Gunnison County asks residents to help ‘Beat the cheat’

Gunnison County is calling on residents to take action against one of the most serious emerging threats to our local landscape: invasive cheatgrass.

With several community events planned this month, there are more opportunities than ever to get involved in protecting Gunnison County’s lands, wildlife, and way of life.

Why cheatgrass matters

Cheatgrass is an invasive annual grass that has spread across much of the western United States over the past century, and it is now firmly established in Gunnison County. Once it takes hold, cheatgrass crowds out native plants, dries out soil earlier in the season, and significantly increases wildfire risk by creating highly flammable “fine fuels.”

It also poses a direct threat to the Gunnison Sage-grouse, a species whose global population is largely concentrated right here in Gunnison County.

“Cheatgrass changes everything about how our ecosystem functions,” said Dr. Sarah Elzay, Gunnison County’s cheatgrass and habitat restoration coordinator. “It pulls water away from native plants, dries out quickly, and creates the perfect conditions for more frequent and larger wildfires.”

May Is the time to act

Ecologically speaking, the month of May is the most effective time to remove cheatgrass. Generally, the plant matures by early June, but the grass is maturing earlier this year due to the warm, dry weather. Before maturity, it can be safely pulled from the ground in order to avoid the spreading of seeds. Once it dries out and goes to seed, it becomes brittle and spreads easily, hitching rides on clothing, pets, and vehicles, creating new infestations.

What residents can do at home

Gunnison County is encouraging all residents to check their yards and properties this month and take simple steps:

• Pull cheatgrass now – roots and all – before seeds mature;
• Dispose of it properly in a sealed trash bag (do not compost, burn, or leave in piles);
• Be mindful of spread; seeds can cling to pets, gear, and vehicles; and
• Contact Elzay at selzay@western.edu for guidance on herbicide use for larger properties.

Even small actions can make a big difference. Removing cheatgrass from a backyard today could prevent its spread to nearby trails, open spaces, and wildlife habitat tomorrow.

Join a community “pulling” event
Residents can also take part in upcoming volunteer events:

• May 16, 8 a.m.: Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Beers, Bands, and Barbed Wire Strands at I-Bar Ranch: This long-standing annual event combines stewardship and community, and includes a cheatgrass pulling and mapping component at the Signal Peak trails. Participants can register at : https://www.backcountryhunters.org/events/eventid/4812/e/beer-bands-and-barbed-wire-strands-gunnison-co-15-may-2026
• May 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Gunnison Cheatgrass Pull Day at Legion Park: Volunteers gather at this family-friendly event to remove cheatgrass. No registration required.

For both events, participants should bring water bottles, sunscreen, hats, work gloves. For the BHA event, participants may also bring a bike if they would like to ride some of the back trails that will have just opened on May 15.

The CheatMaps app

Gunnison County is also leveraging technology to stay ahead of cheatgrass spread. CheatMaps is an app designed to track the spread of Cheatgrass within the Gunnison Valley, aiming to address the ecological challenges posed by its proliferation. The app offers a great solution for identifying Cheatgrass infestations and was developed as a part of the 2024 Western Colorado University & University of Colorado-Boulder Partnership Computer Science Capstone project, in collaboration with the Gunnison Sagebrush Alliance. CheatMapp is available to download in the App Store and the Google Play Store.