(1) In enacting this article the general assembly finds and declares that there is a need to ensure that all the lands of the state of Colorado, whether in private or public ownership, are protected by and subject to the jurisdiction of a local government empowered to manage undesirable plants as designated by the state of Colorado and the local governing body. In making such determination the general assembly hereby finds and declares that certain undesirable plants constitute a present threat to the continued economic and environmental value of the lands of the state and if present in any area of the state must be managed. It is the intent of the general assembly that the advisory commissions appointed by counties and municipalities under this article, in developing undesirable plant management plans, consider the elements of integrated management as defined in this article, as well as all appropriate and available control and management methods, seeking those methods which are least environmentally damaging and which are practical and economically reasonable.
(1.5) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
Noxious weeds have become a threat to the natural resources of Colorado, as thousands of acres of crop, rangeland, and habitat for wildlife and native plant communities are being destroyed by noxious weeds each year;
An organized and coordinated effort must be made to stop the spread of noxiousweeds and that such an effort can best be facilitated by a state coordinator who will assist in building local coalitions and coordinate the efforts of state, federal, local, and private landowners in developing plans for the control of noxious weeds without unnecessarily disrupting the development of such lands;
The designation and classification of noxious weeds into categories for immediateeradication, containment, and suppression will further assist the state in coordinating efforts to stop the spread of noxious weeds;
Because the spread of noxious weeds can largely be attributed to the movement ofseed and plant parts on motor vehicles, and because noxious weeds are becoming an increasing maintenance problem on highway right-of-ways in this state, additional resources are needed to fight the spread of noxious weeds; and
The use of moneys in the noxious weed management fund to assist local governingbodies and affected landowners in the eradication, containment, or suppression of noxious weeds best serves the citizens of Colorado.
(2) This article is in addition to article 5 of this title and is intended to be an expansion of, not a substitution for, the provisions of said article 5.
Source: L. 90: Entire article added, p. 1549, § 1, effective July 1. L. 96: (1.5) added, p. 764, § 4, effective May 23. L. 2003: (1.5) amended, p. 2415, § 1, effective August 6.