This seminar will include: a description of the weed survey and mapping system and data currently available through the system, and provide details and demonstrations on how to access and use them. The presentation will conclude with an audience question and answer session.

The Montana Noxious Weed Survey and Mapping System (http://www.montana.edu/places/mtweeds) was funded primarily by the Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund. It was designed to assist weed managers in developing and maintaining a consistent, current, statewide noxious weed monitoring and inventory system. The system is designed to provide consistent inventories of weeds, determine how fast the weeds are spreading, evaluate weed mitigation strategies, and provide general information, training, and technical support to county weed specialists.

Currently, the group has completed and released statewide section-based maps for five species of noxious weeds. This data is available via the Internet and will be shown during the seminar.

Natural resource professionals, as well as the public, are invited to attend. This presentation is free of charge. For more information, call (406) 444-5356. Interested individuals are also encouraged to visit the NRIS website at: nris.state.mt.us.