By Ron Brown & Faris Tanyos
 
October 28, 2008
 
NEAR MEDFORD, Ore. -- One of the biggest challenges for state highway managers is controlling weeds and dry grass growing along freeways.
 
The star thistle, also known as the Russian thistle, puncture weed, or tumbleweed, has created big problems for highway maintenance crews. Some can grow as large as a small car. When they dry out they blow across highways causing traffic jams and accidents, while spreading thousands of seeds in their paths. They sprout up in mostly bare ground, including highway shoulders, especially between Medford and Central Point. These are piled up on the north on-ramp near Withams Truck Stop. Herbicides and mowing helps control the Russian thistle to some extent, but hand work is the most effective.
 
"I have Jackson County correctional folks come and hand pick it, and believe it or not, bag it all ,and I'll dispose of it into a landfill site and cover it up and...take care of the seeds that way," says ODOT Maintenance Manager Everett Carroll.
 
The Russian thistle, is believed to have been introduced by Ukrainian emigrants in the prairie states in the 1800's from seeds that came in with flax seed.
 
The average plant has about 250,000 seeds.