King County Noxious Weed Board seeks input on the annual noxious weed list

January 11, 2021

Summary

To protect people and the environment from harmful plants, the King County Noxious Weed Board will be adopting the 2021 noxious weed list at a public meeting on Jan. 27 in order to set the priority level of noxious weeds in King County, as directed by the state noxious weed law.

Story

The King County Noxious Weed Control Board is holding an online public hearing on the King County Noxious Weed List on Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. Once a year, following the adoption of the State Noxious Weed List, the King County Weed Board reviews the changes in the state list, holds a public hearing, and adopts the King County Noxious Weed List. The noxious weed list reflects both the requirements of State Law to regulate certain species with statewide or regional importance, and the priorities of King County to reduce the impact of noxious weeds on the people, economy, and environment of King County. 

The King County Weed Board administers the noxious weed program throughout the County, according to the requirements of the Washington State Noxious Weed Law, RCW 17.10. The Weed Board encourages public comment and input to help set the priorities of the noxious weed program each year. Comments can be made at the public hearing or submitted ahead to noxious.weeds@kingcounty.gov by Jan. 26 at 4 p.m.

Event registration and details: https://kingcountyweedlisthearing.eventbrite.com/.

For information about the Washington State Noxious Weed List changes or the King County Noxious Weed List, please contact noxious.weeds@kingcounty.gov, or visit kingcounty.gov/weeds. 

There are over 90 species of noxious weeds that state law requires property owners and public agencies to control on their properties in King County, 60 of which have been found growing in the county. 

Regulated species are mostly those found in only a few locations where there is still a chance of eradication, or those with serious potential impacts on people, farms or the environment. For the widespread noxious weeds, the county focuses on education and providing technical assistance. Noxious weed sightings can be reported to King County online.

Knowing which plants are the worst and how to control them is the specialty of King County’s noxious weed program personnel, and they are ready to teach anyone who needs or wants to know more. And if people can’t control their noxious weeds themselves but want to do the right thing, the noxious weed program will find a way to help them.

County residents can learn about noxious weeds by taking a free class on noxious weeds, visiting the program’s website and Noxious Weeds blog. The noxious weed program also has a few specialty weed control tools for loan, such as large weed pullers for Scotch broom and injector tools for knotweed, and they offer vouchers for free disposal of regulated noxious weeds at county transfer stations. 

Learn more about the King County Noxious Weed Control Program by calling 206-477-9333 or by contacting Sasha Shaw, communication specialist for the noxious weed program, 206-477-4824, or sasha.shaw@kingcounty.gov.

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The King County Noxious Weed Control Program works with county residents and public agencies to prevent and minimize harmful effects of noxious weeds to the environment, recreation, public health, and economic resources in King County. The Noxious Weed Control Program’s Board is composed of community members appointed by the King County Council. Information is available at kingcounty.gov/weeds.


RELEVANT LINKS
• King County Noxious Weed Program
• King County Connect

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Doug Williams, 206-477-4543

About the King County Water and Land Resources Division
The Water and Land Resources Division works to protect the health and integrity of King County’s natural resources. Employees work to reduce flood risks, monitor water quality and restore wildlife habitat; manage, and reduce the harmful impacts from stormwater, noxious weeds and hazardous waste; create sustainable forestry and agriculture; and protect open space to support all of these efforts.