The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Community Weed Pull on June 16
By Kendra Walker
The town of Mt. Crested Butte has made positive progress with its weed management initiatives, based on an update from Native Landscapes on the 2025 season. The council has renewed its contract with Native Landscapes for the 2026 season, and is hosting a Community Weed Pull on June 16.
This past year, the town had contracted Brad Wigginton of Native Landscapes to treat all town properties and rights-of-way (ROW) for noxious weeds. He has worked with the town since 2022 to treat and mitigate noxious weeds in various town sites, including rights-of-way, open spaces, the town campground, the rec path and parking lots.
Wigginton said that Native Landscapes spent 136.5 hours dedicated to on-the-ground weed management in 2025. He treated approximately 7.8 acres, down from 9.5 acres in 2024. “There can be quite a lot of influencing factors to that,” he said. “But I like to think that it’s working and we’re reducing the size. We’re making headway.”
Wigginton noted that he posts signs at the start and end of a section being treated, and he flags throughout the treatment area so people are aware the treatment is taking place. Wigginton also worked with the town to utilize its text notification service to notify community members when weed treatments were happening in Mt. CB. Staff said that the response to these texts has been positive and the town plans to continue that practice in the future.
The town also holds a community weed pull event every year. “This event has been a great opportunity to engage with the public and assist with plant identification,” said community development coordinator Leah Desposato. Last year, “We pulled a lot of Western Salsify, Houndstongue and Scentless Chamomile throughout the town property and recreation path. We received positive feedback regarding guest speaker, Jennie Reithel from RMBL who is also on the Mt. CB weed board.”
Additionally, the town sent notices to property owners to mitigate weeds on their property, and Desposato feels there has been more buy-in from the community to help with the effort.
The town sent 37 individual notices to properties with significant weed infestations, and Desposato said 34 of those properties have acted and responded to the town’s request, a 92% response rate. This is an increase from last year’s 85% rate for 27 notices. Desposato also noted that 64 property managers or owners self-reported weeds and submitted mitigation plans, an increase from 2024 when 52 properties self-reported.
Desposato said engagement from HOAs has increased. “Neighborhood streets and HOAs are getting more organized and involved,” she said. The Gold Link HOA has formed an internal monitoring subcommittee, and Overlook held a subdivision walk-through and is creating a treatment plan for 2026 in collaboration with the Mt. CB weed board.
Mayor Nicholas Kempin asked if the town has talked to the county to address the surrounding areas outside of Mt. CB limits, such as Saddle Ridge. “Right down the drains you’re in noxious weed territory. I’m curious if the county is working on it,” he said.
“They are working on it. We have met and discussed some of those areas. They’re willing to work with us and we can pay more attention to those areas next season,” said Desposato.
“In general, it seems like it’s working,” Kempin told Wigginton.
“It really does, you see the difference,” said Wigginton. “In the last two years I’m really starting to see a big difference. In the weed world it’s those small victories.”
This year’s Community Weed Pull takes place on June 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will learn to identify common plants and noxious weeds, see how efficient watering reduces weeds and water waste and join a hands-on weed pull followed by a free lunch. If interested, RSVP by emailing rgagne@mtcb.colorado.gov.
