Volunteers target stinking chamomile

CLARK FORK — Volunteers are gathering at the Clark Fork Delta today in an attempt to break off the toehold established by stinking chamomile, a non-native weed that is counterproductive to re-vegetation efforts in the delta restoration campaign.

Volunteers are gathering at the Clark Fork Driftyard today at 10 a.m. Those who are interested in joining the effort are urged to sign up beforehand on the Clark Fork Delta Restoration volunteer page (http://clarkforkdelta.org/reg-events/) so the Idaho Department of Fish & Game knows how many people to expect.

Despite the off-putting name, stinking chamomile has a flash of floral panache. The flower has a daisy-like head consisting of a yellow disk ringed by white ray petals, which informs beliefs that it was introduced in North America in the ornamental plant trade. The plant is native to Europe and North Africa and goes by a laundry list of nicknames including mayweed chamomile, dog daisy, pigsty daisy, chigger weed and several others.

Stinking chamomile not exclusive to the delta islands where it was discovered. It was thought to be more common in the drier, southern portion of the state but its discovery in the delta confirms that it can find a home in wetter climes as well.

The plant wasn’t really on the radar of Idaho Department of Fish & Game biologist Kate Walker until its discovery in the delta last fall. Stinking chamomile now catches her eye in fields and pastures around Bonner County.

“It’s kind of like a new car. When you buy a new car then you see them everywhere. Well, now I’m seeing them everywhere,” Walker said of the distinctive stinking chamomile flowers.

Stinking chamomile doesn’t pose any grave threats to the public or the environment, although it could undermine efforts to ensure native plant species dominate the delta, which is eroding because of influence of dams on the Clark Fork River system. A massive project is underway to restore and fortify the delta against erosion.

Pushing back stinking chamomile has been added to the list of restoration tasks.

“Our main objective is to reduce it to make sure the native plants become established,” said Walker.

To that end, volunteers have been gathering at the Clark Fork Driftyard this month to pull the weeds by hand. Depsite it’s moniker, the weed has a fairly fragrant aroma. However, oil on the plant can be a skin irritant, so volunteers are urged to bring gloves and to wear long sleeves.

It’s not clear how the weed became established in Bonner County, although Walker suspects the seeds are the culprit.

However, it was not found in the seed mix used for the re-vegetation.

“I’ve had the seed tested at the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s seed lab at the University of Idaho and they’ve confirmed that it was not in there,” said Walker.

The seed was also not detected in the straw that was used during hydro-mulching in the delta, Walker added.

Susan Drumheller of the Idaho Conservation League, who took part in the weed-pulling, said the volunteer effort is showing some returns.

“They’re making a huge dent in it with these volunteer work parties,” said Drumheller.