King County Noxious Weed Control Board 2008...

MissionProvide benefits to theenvironment, recreation, publichealth and economic resourcesof King County by preventingand minimizing harmfulimpacts of noxious weeds.

Educate the community about prevention andmanagement of noxious weed infestations andincrease participation in noxious weed controlactivities.

Eradicate existing infestations of Class A noxiousweeds.

Control regulated Class B and Class C noxious weedinfestations to below levels of significant impact.

Implement early detection and rapid response forinfestations of new or recently detected noxiousweeds with restricted distributions.

Support the management of widespread noxiousweeds and facilitation of more effective, coordinatedlandscape-scale control efforts.

Goals

2008 Annual Report

Water and Land Resources DivisionNoxious Weed Control Program201 S. Jackson Street, Ste. 600Seattle, WA 98104-3856

Noxious Weed Control Program206-296-0290 www.kingcounty.gov/weeds

King CountyNoxious Weed Control Board

Letter from the ChairKing County NoxiousWeed Control Board

District 1SCOTT MOORE, CHAIR

7009 23rd Ave NWSeattle, WA [email protected]

Alternate formats of thisreport are available.

Call 206-296-0290or

TTY Relay: 711

District 2DUANE JOHNSON

8309 372nd Pl. SESnoqualmie, WA [email protected]

District 3JOHN BROWNE

20929 111th Ave SWVashon, WA [email protected]

District 4GRACE STILLER

8105 116th Ave SENewcastle, WA [email protected]

District 5CLINT BOSTWICK, VICE CHAIR

PO Box 1374Enumclaw, WA [email protected]

WSU Extension AgentJENNIFER ANDREAS

200 Mill Ave. S, Ste. 100Renton, WA 98057(206) [email protected]

Additional information, graphs and maps available online at www.kingcounty.gov/weeds

Scott Moore

2008 Program StaffPROGRAM MANAGER

STEVEN J. BURKE 206-205-6927

EDUCATION SPECIALIST

SASHA SHAW 206-263-6468

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALISTS

SUZANNE ROWE 206-296-0442DENISE LIGUORI

ROY BRUNSKILL: COUNTY LANDS

DENNIS CHAMBREAU: STATE LANDS

KATIE MESSICK: AQUATIC WEEDS

MATT BELOW

FRANCES LUCERO

TRISH MACLAREN

JESSICA MCKENNEY

KAREN PETERSON

MONICA WALKER

KIMIORA WARD

MARIA WINKLER

NOXIOUS WEED SPECIALISTS

206-296-0290

Field Assistants: KRISTEN COVEY AND JILL POLITSCH

Special Thanks:

Wendy Gable CollinsDennis ChambreauReport Charts/Map Creation

Suzanne RoweReport Layout/Design

Frances LuceroSasha ShawReport Data Analysis

On behalf of the King County Noxious Weed Control Board, Ithank you for your interest in the noxious weed controlprogram and taking the time to read our 2008 annual report.

The program is predominantly funded by citizens of theCounty and I believe this report demonstrates the significantpublic value generated by this investment. Our mission is toprovide benefits to the environment, recreation, public healthand economic resources of King County by preventing andminimizing harmful impacts of noxious weeds.

Despite difficult conditions in 2008 which encouraged weedgrowth and hampered control efforts, excellent progress wasagain made towards achieving our goals. Gains were made inthe long-term control and eradication of our highest prioritynoxious weeds. We have also increased our capacity andeffectiveness at managing other difficult-to-control, widespreadweeds. This annual report documents and quantifies thisprogress.

To be successful in the long run, we need a coordinated,community-wide effort. Thank you for your interest and activeparticipation in achieving this and we look forward to workingwith you again in 2009 to continue this important work.

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Major Results and Progress Toward Achieving Program Goals

62% sites eradicated99% controlled

Giant Hogweed909 active sites

Garlic Mustard156 active sites


Milk Thistle64 active sites



Goatsrue36 active sites


Spanish Broom36 active sites

Clear priorities for noxious weed controlare critical for their effective management.This is achieved by classifying noxiousweeds according to their potential threatand damage and tailoring a response to mostefficiently minimize these. Landownernoxious weed control requirements are alsomandated by the State Noxious WeedControl Law RCW 17.10.

In 2008, program staff extensively surveyedthe county for high priority noxious weeds,identifying new infestations and measuringsuccess in controlling known infested sites.Each weed infestation was monitored todetermine progress towards achievingcontrol and eradication goals for that weedspecies. Citizen reports were also receivedand verified. Program staff worked with2,809 landowners and public agencies toachieve the required level of weed control.

Responding to our annual customer servicesurvey, 81 percent of landowners andagency contacts rated the program’sperformance excellent to very good.Progress toward achieving the program’smajor strategic goals are as follows:

Eradication of Class ANoxious Weeds

Class A weeds are the most threateningand potentially damaging. There are 35 Class A noxious weeds on the Washington State Noxious WeedList, 14 of which have been recorded as growing in some part of the county. The goal for these weeds iseradication of existing infestations and the prevention of new invasions.

Significant progress was made toward the eradication of Class A noxious weeds. The program andproperty owners have eradicated 44 percent of the cumulative weed area identified to date on parcels inKing County.

2008 Major Program Activities

Number of infestations surveyed: 7,849Number of property owners contacted: 2,809Number of infestations controlled: 7,250Number of new infestations found: 654Acres of weeds controlled by property owners: 159Acres of weeds controlled by program: 108Hours spent in the field: 5,965

Top Class A Weeds in King County for 2008

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Eradication of Class A Noxious Weeds in King County 1996-2008*

*Based on surveys of parcels in King County

**Percent controlled of the 195 sites targeted for control

Additionally, 53 percent of the known sites have had no occurrence of these weeds for three or moreyears. Of the 1,247 Class A weed sites surveyed in King County in 2008, only 465 had weeds presentand 127 of these were new discoveries. Prevention of seeding is crucial to achieving eradication ofnoxious weeds. The program achieved control (containment and prevention of seed or spread) on 98percent of all Class A weed infestations found in 2008.

Control of Designated Class B WeedsThere are 54 designated Class B noxious weeds in King County. The program’s goal is to achieve control,bringing them to below the threshold level of significant impact.




Tansy Ragwort3003 active sites

Spotted Knapweed581 active sites

Purple Loosestrife860 active sites

Garden Loosestrife642 active sites

1% sites eradicated88% controlled**


Orange Hawkweed356 active sites

Top Class B Weeds in King County for 2008

0812_A_NoxWeeds.eps

Are

a(A

cres

)

Survey Year

Total Noxious Weed AreaEradicated to Date

Total Noxious Weed AreaControlled in Current Year

2008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996

0

60

50

40

20

10

30

Cumulative Noxious Weed Area Surveyed Since Program Began

Noxious Weed Area Found in Current Year

Noxious Weed Area not Controlled in Current Year

3

*Based on surveys of parcels in King County

Control of Class B Noxious Weeds in King County 1996-2008*

Yellow Hawkweed189 active sites


Diffuse Knapweed168 active sites



Sulfur Cinquefoil261 active sites


Policeman’s Helmet252 active sites

Dalmation Toadflax277 active sites


In 2008, the program achieved significant overall containment and control of designated Class B noxiousweeds. Program staff surveyed 6,486 parcels and roads with Class B noxious weeds, 499 of whichwere new discoveries. Overall, control (containment and prevention of seeding or spread) wasachieved on 91 percent of the Class B weed infestations. This was a decrease from the control levelattained in 2007 (94 percent) due to several large new Class B infestations discovered too late inthe season for control to be implemented in 2008. In addition, unusual weather conditions in 2008(particularly increased summer rains), favored weed germination and growth and hampered controlefforts. Despite this, the trend from 1999 to 2008 has been an increase in control based on both thepercentage of sites and the area of Class B noxious weeds (see chart below). Additionally, theprogram has eradicated 65 percent of the cumulative Class B noxious weed area identified to date.

Top Class B Weeds in King County for 2008 (cont.)

0812_B_NoxWeedsPercent.eps

Survey Year

0

200820072006

2005200420032002200120001999

100%

80%

40%

20%

60%

Percentage of Infestations Controlled Percentage of Area Controlled

4

County LandsProgram staff maintained anexcellent level of survey effortduring 2008, and the number ofsites controlled by county landmanagers continued to be high.This is especially notable due tothe large number of tansy ragwortinfestations found throughout KingCounty in 2008. There are now345 known regulated noxiousweed sites on county-managedparcels. Staff was able to survey239 sites and achieved control on218 (91 percent) of those sites.Staff also surveyed over 400county roads and identified 895regulated noxious weed sites alongcounty roads. Control wasconfirmed on 825 (92 percent) ofthese sites.

There were seven citizencomplaints about noxious weedinfestations on county property in 2008, the same low number as received in 2007. Staff confirmedthat six of these complaints were noxious weed infestations and ensured that the weeds werecontrolled prior to viable seed dispersal. Three complaints were on roadsides, two complaints wereParks-managed areas, and one occurred on Property Services-managed property that involved anunregulated noxious weed.

County Land Invasive Plant Survey (CLIPS)During the 2007 King County budget process, a provisowas included directing the King County Noxious WeedControl Program to submit a report on noxious weedcontrol by county land managers. Report findingsshowed a good understanding and management ofregulated noxious weeds; however, there was little or nodata available regarding the extent of non-regulatedinvasive vegetation such as Scotch broom andblackberry on county-owned lands. As a result of thesefindings, the program contracted with ESA Adolphson todesign a comprehensive methodology for surveying non-regulated weeds county lands with high and medium-high conservation value. ESA Adolphson also conductedthe survey, spending over three months in the field(mid-June to October). The primary deliverables of theproject were a Microsoft Access database and a GISdatabase containing all the field data collected during the

Surveying for invasive vegetation on countyproperty.

0

500

1000

1500

0812_nwKC02_08.eps

2002

Nox

iou

s Wee

d S

ites

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Total KC Land Sites

KC Lands Surveyed

KC Lands Sites Controlled

KC Lands Sites not Controlled

Dormant KC Lands Sites

Number of Noxious Weed Sites on KingCounty Lands 2002-2008

5

project. These datasets are nowavailable to county land managers toassist them in developingmanagement strategies for thecontrol of invasive weeds on countyproperties.

Approximately 21,156 acres weresurveyed by ESA Adolphson staffduring the project. The findingsdocumented that over two thirds(14,600 acres) of county-ownedlands had only trace amounts ofinvasive vegetation (see chart).

The most common invasive weedfound was Himalayan blackberrywhich was documented on 68.5percent of the survey areas. Thesecond-most common weed foundwas reed canarygrass at 42.3 percent,and the third was evergreenblackberry at 38.4 percent (seechart).

11,946.8

2653.0

3,149.1

934.7

877.2

728.8866.4

0 to .4% cover – weed presence not significant

0.5 to 2% cover – weed presence at

trace amounts

2 to 5% cover – low weed presence

6 to 10% cover – moderate weed

presence

11 to 25% cover – moderate high

presence

26 to 50% cover – high weed presence

>50% cover – very high weed presence

0812_InvPlants_08.eps

Invasive Presence (Acres) Within High andMedium-High Conservation Valued King

County-Owned Lands2008 Surveys

Top Ten Weeds Found in Study Area

1 Himalayan Blackberry Rubus armeniacus 68.5%

2 Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea 42.3%

3 Evergreen Blackberry Rubus laciniatus 38.4%

4 Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius 26.5%

5 English Holly Ilex aquifolium 25.9%

6 English Ivy Hedera helix 21.1%

7 Canada Thistle Cirsium arvense 19.3%

8 Tansy Ragwort Senecio jacobaea 18.5%

9 Common Tansy Tanacetum vulgare 15.2%

10 European Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia 14.0%

Rank Common Name Scientific Name Occurrence

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The state of Washington and thefederal government are among thelargest landowners in King Countywith over 3,700 parcels comprising38 percent of the total area of thecounty. In 2008, 170 known siteswere surveyed. Weeds were foundon 122 parcels and controlled on 98of them. In 2008, the Iron Horse Trail(a state park) was surveyed for thefirst time since 2002. Orange andyellow hawkweeds were found atSnoqualmie Summit (U.S. ForestService land). A plan has been putinto place for control of theseinvasive alpine weeds in 2009.

State and Federal Lands

Year New Sites Infested Sites Controlled Sites Percent Controlled

2008 55 729 656 90%2007 46 460 391 85%2006 58 649 497 77%2005 118 839 555 67%2004 87 540 396 74%2003 88 819 589 72%2002 100 701 472 67%

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Sites

Program staff conducted surveys of18 state highways managed by theWashington State Department ofTransportation (WSDOT) covering368 linear miles. In 2008, WSDOTcrews were very effective at timelyand effective weed control.

Highlights for highway rights-of-waycontrol in 2008 include control of allrush skeletonweed sites on I-90 andin Bellevue; control of all known sitesof the new Class A noxious weedEuropean hawkweed on SR 522, SR 2,SR 202, and I-90; and newapproaches to controlling Dalmatiantoadflax on I-90. An intensive surveyfor hawkweeds was undertaken tobetter understand the extent ofthese weeds.

Surveying for noxious weeds on Iron Horse Trail.

2008 Customer Service Survey

Over 2,450 Customer Service Survey cards weremailed to landowners contacted by programstaff during the past weed season. Similar to lastyear’s results, a majority (81 percent ) of therespondents gave the program an “A” (excellent)or “B” (very good) rating.

Grades Given:Grades Given:Grades Given:Grades Given:Grades Given: Number Percent

A 177 61.0B 59 20.3C 21 7.2D 7 2.4F 13 4.5None 13 4.5

290 survey cards returned out of 2,463 mailed,a 12 percent return rate.

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Aquatic Weed Control

Looking for signs of new aquatic and riparian weeds.

Tracking garden loosestife infestations.

Noxious weeds can severely degrade the environmental and recreationalvalue of aquatic areas. Minimizing these impacts is a major programobjective. Overall, 86 percent of designated aquatic noxious weed siteswere controlled in 2008. Purple loosestrife was the most widespreadspecies with 860 recorded sites, followed by garden loosestrife with 642recorded sites (195 of which were targeted for control), common reedwith 35 sites, and parrotfeather with four sites. Brazilian elodea continuesto infest five lakes and the other aquatic weeds three or fewer sites.Control was achieved on 86 percent of purple loosestrife sites, 88

percent of targetedgarden loosestrife sites and 89 percent of commonreed sites. All parrotfeather, floating primrose-willow,water primrose, hairy willowherb, yellow floating-heart,and hydrilla sites were also treated. Staff continuedmonitoring a few dormant common cordgrass siteswhere no weeds have been seen for two to sevenyears. The decrease in the percent of sites controlled in2008 is in part due to an increase in the total numberof sites found, up 460 sites from 2007.

Program staff continued working toward theeradication of four high-priority aquatic weeds. A newinfestation of the Class B weed yellow floating-heartwas found in two ponds on Vashon Island, and

treatment was initiated on this sitewith positive results. The only floatingprimrose-willow (Class A) infestationin Washington state was treated in2008, and although the infestation hadincreased due to flooding and beaveractivity, control was achieved. Of fourexisting parrotfeather sites, oneremained weed free for a second yearin a row and the other three weresuccessfully treated. The only stateinfestation of Hydrilla (Class A), in Pipeand Lucerne Lakes in King County,continued to be treated in a long-termproject administered by the KingCounty Lake Stewardship Program. In2008, no plants were found for thesecond year in a row.

Intensive surveying is an importantprogram activity. This facilitates earlydetection of new infestations and amore rapid, effective control response.In 2008, the program surveyed 14small lakes, 37 river miles, five largewetlands and the southeast quadrantof Lake Washington.

Major Aquatic Noxious Weeds in King County2008 Survey

Common Reed39 Sites

Parrotfeather4 Sites

Hairy Willowherb 3 Sites

Other (Common Cordgrass, Water Primrose Floating Primrose-willow, Yellow Floating Heart)6 Sites

PurpleLoosestrife

860 Sites

GardenLoosestrife

642 Sites

0812_AquWeeds_08.eps

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Education and Community ProgramsA primary goal of the program is to develop a knowledgeable and engaged community that activelyworks toward reducing noxious weed impacts in the county. The following activities wereundertaken to work toward this goal:

Technical Assistance to Landowners andAgenciesProgram staff worked directly with over 2,809private and public landowners and agency staff andanswered over 700 public inquiries. Information wasprovided to a broad audience through the program’supdated and re-designed website and the program’snewsletter “KC Weed News,” which highlights issuesrelevant to weed control in King County. Theprogram’s printed materials were distributed atevents throughout the county and were provided toother agencies and non-profit organizations.

Workshops and Public OutreachIn 2008, the program provided 47 workshops,trainings and presentations for professionals, students, garden clubs, community groups, homeownerassociations, livestock owners, forest owners, volunteers and many other audiences. In addition, theprogram held three workshops on invasive knotweed control for property owners in theSnoqualmie, Cedar, and Green River watersheds in conjunction with the program’s knotweed controlprojects in those watersheds. The program also staffed informational booths at 23 public events andfairs.

Green King County PartnershipThe program initiated a cooperative planning partnership with Cascade Land Conservancy andMountains to Sound Greenway Trust to build a broad-based and strategic effort to protect thecounty’s wilderness and natural areas from the impacts of invasive plants. This effort seeks to bring

additional public and private resourcesand community involvement tocombating widespread, non-regulatedinvasive weeds in the county’sconservation and wilderness areas.

Mid Fork Snoqualmie Trails WeedWatcher ProgramTo increase the detection of invasiveweeds in the county’s wilderness areas,the program teamed up with the U.S.Forest Service to train volunteer weedsurveyors for the Middle ForkSnoqualmie Invasive Weed Project.Eleven volunteers surveyed 25 miles,covering eight different trails. Data fromthe surveys was provided to theMountains to Sound Greenway Trust,which is leading the cooperative effortto control invasive weeds in the MiddleFork Valley.

Training in weed identification was provided to manygroups including this volunteer community group.

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Public Outreach Tables

Workshops and Events

Infestation Reports from the Public

Information Requests

Newsletter Subscribers

Contacts at Events and Workshops

Brochures and Bulletins Distributed

Website Visitor Sessions

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47

192

717

975

6,839

20,806

180,082

2008 Education Activities

Noxious Weeds of King County2008 Distribution

East King County Native Plant Stewardship ProgramThe program helped plan a new stewardship program for east King County residents that aims toincrease community participation in invasive weed management and restoration of native plant habitat.Program staff partnered with Washington Native Plant Society, Cascade Land Conservancy, King CountyParks and several eastside cities on this project.

Diffuse Knapweed168 Sites

Dalmatian Toadflax277 Sites

Sulfur Cinquefoil261 Sites

Tansy Ragwort3003 Sites

GiantHogweed909 Sites

SpottedKnapweed

581 Sites

PurpleLoosestrife

865 Sites

Orange Hawkweed356 Sites

Policeman’s Helmet252 Sites

GardenLoosestrife

642 Sites

Yellow Hawkweed189 Sites

Other Weeds289 Sites

Gorse 41 Sites

Perennial Pepperweed47 Sites

Milk Thistle64 Sites

Garlic Mustard156 Sites

Meadow Knapweed122 Sites

Common Hawkweed74 Sites

0812_NW_SitesPIE08.eps

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Knotweed Control Projects 2008 Results

Green/DuwamishUpper and MiddleGreen River, SoosCreek, Crisp Creek

5 16.68

South ForkSkykomish

Upper SF Skykomishand Tye Rivers

4 8.84

Middle ForkSnoqualmie

All sites on MFSnoqualmie andRoaring Creek

3 2.00

From Olallie StatePark to edge ofTwin Falls State Park

2 5.94South ForkSnoqualmie

Cedar River Upper/Middle Cedar,Lansburg to SR 18

TOTAL 41.79

Project

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2008 TreatmentArea Years

Net AcresTreated

8.33

Special ProjectsThe King County Noxious Weed Control Program was successful in securing grant funding to implementseveral large-scale, coordinated weed control projects. These projects targeted high priority weedinfestations where significant public resources are threatened.

Knotweed ControlIn 2008, the program managed invasive knotweedcontrol projects on five King County rivers(Green/Duwamish, Cedar, Middle and South ForkSnoqualmie and South Fork Skykomish) andassisted Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust on

two additionalprojects(IssaquahCreek andRaging River).See thesummary tablebelow for the2008 results.In all cases, thework focusedon theriparian areaswhere thehabitatbenefits of knotweed removal would be the greatest. Knotweed wassignificantly reduced in all project areas. For example, the overall

footprint of knotweed in theMiddle Fork Snoqualmieproject area has beenreduced by 75 percentsince the onset of theproject. Infestations weretreated using the steminjection method and foliarapplications of herbicide.Grant funding for theprojects, amounting to$111,280, was provided byU.S. Department ofAgriculture Forest Service,Washington StateDepartment of Agriculture,U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,and the King ConservationDistrict. The programprovided in-kindcontributions to eachproject.

Especially difficult to control in riparian areas where it growsaggressively, knotweed has even been found growing in themiddle of a river channel as pictured here on a remote stretchof the South Fork of the Skykomish River.

Knotweed can grow over six feet tall.

Goatsrue Eradication ProjectThe goatsrue infestations in Federal Way remain the only known sites in thenorthwestern United States of this Class A weed. As such, the programcontinues to be aggressive and diligent in its control and eradication efforts.Site surveys in the spring of 2008 revealed excellent seedling control fromwork completed in 2007; additionally, there were no seed-bearing plants.Changes in control strategies in 2008 included site mowing and raking priorto herbicide application. All landowners remain cooperative, appreciative andhelpful in their support of the project. The area of goatsrue treated in 2008was approximately 10,000 square feet in the first treatment and 1,000square feet in the second treatment. This marks a steady decline in densityand actual area treated from previous years. Consistent monitoring andcontrol work as needed will be continued as long as needed to achievecomplete eradication.

Miller/Walker Creek Invasive Plant RemovalThe summer of 2008 marked the third season of work on the $35,000 grant awarded by the Port ofSeattle to remove noxious weeds from Miller and Walker creeks in Seatac and Normandy Park. Programstaff conducted extensive surveys on both creeks and accessible tributaries. Over 200 parcels weresurveyed and target weeds were found on 101 of the parcels. As in the past, Washington ConservationCorps crews and a professional herbicide applicator were hired to assist in control work. All areas ofpoliceman’s helmet, purple loosestrife, giant hogweed and invasive knotweeds were controlled. Staffreceived support from landowners and stakeholders alike. Additionally, a $6,200 grant was received fromthe King Conservation District in 2008 for invasive knotweed control. This helped augment theremainder of the budget and achieve more knotweed control within tributaries to the creeks. In 2009,responsibility will return to the landowner or land manager for control of policeman’s helmet, gianthogweed and purple loosestrife. Priority weed infestations along these creeks will continue to be closelymonitored to maintain success.

Snoqualmie Garden Loosestrife ProjectThe program received an early infestation grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology toattempt eradication of the Class B noxious weed garden loosestrife on the lower Snoqualmie River overfive years, beginning in 2007. Thirty rivermiles of the Snoqualmie River between FallCity and the King County line weresurveyed and all garden loosestrifeinfestations found (132 sites) werecontrolled by a contractor and programstaff. All landowners with gardenloosestrife on their property supportedthe project. Fifteen patches on the RagingRiver were surveyed and controlled bystaff; professional herbicide applicatorscontrolled the existing infestation inRutherford Slough. An additionalinfestation in an unnamed slough justnorth of Rutherford was located too latein the season to be controlled, but it willbe a high priority in 2009.

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Staff surveyed 30 river miles for garden loosestrife.

Goatsrue stems and leavescontain a poisonous alkaloid.

Milk Thistle Control ProjectProgress continues in the intensive effort toeradicate milk thistle, currently infesting 10 acresin seven square miles of agricultural land nearEnumclaw. The program received a Class Anoxious weed control grant for 2008-2009 fromthe Washington State Department of Agriculture(WSDA) for milk thistle eradication. Allpopulations of milk thistle including three newinfestations were controlled in 2008. Preventionof seed production during the last three seasonshas reduced the existing seed bank. This is a keystep toward the goal of eradication. Landownerscontinue to be cooperative and have noticed asignificant decline in density.

Garlic Mustard Control ProjectIn 2008, WSDA also awarded the program $10,000for garlic mustard control. Previously, individuallandowners had been required to remove garlicmustard on their land, but this produced variableresults due to lack of landowner skill inidentification, especially when growing among nativelook-alikes. Additionally, some landowners haddifficulty accessing sites or following prescribedcontrol methods. The additional funding enabled theprogram to expand the survey area and hireWashington Conservation Corps crews andprofessional herbicide applicators to do controlwork in difficult-to-reach areas. Although thesquare footage of infestation has increased this year,this is largely due to increased crew time forsurveying. Seed set was prevented at all sites. Thisyear, staff identified and mapped 23,296 square feet

(0.5 acres)infested with garlic mustard on 15 road sites, all of which wascontrolled; and 404,351 square feet (9 acres) on 141 parcels,of which 94 percent was controlled.

Volunteer Lake Weed Watcher ProgramFollowing up on the successful pilot Lake Weed WatcherProgram in 2007, the program expanded to include allinterested volunteers. Forty-nine volunteers on 29 lakesparticipated. Volunteers were trained in how to identify nativeand invasive aquatic plants and asked to survey their lakestwice during the growing season. Twenty-three of the 29 lakeshad volunteers complete at least one survey. The volunteerprogram will be refined for 2009 to include even moreparticipants.

Calling all volunteers.

Milk thistle can be toxic to dairy cattle.

A Class A noxious weed, garlic mustard grows indense patches that displaces native plants.

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Future Directions

Increase focus on early detection and rapid response ofnew Class A noxious weed infestations, including thenew listings for 2009 of false brome, shiny geranium andflowering-rush.

Concentrate attention on roadside weed infestations oncounty, state and locally managed roadsides in responseto major concerns of many King County landowners.

Increase the number of projects funded by grants thataddress the serious problem of noxious weed impacts to sensitive riverbankenvironments.

Continue to elevate the level of commitment and resources for long-termreductions in the impacts of noxious weeds through greater collaboration withpublic land managers in the county.

Fund biological control research and development through Washington StateUniversity’s King County Extension office to keep current with the latestadvancements in Integrated Pest Management.

Work with county land managers to develop a more systematic, plannedapproach to the management of noxious weeds and other invasive plants oncounty lands, as described in King County Council Motion 12573.

Expand the resources and effort in stewardship activities on public lands to buildand maintain this capacity, including expanding the level of volunteer effort inweed control on public lands.

Biocontrol continues to be animportant part of weed management.

The King County Noxious Weed Control Board hasidentified the following strategic directions and priorities forthe program in 2009:

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Everyone can get into the act of weed control byvolunteering with their local community group.

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Class A Weeds2008 SURVEYS

Class B Weeds

Class A & B Weed Sites Surveyed in 2008 in King County

Map shows 2008 distribution of Class A and B noxious weeds in King County. An interactive version ofthis map is available in the King County imap system: http://www.kingcounty.gov/weeds

201 South Jackson, Suite 600Seattle, WA 98104-3855

www.kingcounty.gov/weeds206-296-0290

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