The Joseph Plains Weed Management Area came into existence in the spring of 2000.  Driving the organization were the several large private landowners wishing to take a stand against continued expansion of noxious weeds into valuable grazing and timberlands of the area.

The JPWMA encompasses approximately 180,000 acres located south of the Salmon River (common boundary with the Tri-State WMA), east of the Snake River, north of the Forest Service boundary, and west of the Salmon River Weed Management Area.  A majority of the lands located within the JPWMA are privately owned.  Additional cooperators include the Bureau of Land Management, Cottonwood office, Idaho Department of Lands Craigmont office, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Lewiston Office, and Idaho County Weed Control.

This WMA faces a common problem with the surrounding WMAs in that portions of the land base are currently infested with yellow star thistle.  Other weed species that inhabit the area to some extent are Spotted Knapweed, Leafy Spurge, Dalmation Toadflax, Diffuse Knapweed, Italian Thistle, Scotch Thistle, and White Top.

Cooperators are working together to accomplish the following: 

• Categorize weed species into confine, contain, and control/eradicate categories
• Establish specific weed management objectives
• Create treatment zones and weed free zones within the JPWMA
• Coordinate the use of resources and manpower
• Develope an initial noxious weed inventory and map
• Implement an integrated pest management approach 
  
  Reports
• Strategic Plan
• AOP [2004] [2003] [2002]
• End of Year Report [2004] [2003] [2002]