Visitors Since 11/28/01

CHELAN COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD POLICY

The Weed Board recognizes the control of noxious weeds as a total community effort, requiring ALL landowners to control the growth and spread of noxious weeds on their land and to prevent infestation of adjacent lands. Landowners (as defined by RCW 17.10.010, ". ..possessor of legal title or such equity , or the possessor of an easement. ..") are required to control weeds on their land and are encouraged to report to this Board all known infestations of noxious weeds.

The Board requires all landowners to control noxious weeds on their land and to prevent seed formation and infestation of adjacent lands. We encourage immediate spot treatment of noxious weeds as an effective means for control. On lands found to be infested with noxious weeds, a weed notice will be given the landowners and/or operators. The Board will enforce the regulations put forth in RCW 17.10.

The Weed Board personnel have the authority to enter all property for the purpose of enforcing the Weed Law; provided that a reasonable attempt is made to notify the landowner as to the purpose and need for entry (RCW 17.10.160).

If a landowner/operator does not take action to control the noxious weeds in accordance chapter 17.1 a of the Revised Code of Washington, the weed board holds the right to cause their being controlled at the expense of the landowners as per RCW 17.10.170. Charges for the regulatory work shall be incurred on the basis of cost of the application plus labor and materials. The amount of such expense shall constitute a lien against the property after a hearing has been held on such expense and approved by the Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board of Directors. Control means prevention of all seed production.

The Weed Board shall promote weed control through public education, as well as by personal and/or written contacts with landowners/operators. It is NOT the intent of the Weed Board to place any undue financial burden on any landowner. So for those who have a severe infestation, an approved contract with a schedule indicating a reasonable, continuous effort towards control will be in compliance with our goals. The Weed Board Coordinator will be able to assist in formulating an approved control plan and/or drawing up a contract.

Emphasis will be placed on trying to eradicate new invading species, before they become a problem in Chelan County, while trying to prevent well established species from further spread. Due to their extreme threat to all agricultural, public and private lands, primary control emphasis will be placed on spotted knapweed, diffuse knapweed, Russian knapweed, dalmatian toadflax, yellow star thistle and puncture vine.

As vehicles are the primary means of spreading noxious weeds in Chelan County, the Weed Board has established a priority to control noxious weeds on traffic corridors, rights-of-way, and lands adjoining rights-of-way. This will be accomplished by a weed-free buffer strip the full width of the right-of-way on public roads, and a weed-free buffer strip 30 feet out from the centerline each side of all private roads, forest roads, and other tracks and trails utilized by licensed vehicles. Also, land adjoining agricultural or other maintained areas will maintain a weed-free 200 foot buffer strip along mutual property line(s) and up to a 1,000 foot buffer for severe infestations. Forest campgrounds, fishing or hunting access, or parking areas and other areas frequently used by the public must by kept free of noxious weeds.

The landowner, upon request, will be assisted in identifying all noxious weeds and selecting the best measures for controlling them.

The Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board will have regular meetings at 7:00 p.m., the second Tuesday of March, May, July, August, September and December. Meetings shall be open to the public and are held in the WSU Cooperative Extension office, 303 Palouse St., Wenatchee, Washington. Special meetings and elections will be legally advertised in newspapers of general circulation in accordance with RCW 17.10.

Noxious Weed Control Home Page

Enforcement Policy

Weed List

Weed Photos

Board Members

Ken W. Bauer, Chairman
Kalvin Kelley, Director
Joe Grentz, Director
James Johnson, Director
Fred Smith, Director