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In response to a 2002 budget proviso, a new Full Time
Equivalent position was approved with the primary responsibilities of
tracking citizen calls and responding to and 
resolving citizen complaints regarding noxious weeds occurring
on King County lands. Citizen complaint responses include investigating,
tracking and resolving complaints by notifying the appropriate County
agency that noxious weed control is required on County lands. Additional
measures are in place to ensure that the weeds are controlled in a timely
manner.
During the 2002 season, the King County Noxious Weed Control Program received
many noxious weed complaints on County maintained lands - including roadsides,
parks, trails and storm water ponds. The complaints were primarily for
tansy ragwort, a Class B noxious weed toxic to livestock.
In complaint areas of low weed densities, the County Lands Noxious Weed
Specialist manually controls the weeds on roadsides, trails, parks and
storm water ponds. Manual control efforts along roadsides were undertaken
only when safe to do so. Program staff, with the help of King County Parks
staff in many cases, manually controls many of the smaller, lower density,
noxious weed infestations.
The King County Department of Transportation (KCDOT) is responsible for
weed control on over 3,500 linear miles of County roads. The right of
way (ROW) miles are doubled to incorporate each road shoulder. KCDOT also
contracts to provide maintenance on 760 linear miles of roads for a number
of incorporated cities in King County. In order to improve roadside weed
control in a season it is necessary for KCDOT to survey and start weed
control activities earlier in the year, before the plants begin to flower,
are more visible and before the weeds generate citizen complaints.
Minimizing and eventually eliminating the number of complaints involving
County lands remains a high priority for the County Lands Weed Specialist.
In addition to investigating, tracking and resolving citizen complaints,
the County Lands Weed Specialist helped program staff survey the following in 2002:
- 221 County roads
- 63 stormwater drainage ponds
- 33 County Parks
Four regional trails were surveyed in 2002, and weed locations were documented with
Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. This allows
specialists to return to the same areas for follow up. When weeds are found, the appropriate agencies are notified
to control the weeds within their jurisdiction. Follow-up inspections are conducted to ensure compliance.
Trail surveys in 2002 included:
- Cedar River Trail
- Snoqualmie Valley Trail
- Soos Creek Trailhead
- Lake Young's Trails
Work was also done with Drainage Services in Water and Land Resources in regards to the 710
stormwater ponds. Weed survey records indicate 352 of these ponds have noxious weed infestations of
predominately tansy ragwort. The ponds are controlled by mowing or hand pulling, and in 2002, 255 ponds were mowed
a second time. Weed control was achieved on all but 5 ponds.
Other Integrated Weed Control, Survey and Enforcement accomplishments in 2002 include:
- Collection and release of biological controls for 8 infestations of purple loosestrife in various parts of the County
- Staff manually controlled several infestations of purple loosestrife, policeman's helmet, garlic mustard, giant hogweed and Scot's broom
- Voluntary weed control and compliance were achieved on 3555 sites
- 20 enforcements were conducted
Program offices are located at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104.
To contact a staff member at the King County Noxious Weed Control Program, please call 206-296-0290
or by reach them by email.
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