Group works toward sustainable future

A new project is growing in Hot Springs, and it promises to bring about positive change for the community. The Hot Springs Sustainability Project was started by Hot Springs resident Shaun Martinz, and is intended to support environmentally-conscious problem solving in the area.

The Hot Springs Sustainability Project is a non-profit organization whose goal is to raise funds for sustainable projects in the community. One of the first projects that this organization has taken on has to do with the knapweed issue in the area. The group has joined forces with the Lower Flathead Watershed Knapweed Project to combat the invasive species of weed.

Martinz felt that this would be a good project for HSSP to be involved with, as it has far-reaching implications in the area.

“Knapweed is something we all have in common,” Martinz said.

Knapweed is an invasive species of weed that first made its presence known in Montana in the early 1920s. Knapweed has been found to adversely affect the water quality and land production.

The joint venture between these two organizations marks the coming together of the agencies to create biological control. What the HSSP will be doing to control the weeds is utilizing natural methods to combat the spread of knapweed as an alternative to the harsh chemical treatments that have been employed in other control efforts.

HSSP has gone through the initial phases of establishing the feasibility of this project.  The second phase will be working with landowners to begin control efforts.

“We have to work together,” Martinz said.

Martinz hopes that the project provides medium to small landowners with the resources they need to combat the weed problem.

According to Martinz, knapweed, like most weeds, moves in when conditions are right.

“Weeds in general are opportunistic,” Martinz said.

When soil gets depleted and dry, knapweed takes hold. The plant itself has roots that grow deep into the soil, where they strip the soil of any remaining nutrients. This makes it almost impossible for farmers to grow anything.

Typically, the response to this situation has been to treat affected areas with a series of chemical treatments. But for Martinz, this is not the best answer.

“The solution creates more problems,” Martinz said.

What HSSP plans to do is to utilize insects as biological agents, introducing a certain species of insect larva into the affected area. As the larvae grow, they feed on the knapweed’s extensive root system, thereby weakening the plant. By also keeping the plant mowed, landowners can cripple the knapweed and keep it from flowering and spreading. Then, affected areas can be reseeded with natural grasses, and the weakened weed can be displaced.

One challenge to this method of weed control is that the insects that feed on the knapweed cannot fly, and subsequently need to be gathered in order for them to help treat large expanses of affected areas. Also, the method is no quick fix.

“It takes time,” Martinz said.

Still, this treatment method does provide a solution to the knapweed problem without the harsh effects of chemicals and in a way that utilizes natural processes.

Martinz hopes that this project can initiate collaboration between neighbors as they work together to combat the problem.

“A yard isn’t really enough to keep the bug population up,” Martinz said. Martinz would like to see neighbors pool resources to deal with the knapweed issue.

At this point, HSSP has conducted a feasibility study, which Martinz plans to use to obtain more funding for the project. She is currently waiting to hear back on a few grants, but is optimistic on them coming through.

“There’s just a lot of funding out there,” Martinz said.

Ultimately, the goal of HSSP will be to help the community solve problems with sustainability in mind by providing the resources needed, either through funding or through organizational support. HSSP has been working with Northwest Regional Resource Conservation and Development, as well as the Eastern Sanders Conservation District. For Martinz, the goal is to invest in the future of the community in a sustainable way.

“It’s for everyone’s benefit,” Martinz said.