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About the Weed Control District

A group of farm leaders under the direction of the Extension Director initially laid the groundwork for the formation of the Larimer County Weed Control District in 1959.

The Fort Collins Weed District was formed March 2, 1960. The Loveland Weed Control District was formed about a month later on April 13. The lands that these districts encompassed are in the collection of documents and files in the Larimer County Courthouse Archives.

The two districts were formed as part of a pilot program, which was to last three years, to control Canada thistle. Landowners outside the pilot districts saw just how successful the program was in combating Canada thistle, and they petitioned to form another district, which would include more of the County's land.

At first, some committee members wanted to include the rest of the County in its entirety. This was voted down because of the vast areas of range and forest lands. The final decision was to include Canada thistle control on all irrigated lands within the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. Thus, the East Larimer County Weed Control District was formed April 19, 1962.

In addition, the two pilot districts petitioned for an extension of their termination date in November 1962. A new termination date was set for December 31, 1966.

In February 1967, the Advisory Committee members of the three districts petitioned to dissolve the districts and consolidate them into one. On March 1, 1967, the three districts became the Larimer County Weed Control District.

The original districts were formed using the parameters of The Pest Act, Ch. 6, Art.16, CRS 1953. The Larimer County Weed Control District now operates under 35-5 CRS 1973 and 35-5.5 CRS 1990.

After leafy spurge was declared a noxious weed by the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Colorado, it gained noxious weed status by ballot in the Larimer County Weed Control District in April 1979. Over the years, six other weeds have been designated noxious in Larimer County, as well.

The districts were originally funded out of the County general fund. In 1982, the County attorney began to look at the option of a special mill levy to fund the District. Today, the Weed Control District is funded by a mill levy assessed landowners within the District boundaries. According to 35-5 CRS 1973, the mill levy cannot exceed 2 mills. The District now operates on a budget funded by a mill levy in the range of .143 mills. With the passage of the tax limitation bill, Amendment I, this will probably be the maximum mill levy allowable.

Bylaws for the Weed Control District were proposed and in November 1993, accepted by the seven member Advisory Committee.

Your Assistance Is Needed!

Current legislation does not permit us to spend money outside the Weed District that is generated from withing the District (i.e. funds generated from the weed tax). Therefore, we rely on donations to provide weed management on lands in areas such as Estes Park, Glacier View, Red Feather and Livermore.

If you would like to send a donation, please call our office at 970-498-5768, or send it to:

Larimer County Weed District
P.O. Box 1190
Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190.

Receipts available upon request

Weed District Boundary

Residents within this boundary pay a weed tax and receive different benefits than residents outside the boundary. Find out which programs you're eligible for by checking out our services.

Boundary Map