WeedWise: A conservation program of the Clackamas SWCD

WeedWise: A conservation program of the Clackamas SWCD The W**dWise program is working to promote the effective management of invasive w**ds in Clackamas County, Oregon.

The W**dWise program was created by the Clackamas SWCD to promote effective management of invasive w**ds in Clackamas County, Oregon. Invasive w**ds are plants that live outside their historic geographical range, and exhibit aggressive growth which has a detrimental impact on our social, economic, or ecologic resources. W**ds affect us in many ways including:
• Displace native vegetation
• Reduce

crop yields
• Harm fish and wildlife
• Adversely affect human health
• Damage property and infrastructure
• Reduce forage for livestock and wildlife
• Decrease property values
• Increase erosion
• Decrease water quality and quantity
• Limit land use
• Disrupt ecological processes

Invasive w**ds are a form of biological pollution that alter landscapes. They not only degrade the quality of our land but convert that land into new sources of biological pollution. Actively management of these invasive w**ds prevents the establishment of additional infestations. As a result, controlling our invasive w**ds is imperative to preserving the integrity of our public and private lands. W**ds have a profound impact on our local economy. A recent study by the Oregon Department of Agriculture found that just 25 of our state-listed noxious w**d cost Oregonians $83.5 million a year in lost personal income. They estimate that if left unchecked, these same w**ds could cost Oregonians as much as $1.8 billion annually. These expenses are absorbed by all of us through increased food costs, higher taxes, and decreased property values. W**ds can also have a profound impact on our natural areas, where they displace diverse native plant communities. This expansion of w**d populations alters ecological processes and disrupts complex food webs that adversely affect fish and wildlife. The result is a landscape that is much less productive and less resilient to changing conditions. W**ds result in land that is more homogenous and less like the Oregon we love.

You are the cure for Poison HemlockWe have been receiving a lot of calls from people concerned about poison hemlock this...
06/10/2026

You are the cure for Poison Hemlock

We have been receiving a lot of calls from people concerned about poison hemlock this season. The mild winter appears to have been quite favorable for this class B noxious w**d. We are seeing it popping in roadsides, parking lots, and natural areas across the region.

Poison hemlock can cause serious illness with exposure and even death if ingested. So don't let it proliferate, especially in areas with grazing animals or where children are present.

Poison hemlock is widespread in our area, and is common in wet and disturbed soils. Because it is so widespread, we are generally not able to target it directly and must instead rely upon the action of residents like you. If you have poison hemlock on your property, protect yourself and your loved ones, by making the effort to control it.

Care needs to be taken when handling this plant. Be sure to protect yourself from exposure, by wearing long sleeves, pants, gloves, eye protection, and a mask to avoid breathing in the dust when handling this plant.

For more information about this plant including its control and handling, we recommend you review the Poison Hemlock guide from our friends OSU Extension at Solve Pest Problems.

https://solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/w**ds/poison-hemlock

**dWise

Our June W**d-of-the-Month is Policeman's Helmet!Policeman's helmet is a fast-growing noxious w**d invading streamside a...
06/02/2026

Our June W**d-of-the-Month is Policeman's Helmet!

Policeman's helmet is a fast-growing noxious w**d invading streamside areas of Clackamas County. Once established policeman's helmet crowds out native plants, before dying back in late summer. Once plants die back, they leave streambanks exposed leading to increased soil erosion, which harms fish and wildlife and greatly reduces water quality.

To learn more about these policeman's helmet, follow the link in our profile!

https://conservationdistrict.org/2026/june-w**d-month-policeman-helmet.html

**dWise

Happy Memorial Day!Many thanks to the many men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country....
05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day!

Many thanks to the many men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.

The Clackamas SWCD offices are closed today in observance of the holiday.

As we wrap up **dAwarenessWeek, we want to take an opportunity to celebrate all of the native flora that make our regio...
05/24/2026

As we wrap up **dAwarenessWeek, we want to take an opportunity to celebrate all of the native flora that make our region special.

These are just a few of the native wildflowers, that would be lost and displaced if invasive w**ds were allowed to proliferate across our region unchecked.

We encourage you to get out and enjoy our open space and natural areas, but be sure to help protect our natural areas. "Spread the word and not the w**ds". Talk to your friends, family, and acquaintances about the impacts of invasive w**ds, and clean your clothing, boots, and equipment to "stop the spread of these w**ds in your tracks".

**dWise

ODA Noxious W**d Program

Before and After!The W**dWise program is celebrating this **dAwarenessWeek, by reflecting on the immense amount of work...
05/23/2026

Before and After!

The W**dWise program is celebrating this **dAwarenessWeek, by reflecting on the immense amount of work, we have been implementing in cooperation with our partners from the Mt. Hood National Forest- US Forest Service.

We are actively managing fire adapted w**ds on the Mt Hood following the massive Riverside and Beachie Creeek wildfires. Our ongoing effort to suppress invasive w**ds like blackberry and common broom to allow the forest to regenerate is pacying dividends and we are seeing the positive response in the forest regeneration.

Be sure to check out these before and after photos provided by our Mt Hood W**dWise Specialist, Sierra Bloomer.

Many thanks to all of the W**dWise staff and our restoration contractors that have helped to make these efforts a success.

Please join us in protecting our sensitive wildfire recovery efforts by cleaning your boots, clothing, and equipment before venturing on the forest. Thanks for helping to Spread the Word and Not the W**ds!

**dWise

ODA Noxious W**d Program

Today is the final day of **dAwarenessWeek!The W**dWise program has been busy working on one of the largest spurge laur...
05/23/2026

Today is the final day of **dAwarenessWeek!

The W**dWise program has been busy working on one of the largest spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) infestations we have seen in the county. This invasive shrub readily invades the forest understory where is displaces other vegetation.

The sap of spurge laurel is something you want to avoid. It can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, as well as respiratory problems.

Once it becomes well established in an area, spurge laurel can spread great distances through its bird dispersed seeds.

This patch was so large and dense, that it provided the perfect opportunity for us to try out a few different treatment strategies to help inform future management .

Many thanks to W**dWise specialist, Monte Mattsson and R&R Contracting for their help in taking on this massive infestation!

**dWise
contracting ODA Noxious W**d Program

It is **dAwarenessWeek!One of the w**ds that we have been working on recently that doesn't get much attention, but shou...
05/23/2026

It is **dAwarenessWeek!

One of the w**ds that we have been working on recently that doesn't get much attention, but should is Giant hogw**d (Hercleum mantegazzianum). This high priority noxious w**d looks very similar to our native cow parsnip, but can reach heights up to 12 feet.

Giant hogw**d is noteworthy because it can cause severe burns if handled. The sap of the hogw**d plants make you sensitive to sun and can cause severe burns. Reactions can be ongoing for months.

This before and after photo of an infestation near the Clackamas-Multnomah county line was recently treated by W**dWise Specialist, Brendan Fordyce. This an infestation that we have been managing for a long time, but continues to come back with new seedlings.

Help to protect yourself and others. Spread the Word and not the W**ds, and report giant hogw**d to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline (https://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/)

**dWise **d

Noxious W**d Program

It is **dAwarenessWeek and we are highlighting some of our recent gorse management efforts.Clackamas County is one of t...
05/22/2026

It is **dAwarenessWeek and we are highlighting some of our recent gorse management efforts.

Clackamas County is one of the most inland sites for gorse in the state. While it is prolific along the coast, it has a limited distribution within the Willamette Valley and we are working hard to keep it that way.

Gorse has bright yellow flowers similar to Common broom, but is densely covered with dense thorns creating impenetrable thickets. Gorse is also highly flammable and greatly increases the threat to our communities from wildfire.

Many thanks to W**dWise Specialist, Justin for organizing these treatments and to AFS Forestry for their hard work and expertise in implementation!

**dWise

ODA Noxious W**d Program

It is Friday of **dAwarenessWeek and the W**dWise team has been busy!Oblong spurge (Euphorbia oblongata) has been a maj...
05/22/2026

It is Friday of **dAwarenessWeek and the W**dWise team has been busy!

Oblong spurge (Euphorbia oblongata) has been a major focus this week, as we scramble to manage a large infestation recently discovered in the county. W**dWise Technicians Samantha and Pavlina has been combing the county for oblong spurge and are treating some of the largest and densest populations we have seen!

Please help us celebrate awareness week by giving our superstar technicians a shout out for their hard work to protect our region!

And remember to help Spread the Word and Not the W**ds!

**dWise

ODA Noxious W**d Program

Address

22055 S Beavercreek Road Ste 1
Beaver Creek, OR
97004

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15032106000

Website

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