increased maintenance costs for farmers, gardeners and land managers
- Fewer wildflowers for pollinators
- Diminished ecosystem services and natural resource value in natural areas
- Less food for fish and wildlife, which leads to a loss of biodiversity
- Degraded aesthetics and recreation
- Degraded water quality – erosion and runoff caused by invasive weeds can harm fish and other aquatic life

How We Can Help:
Help us eliminate high-priority weeds:
Contact us about EDRR weeds and high-priority species based on location.
All our work is FREE and provided to willing landowners on a voluntary and cooperative basis.
Because there are too many weeds out there for us to treat, the degree to which we can help depends on the level of threat posed by the weed itself.
For weeds listed as Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) weeds, we are ready to provide treatment or removal services at any property located within Multnomah County, east of the urban growth boundary. For these high-priority weeds, we offer free assistance with control, and replacement with native plants.
For weeds that are not classified as a high priority, especially in more residential areas, we can provide weed identification, removal advice, and help in creating a customized management plan for your property.
We’ve worked with more than 1,000 residents in East Multnomah County since our weed control program started in 2007. Creating healthy habitats is our passion, and we are excited to talk with you about what’s happening on your property!

Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR)

We are actively seeking help locating Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) weeds.
For these high-priority weeds, we offer free assistance with control and replacement with native plants on properties within our district, outside the urban growth boundary. Once weeds are established and become widespread – like ivy and blackberry – they can be too abundant and costly for our staff to wage a meaningful control effort. By identifying EDRR weeds as they appear on your land while their populations are still localized and small, you can help us make sure EDRR weeds never become established in our region.
EDRR Weeds to Report
With permission from the landowner, we can rapidly deploy a control team to the reported location to treat the following high-priority weeds:
- Common gorse, Ulex europaeus
- Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
- Goat’s rue, Galega officinalis
- Impatiens, Impatiens bicolor
- Puncturevine, Tribulus terrestris
- Orange hawkweed, Hieracium aurantiacum
- Knotweed, Polygonum spp.
- False brome, Brachypodium sylvaticum
- Kudzu, Pueraria lobata
- Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum

High-Priority Species Based on Location

We are only actively controlling these species in strategic areas.
Please contact us to find out if your property is in a target location.
Help us eliminate high-priority weeds:
Request a site visit from our weed control team!

Contact Chris Aldassy, Senior Rural Conservationist:
Contact Isa Rojas, Rural Conservation Technician:
Please note: We are a mighty team of two. If it is a busy time of year for treating weeds, it may take a few days to return your call. We want to hear from you and will get back to you, but please allow five business days for a response.
You can also report these weeds to the Oregon Invasive Species Council.

Local Weed Control Projects
For us to begin a control project, weeds must be a threat to streams, natural areas or human health.
In some cases, we will draw a priority area boundary and only attempt to stop the spread of a particular weed within or beyond this line. If the weed is spread by water, we focus our control efforts on the areas near streams.


Garlic Mustard Containment Project
We have teamed up with local partners to contain garlic mustard in the Columbia Gorge.


Knotweed Control Projects: Beaver Creek, Latourell Creek and Beyond
We need your help: If you live along Beaver Creek or Latourell Creek, we are asking for your permission to look for knotweed and to treat it where we find it. Without the cooperation of landowners, we would not be able to protect these creeks from this devastating weed.


Climate-Focused Upland Reforestation
In an effort to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, EMSWCD is piloting new projects in upland areas, and beginning to strategically target underutilized areas for reforestation projects. Please contact us if you are interested in establishing a project like this on your property. Certain guidelines and restrictions apply.


Clematis and Ivy Control Project
We understand that eradication of Clematis and English Ivy is nearly impossible, but our goal is to eliminate these species from areas where they can easily spread into the more wild parts of the Columbia Gorge and forests of Mt. Hood.
Discover guidance on voluntary conservation support and agency contacts to help you confidently manage your rural property and its natural resources.