SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will continue a project to eradicate, control, and contain known infestations of invasive plants in the Lake Tahoe Basin using chemical treatment. Work will take place at approximately 90 infestations sites (105 acres) beginning in late May and continuing through September 2019.

An Environmental Assessment released by the Forest Service in 2010, identified 493 known invasive plant infestation sites located on National Forest System lands managed by the LTBMU. Invasive plants reproduce and spread rapidly, displacing native plant species’ richness and diversity. Invasive plants can reduce the range and quality of fish and wildlife habitat, increase soil erosion and stream sedimentation, as well as impair recreational quality.

As of 2019, the LTBMU is managing as many as 723 separate invasive plant populations with 30 percent of those planned for treatment this year. While some invasive species like common St. John’s wort are managed by manually uprooting them, 40 percent of the 2019 priority populations will be treated chemically.

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