When we think about invasive species and salmon, northern pike and elodea often come to mind first. That is understandable. Much of the invasive-species work completed by CIAA and organizations such as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game focuses on these two species. However, orange hawkeed is another invasive species CIAA focused on to protect area salmon habit.
A beautiful plant with an ugly habit
Native to Europe, orange hawkweed has spread throughout much of North America. In Alaska, it commonly grows in disturbed areas such as roadsides, lawns, fields and gravelly areas. Its flowers make it easy to recognize. The plant typically grows low to the ground, with hairy leaves and stems topped by clusters of bright orange flowers.
What makes orange hawkweed troublesome, however, is what happens after it becomes established. Although its bright orange flowers may look attractive, and may look like wildflowers, orange hawkweed aggressively competes with native vegetation and can alter plant communities surrounding salmon habitat.
That creates a problem anywhere in Alaska, but invasive species deserve particular attention around a hatchery that receives hundreds to thousands of visitors each year. For CIAA, controlling orange hawkweed at Trail Lakes Hatchery represents more than a landscaping project. It helps protect the hatchery property and the surrounding Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lands.
A Small Infestation with a Big Potential Impact
Staff first informally surveyed the orange hawkweed infestation at Trail Lakes Hatchery in August 2025. The infestation consists of two patches totaling approximately 0.20 acres along the north/northwestern boundary of the hatchery grounds.
At first glance, two patches covering a fraction of an acre may not seem like a major problem. Their location, however, makes them particularly important to address.
The patches lie within approximately 20 feet of portions of the Johnson Pass Trail. The trail begins adjacent to the hatchery grounds and extends more than 20 miles through additional DNR land before entering Chugach National Forest. Hikers and their pets passing close to the infestation could easily transport orange hawkweed seeds beyond the hatchery property.
Normal hatchery operations also create opportunities for the plant to spread. Lawn mowing and weed eating can disturb established plants, while dogs belonging to staff who live on site may travel through the patches during the spring and summer.
In other words, the concern isn't simply what is growing at Trail Lakes today. It is where those plants could end up tomorrow.
Three Years of Treatment
CIAA is taking a long-term approach to the problem with help from the Copper River Watershed Project Invasive Plant Mini-Grant Program.
CIAA plans to treat the Trail Lakes infestation during the spring and summer/fall of 2026, 2027 and 2028. Staff applied the first treatment in July, when the plants were actively growing but had not yet flowered. Staff applied a second treatment in September.
The treatment uses Milestone herbicide mixed with a non-ionic surfactant to help the product reach the plants. A three- to six-foot buffer around the infestation was also treated to help limit its spread.
Because the treatment area sits close to a popular trail and the hatchery's public areas, CIAA must also protect people, pets and wildlife. During treatment, staff enclosed the area with orange barrier fencing. They also posted signs at the Johnson Pass Trailhead, the public pavilion at Trail Lakes and around the treatment areas to notify visitors and staff about the herbicide application.
CIAA staff will conduct annual surveys throughout the treatment period and submit treatment and survey information to Alaska Exotic Plants Information Clearinghouse (AKEPIC) each year from 2026 through 2028. Continued monitoring remains essential because orange hawkweed seeds can remain viable in the soil for years.
The work may seem small compared with the millions of salmon eggs incubating at Trail Lakes, but invasive-species management represents an important part of the responsibility that comes with operating a hatchery in Alaska.
Healthy salmon depend on healthy habitat. By addressing orange hawkweed while the infestation is still relatively small, CIAA is taking action to protect the Trail Lakes Hatchery grounds, surrounding DNR lands, and the natural landscape that makes this facility such an important part of the Cook Inlet salmon enhancement program.
What to do if you see orange hawkweed
If you see orange hawkweed anywhere in Alaska the most important thing is to prevent it from spreading and document the location. If you see orange hawkweed on the hatchery grounds, please let staff know and they will flag the area for treatment.
Stop and identify it
- Look for bright orange-red flowers in clusters.
- The flower stalk is usually mostly leafless and hairy.
- Leaves form a hairy basal rosette.
- If you are unsure of the plant's identity, take photographs rather than disturbing.
Mark the location
- Record the location using GPS if possible.
- Note the approximate size of the infestation.
- Record whether there are individual plants or a larger patch.
Photograph it
Take several photos, including:
- Close-up of the flower.
- Entire plant.
- Basal leaves.
- Wider photo showing the infestation and surrounding area.
- Include something for scale if possible.
Report the find
- Alaska recommends reporting suspected invasive plants. The State's invasive-species hotline is 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748).
- If the plant is on hatchery grounds, let the hatchery staff know.
The next time you see the bright orange flowers of hawkweed, remember: sometimes protecting Alaska's salmon starts with protecting the plants around them.
