BIA Navajo Region Noxious Weed Information

After a careful review of project information, current mapping, and regional noxious weed lists, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo Region has developed the list below of its priority noxious weed species. Projects focused on removing and managing the weeds listed below will be prioritized as part of the BIA’s Noxious Weed Program. The information below is provided as a general reference. Anyone interested in managing and controlling noxious weeds should contact their local BIA Navajo Agency Office.

Current Noxious Weed Projects

Use the links below to learn more about new or on-going noxious weed projects the BIA is performing on the Navajo Nation. Contact your local BIA Noxious Weed Coordinator to report new populations or inquire about how you can help fight weeds and restore native plants.

BIA Noxious Weed Mapping and Monitoring (Link to BIA GIS mapping, Pending)
BIA Navajo Agency Contact Information
Quick Reference Noxious Weed Treatment Poster

CATEGORY A WEEDS

Category A noxious weeds are less common on the Navajo Nation but could cause serious ecological impacts if unmanaged. Some species occur off Navajo trust and allotted land, while others are in isolated populations. Priority for these species will be eradication of known populations and/or prevention. Click on the photos to learn more about how to identify these species and recommended management methods.

COMPLETE CATEGORY A NOXIOUS WEEDS

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare — Bull thistle
*Cirsium vulgare*

Canada thistle Cirsium arvense — Canada thistle
*Cirsium arvense*

Fountaingrass Pennisetum setaceum — Fountaingrass
*Pennisetum setaceum*

Perennial pepperweed Lepidum latifolium — Perennial pepperweed
*Lepidum latifolium*

Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium — Scotch thistle
*Onopordum acanthium*

Sulphur cinquefoil Potentilla rect L. — Sulphur cinquefoil
*Potentilla rect L.*

Tree of Heaven Ailanthus altissima — Tree of Heaven
*Ailanthus altissima*

Common Mediterranean grass Schismus barbatus — Common Mediterranean grass
*Schismus barbatus*

Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula — Leafy spurge
*Euphorbia esula*

Ravenna grass Saccharum ravennae — Ravenna grass
*Saccharum ravennae*

Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa — Spotted knapweed
*Centaurea maculosa*

Tall whitetop Cardaria draba — Tall whitetop
*Cardaria draba*

Uruguayan pampas grass Cortaderia sellonana — Uruguayan pampas grass
*Cortaderia sellonana*

Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica — Dalmatian toadflax
*Linaria dalmatica*

Musk thistle Carduus nutans — Musk thistle
*Carduus nutans*

Sahara mustard Brassica tournefortii — Sahara mustard
*Brassica tournefortii*

Squarrose knapweed Centaurea virgata — Squarrose knapweed
*Centaurea virgata*

Tamarisk, hybrids Tamarisk spp. — Tamarisk, hybrids
*Tamarisk spp.*

Yellow nutsedge Cyperus esculentus — Yellow nutsedge
*Cyperus esculentus*

Yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis — Yellow starthistle
*Centaurea solstitialis*

CATEGORY B WEEDS

Category B weeds are weed with substantial, but isolated populations on the Navajo Nation. These weeds have caused harm to wildlife, livestock, humans, and property. Management goals for these species focus on containing existing populations to prevent their introduction to unaffected areas and to eradicate them over the long-term. Because many are located in specific areas, management should focus on treatments that occur over several years.

COMPLETE CATEGORY B NOXIOUS WEED INFORMATION

Camelthorn Alhagi camelorum — Camelthorn
*Alhagi camelorum*

Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa — Diffuse knapweed
*Centaurea diffusa*

Halogeton Halogeton glomeratus — Halogeton
*Halogeton glomeratus*

Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense — Johnsongrass
*Sorghum halepense*

Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens — Russian knapweed
*Acroptilon repens*

Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia — Russian olive
*Elaeagnus angustifolia*

Siberian elm Ulmus pumila — Siberian elm
*Ulmus pumila*

Saltcedar Tamarisk ramosissma — Saltcedar
*Tamarisk ramosissma*

CATEGORY C WEEDS

Noxious weeds listed in Category C are widespread and difficult to contain. These species often occur in many areas on the Navajo Nation or are known to occur but the actual size and scope of their populations is unclear or unknown. This list includes several annual brome grasses that are known to impact rangelands and farmlands throughout the southwest Region of the United States. The management goal for these weeds are to locally contain the populations to prevent further spread and to monitor for new infestations.

COMPLETE CATEGORY C NOXIOUS WEED INFORMATION

Bald brome Bromus racemosus — Bald brome
*Bromus racemosus*

California burclover Medicago polymorpha — California burclover
*Medicago polymorpha*

Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum — Cheatgrass
*Bromus tectorum*

Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis — Field bindweed
*Convolvulus arvensis*

Field brome Bromus arvensis — Field brome
*Bromus arvensis*

Horehound Marrubium vulgare — Horehound
*Marrubium vulgare*

Jointed goatgrass Aegilops cylindrica — Jointed goatgrass
*Aegilops cylindrica*

Kochia Bassia scoparia — Kochia
*Bassia scoparia*

Puncturevine Tribulus terrestris — Puncturevine
*Tribulus terrestris*

Red brome Bromus rubens — Red brome
*Bromus rubens*

Rescuegrass Bromus catharticus — Rescuegrass
*Bromus catharticus*

Ripgut brome Bromus diandrus — Ripgut brome
*Bromus diandrus*

Russian thistle Salsola tragus — Russian thistle
*Salsola tragus*

Smooth brome Bromus inermis — Smooth brome
*Bromus inermis*

Spreading wallflower Erysimum repandum — Spreading wallflower
*Erysimum repandum*