Noxious Weed Control Board Policies, Whatcom County Washington

The Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board promotes noxious weed control through public education and personal and/or written contact with landowners. The Weed Board recognizes the control of noxious weeds is a community effort, requiring all landowners to control the growth and spread of noxious weeds on their land and to prevent infestations from occurring on adjacent properties. Landowners are encouraged to report to this Board all known infestations of noxious weeds.

The Weed Board Coordinator and Inspector are available, on request, to assist in the identification of noxious weeds and to help develop an integrated and comprehensive plan for weed control which is specific to site characteristics. The plan may include varied cultural practices, land management, use of herbicides or biological agents, or other means as desired by the landowner and/or indicated by site conditions. For those landowners who have a severe infestation of weeds, an approved plan with a schedule indicating a reasonable, continuous effort towards control will be in compliance with our goals. This plan may be extended over a period of years.

The following weeds receive priority for monitoring and notification to landowners:

spotted knapweed flower

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii)
Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

Of these four species, one is chosen each season for the Board's enforcement activities. The selection of species is rotated annually among the five. The target enforcement species for 2013 is Tansy Ragwort, a Class "B" noxious weed.

Minimal control standards for Class "A" weeds shall be prevention of seed production with the goal being eradication. Minimal control standards for Class "B-Designate" weeds shall be prevention of seed production with the goal being decreasing the number and density of infestations. The Board may choose to adopt a Class "C" or Class "B" weed for the purposes of education and/or biological control.

In the case of selected noxious weeds being cultivated for a known commercial value, the Weed Board will notify individuals on an informative level that this is in violation of State Quarantine Law WAC 16-752. The case(s) may then be referred to the regional Horticultural Inspector if any regulatory action is to be taken.

The Weed Board personnel have the authority to enter all property for the purpose of enforcing the Weed Law; provided that a reasonable attempt to notify landowners of the purpose of entry is made. If the landowner fails to take action to control the weeds, the Board reserves the right to pursue enforcement procedures as outlined in RCW 17.10.

History

The Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board was activated by Ordinance No. 81-61 on September 17, 1981 and operated under provisions of Washington State Law RCW 17.10. Initially the Board's activities were directed at providing public information concerning one weed, Tansy Ragwort. On March 10, 1983, Ordinance No. 83-22 granted the Board authority to implement enforcement proceedings for Tansy Ragwort only. On August 7, 1986, Ordinance No. 86-68 gave the addition of Knapweed to both educational and policing activities. It also extended the terms of the Weed Board to December 31, 1991. In 1987, State Law RCW 17.10 underwent revisions that made it necessary to amend Whatcom County Code 2.27. On January 25, 1992, Ordinance No. 92-008 and 92-009 amended Whatcom County Code 2.27 and 2.27.130 were deleted to bring the Board into full compliance with Revised Code of Washington Chapter 17.10.

Meetings

Board meetings are generally held on the last Wednesday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September, November) at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to attend a meeting, please call ahead to confirm the meeting date and location. The meeting place is the Engineering Conference Room, Northwest Annex, 5280 Northwest Drive in Bellingham. A County Weed List is adopted annually through a public hearing process held early in the year. The time of the hearing is dependent upon the receipt of the Washington State Noxious Weed List, which is also adopted annually. After receiving the State List, the Board then has ninety (90) days in which to adopt the County List. All meetings are open to the public and participation is welcome.

Board Members/Districts

The Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board consists of five voting members. The members are appointed to serve by the Whatcom County Council. Each appointee shall reside in and represent one of five county districts, and be a valid registered voter in Whatcom County. The five county districts are as follows:

District No. 1 - North Boundary is the U.S./Canada Border; South Boundary follows along Birch-Bay Lynden, Polinder, Timon, Lindsay and Sorenson Rds.; East and West Boundaries are the same for Whatcom County. (Board Member - Dale Yoder)

District No.2 - North Boundary is Birch-Bay Lynden, Polinder, Timon, Lindsay, and Sorenson Rds. South Boundary is Henry, Alder Grove, and Hemmi Rds.; East and West Boundaries are the same as for Whatcom County. (Board Member - Alan Yoder)

District No.3 - North Boundary is Henry, Alder Grove, and Hemmi Rds.; South Boundary follows Slater and Bakerview Rds.; East and West Boundaries are the same as for Whatcom County. (Vacancy)

District No. 4 - North Boundary follows Slater and Bakerview Rds.; South Boundary follows Galbraith Rd. east to west through Hale Passage excluding Lummi Island; East and West Boundaries are the same as for Whatcom County. (Vacancy)

District No. 5 - Includes Lummi Island; Extends east to west to the south boundary of Acme; South Boundary is Skagit County Line; East and West Boundaries are the same as for Whatcom County. (Board Member - Gary Knaus)

Eligibility to serve:

Four (4) of the Board members shall be involved in the primary production of agriculture products. However, this does not require that agriculture be a primary source of income for these members. One (1) member shall only reside within a District area of Whatcom County. An Ex-officio shall be appointed from WSU Cooperative Extension and will provide technical assistance to the Board.

Each term is for four (4) years, beginning on the 1st of February and expiring on the 30th of January, with no limit on consecutive terms. The board will elect a chairperson and a vice-chair at the first meeting of each year. Unexpired terms will be appointed for the remainder of the vacant term.

There are currently two openings on the Board in Districts No.3 and No.4. Please contact the Noxious Weed Board office at 360-715-7470 if you are interested in becoming a Board Member.