Around 1850, ships dumped cheatgrass-tainted ballast in St. Louis; by 1914, it was widespread in the intermountain West and later spread across much of North America

Cheatgrass arrived in North America around 1850 through accidental introductions via ship ballast. This Eurasian grass spread widely across the intermountain West and beyond by 1914. Human activities like railroads and livestock grazing accelerated its establishment in disturbed landscapes. Cheatgrass now dominates many areas, displacing native vegetation and altering plant communities. Its tendency to dry out and burn readily creates a difficult cycle of frequent wildfires.
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