Eddy County CWMA

The Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) administer the projects for the Eddy County Coordinated Weed Management Area (CWMA). This group is a collection of Federal, State, County and Municipal governmental agencies and other organizations within Eddy County that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to voluntarily share resources and aid each other in the treatment of noxious weeds. This group has been very effective in their collective efforts to treat noxious weeds in Eddy County.

With all of these agencies working together, manpower and equipment is always available to treat areas with noxious weed problems. Applicators are either private licensed and bonded chemical applicators, Bureau of Land Management employees, or hold their public applicators license. Funds for the purchase of the chemical however, can be in short supply. The Carlsbad SWCD administers the funds received for the purchase of chemical to treat noxious weeds where needed and/or requested.

The following is a breakdown of the funding provided by the agencies involved. All of these funds are used to purchase chemicals. These agencies along with the New Mexico Department of Transportation provide the equipment and personnel to apply the chemical.

Agency	Annual Funds Provided
Carlsbad BLM	$ 25,000
Eddy County	15,000
Oil & Gas Companies	36,684
Carlsbad SWCD	4,329
Total Funds Provided	$ 81,013

The ECCWMA has adapted to utilizing what funding and or support can become available to getting the treatment on the ground

At present, the two species of noxious weeds that are of the most concern are Malta Star Thistle and African Rue. Both spread quickly, are highly toxic, and can poison both people and livestock. Malta Star Thistle can be controlled effectively using a mixture of Escort^® and Vanquish^®. African Rue is a rapidly spreading problem in the county and can only be controlled by a mixture of Arsenal^® and Roundup^®.