How Weevils are Helping SLCO Manage the Jordan River

​How a little bug can do a lot of good in our broader Jordan River management plan.​
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​As a Salt Lake County Council member I get to learn about many different, pressing issues for the county. Sometimes that entails learning a bit about weevils. Normally considered a nuisance, last Friday I learned the value these bugs/insects are bringing to our management of the Jordan River.

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Small flags mark where we dropped weevils

Specifically, these little things are called puncturevine weevils. They only eat one thing: goatheads, aka puncturevine weeds. Goatheads are an invasive weed that causes problems for land along the Jordan River, which is why the Jordan River Commission recruited volunteers to spread the weavils around by the river last Friday.

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Puncturevine weevils

We also had a strong media showing Friday, helping to tell our story:

• Salt Lake Tribune
• ABC4
• Deseret News
• KUER
• KUTV

​​Standing outside putting a bunch of little bugs on weeds may seem odd, but Friday’s event was important for the county for a couple reasons.

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Speaking with the press about river management

First, it is our responsibility to take care of the open space around the Jordan River, preserving it for quality of live today as well as for future generations. Ensuring this gem is a resource for all our residents is very important to me.
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Second, this represents an environmentally sensitive way to eliminate a problematic invasive weed, while not doing any damage to the ecosystem. Responsible management of our county’s natural resources in a way that address problems and preserves the environment is a principle of governance that extends to all areas of the county’s stewardship.

I’m very grateful to Laura Hanson of the Jordan River Commission for all her hard work preserving the river corridor, and excited to see continued management of this wonderful resource.

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Jordan River Commission's Executive Director, Laura Hanson, holds a goathead weed while speaking to reporters

To learn more about the Jordan River Commission, visit http://jordanrivercommission.com/.

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