It was a banner year in 2004 for combating non-native plants. Staff controlled 15 invasive plant species on 37 out of 40 natural areas. The integrated weed management approach employed by the Natural Areas Program utilizes a variety of methods to produce maximum results. Seasonal staff cut, pulled, sprayed, and farmed nearly 4,000 acres in the effort to promote healthy native grasslands. At the Resource Recovery Farm, Nix Natural Area, Kingfisher Point, and Pelican Marsh, transitional cover crops (wheat and oats) were used to out-compete weed infestations and prepare the soil for native grass seedings in 2005. Finally, more than 80 acres of non-native Russian olive trees were removed at Riverbend Ponds and Kingfisher Point natural areas to promote the healthy growth of native cottonwood trees.