PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will hire a consultant to develop a noxious weed management plan that may include spot spraying of herbicides.
County commissioners Monday directed to staff to hire a specialist to build the framework of an annual plan to control noxious weeds and other non-native plants that have taken root along the county’s 500-mile road system.
“None of this is even targeted for implementation in 2015,” County Engineer Ross Tyler told commissioners.
“This is a 2016 roll out.”
Nearly 100 citizens packed a May 19 public hearing on a proposed ordinance to allow herbicides as one method to fight noxious weeds such as wild carrot, garlic mustard, poison hemlock, tansy ragwort, meadow knapweed and scotch broom.
Commissioners continued that hearing to digest the voluminous public testimony, saying they would consider an herbicide ordinance after seeing a plan.
“I want to be real clear that I’m not either for or against anything right now,” Commissioner Jim McEntire said.
“I just want to make sure that we’ve got a very well considered way of doing this work.”
Noxious weeds along county roads are presently mowed by the road department or pulled by inmate work crews and others.
State law requires the control of noxious weeds on public and private property, Clallam County Noxious Weed Coordinator Cathy Lucero has said.
Other governments, including Jefferson County and the state, allow spraying.
Commissioner Mike Chapman said he would support a more robust mowing program to put people to work and noxious weed education.
“I just cannot support herbicides,” Chapman said.
“I just think it would be way too distressing for this community.”
About half of the speakers at the hearing said they would support at least limited spraying of herbicides for stubborn weeds that can’t be controlled by mowing or hand pulling.
Others said herbicides like glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, contaminate the groundwater and pose other health threats.
Clallam County banned herbicides by resolution in 1990.
The new ordinance would give the county an extra tool in fighting noxious weed, Tyler has said.
Herbicides would only be applied to state-listed noxious weeds, not grass or common weed like dandelions.
Commissioner Bill Peach said a spraying program would need to include a notification system and be monitored for its effectiveness.
Tyler said he will work with County Administrator Jim Jones to determine how to fund the consultant.
Optimistically, Tyler said he hopes to have a draft plan in place by September.
“I’m probably more inclined to just let you move forward, but I’m not inclined to lend my support on anything right now,” Chapman told staff.
“I’m not convinced still of what problem we’re trying to solve here.”
He added: “I want to see pictures of these weeds, and then a full, detailed explanation as to why this is so terrible.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
