Weeds in the news

Weeds sometimes make it to the press. Below are some of the recent (and some of the timeless) news items related to invasive plants.

2012

Revised Aquatic Noxious Weed Permit issued by Department of Ecology. Mason County Daily News. February 3, 2012.
The State's revised permit is in effect for anyone controlling noxious weeds with herbicides near water.
UCSB Scientists Warn Against Invasive Species. Daily Nexus. January 31, 2012.
A recent study led by scientists at UC Santa Barbara.s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis demonstrated how globalization and the demand for drought-resistant plant species threaten to overcome native plants in the United States. Based on these findings, the scientists proposed that bio-imports be screened before entering the U.S.
State revises permit covering treatment of aquatic noxious weeds. Washington Department of Ecology Press Release. Janaury 23, 2012.
The Washington Department of Ecology has revised a permit that protects people and the environment when herbicides are used to curb the spread of noxious weeds growing in wet areas.
Peg Tillery: Knock out knotweed now. Kitsap Sun. January 31, 2012.
This columnist reminds us to get the ball rolling on knotweed control plans for the year.
Cattle can be trained to eat weeds, control noxious growth in pastures. Prairie Star. January 4, 2012.
There has been success so far with a pilot program in Montana where cattle were trained to eat Canada thistle. The cattle ate enough of the plants to prevent them from going to seed. In other mentioned cases, cattle also ate musk thistle and spotted knapweed.

2011

Lake Oswego council takes a whack at invasive trees. Portland Tribune. December 22, 2011.
Oregon’s Lake Oswego’s city council has a new permit process that hopes to encourage the removal of invasive trees. Before, residents had to pay permit fees to remove these trees, now they can get a permit in a free, expedited process.
Danger of dumping yard waste in natural areas. Woodinville Patch. Novermber 9, 2011.
This article explains how weeds can spread from yard waste and the problems invasive weeds cause in forests and parks.
Battle returns to Black Lake weeds. Chinook Observer. November 8, 2011.
This article talks about spraying Brazilian elodea in Black Lake, Ilwaco WA. It also includes information about a student group that has been taking water samples to help monitor the lake during the Brazilian elodea control.
Board classifies perplexing invader as noxious weed. OPB News. November 3, 2011.
The Washington State Noxious Weed Board adds Japanese eelgrass to the noxious weed list to help commercial shellfish growers obtain permission to control it.
Blackberry's deeply rooted history ends with an ironic twist. Times Colonist. November 2, 2011.
This article tells the story of how Luther Burbank discovered Himalayan blackberry and successfully promoted it to commercial growers in North America after a slow start, unfortunately followed by the rapid spread of this plant well beyond where it was planted.

Couple are forced to demolish their £300k four-bed home after it was invaded by Japanese knotweed. MailOnline. October 23, 2011.
This story might be a bit alarmist but you have to admit it's also a bit alarming. Knotweed is truly an expensive problem when it gets entrenched like this.
Hard-to-kill 'beach kudzu' threatens sea turtles, native plants. The Post and Courier. October 18, 2011.
Beach vitex is truly a nightmare along the SE United States coast but it sounds like funding cuts may undermine the progress that has been made.
Dirt Road Maintenance Spreads Invasive Plants. Discovery News. August 9, 2011
Routine roadwork on rural roads may be aiding the rapid spread of invasive species according to a new study. Road graders used in the study sometimes carried seeds more than 200 times farther than the seeds can spread on their own. The findings suggest that, for the sake of the environment, maintenance crews might want to consider altering the timing or techniques they use to keep dirt and gravel roads in shape.
County's most wanted weed.
Policeman's Helmet Catches the Attention of Astoria in Clatsop County, Oregon
We share this weed problem with Oregon and the article describes a familiar challenge – how to find and remove all the populations of an invasive plant when much of it is growing on private property, out of sight of the weed specialists. The goal is to solve this with more outreach and increased cooperation and coordination.
Dogs mess up trails and forests
Off-Leash Dogs Degrading Trails
Hiking with your dog can seem like a natural fit, but parks managers say too many people are letting their dogs run wild in the wild. As KUOW's Ann Dornfeld reports, off-leash dogs are taking a toll on the region's trails. This story hits close to home for us as we keep seeing garlic mustard moving from trails into the forest in areas that are frequently used by off-leash dogs.
Lake Osoyoos Milfoil Border Battles
http://www.osoyoostimes.com/news/2011/08/03/us-lakeshore-residents-say-plans-for-herbicide-use-about-need-to-eradicate-milfoil/
and
http://www.osoyoostimes.com/news/2011/07/13/okanagan-basin-water-board-asks-us-weed-control-organization-to-reconsider-use-of-herbicide-in-fight-against-milfoil-in-osoyoos-lake/
Lake weeds always pose challenges since there are no clear boundaries for aquatic weeds and everything else the water carries. On Lake Osoyoos it is even more challenging since the Canadian-US border runs right through the lake. Here are two stories on this situation from different perspectives.
Advice Column from a California Invasive Plant Activist
http://anewscafe.com/2011/09/10/what-to-do-about-weeds-with-invasive-plant-activist-educator-susan-mason/
This article offers a host of great ideas about how to deal with invasive plants. Even if some of the species are not familiar here, the principles and methods are much the same for our weeds.
A Feel Good Approach to Weeds from the Feel Good Center of the Universe
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/553305/Kia-i-Moku--Positive-spin-on-invasive-species-by-artists--chefs.html?nav=15
It seems so fitting that this article came out in the Maui News website where everything looks a little less bad (but where the invasives are truly terrifying). It presents a way to think positively about invasives without denying the problems they cause.
Food for Thought on Nature
http://www.hcn.org/issues/43.16/the-mirage-of-pristine-wilderness
Not really news, and only indirectly about weeds, but a heartfelt and thought-provoking essay inspired by my favorite local park.
County leads fight against foreign invaders on Snoqualmie River. SnoValley Star.com.
It's a tough battle, but we are making progress against knotweed on the upper forks of the Snoqualmie River.
Misidentification of poison-hemlock can be deadly. Nisqually Valley News.
Timely reminder to watch for and remove poison-hemlock before it is mistaken for something edible.
Seeing yellow; tackling the invasive Scotch broom, North Kitsap Herald, Kitsap Week.
Erin Jennings answers the question on many people's mind these days - what's up with all that Scotch broom along the highways and why isn't anyone doing anything about it?
County seeks weed warriors, SnoValley Star.
To bolster the campaign, county officials want residents to help find locations of non-native plants. So the county is holding a series of workshops beginning in late May and running through July. Invasive, or noxious, weeds are not native to the region, and can cause ecological and economic damage.
Invasive spartina has been nearly eradicated from state's shorelines, Kitsap Sun.
This is great news for Washington. Spartina, an invasive plant that once threatened shellfish beds and saltwater marshes throughout Western Washington, has been nearly wiped out in this state.
Issaquah residents can learn to tackle noxious weeds, Issaquah Press
The least-wanted list includes plants, such as garlic mustard. ... The county's Noxious Weed Program is offering a free class on invasive and noxious weeds ...
King County offers free workshops to help residents tackle tough noxious weeds, PNW Local News
King County is hunting for the state's top invasive and noxious weed targets, and wants to help County property owners find and control these rogue invaders ...
Woodinville Weed Alert: Remove These Non-Native Plants For Your Garden and the Environment, Patch.com
Noxious weeds are non‐native plants that, once established, are highly destructive, competitive and difficult to control. They have economic and ecological impacts and are very difficult to manage once they get established.
Today’s garden plants can be tomorrow’s invasives, High Country News
Western states have been at war with weeds for more than a century. State weed programs, however, tend to focus on plants that hamper agriculture and ranching. Rogue garden plants, typically perennials that farmers can easily vanquish through tilling, primarily threaten wildlands -- less-familiar ground for state ag agencies.
Lake Sammamish level concerns homeowners, Issaquah Press
King County environmental managers plan to tackle the high water level in Lake Sammamish, after aquatic weeds and sediment clogged the outlet from the lake to the Sammamish River.
Invasive weed clogs the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Erik Hawk, assistant manager with the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District, wades into acres of invasive ludwigia in search of mosquito larvae ...
Weed warriors declare saltcedar vanquished, Jackson Hole News&Guide
Member organizations of the weed management association launched an aggressive Early ... “'Eradicate' is a word we don't get to use much in invasive species ...
Scotch broom, that pesky noxious weed, carries an economic cost, The Olympian
Any plant, no matter how beautiful, can turn into a noxious weed, an invasive species, if it is left to flourish in an area where it cannot be controlled. ...
Help eliminate Scotch broom, Siuslaw News
Scotch broom is classified as a “B-rated” noxious weed by the Oregon Department of ... and residents to seek its help to eradicate this invasive plant.
Daily home & garden tip: Weed profile -- Scotch broom is beautiful but invasive, OregonLive.com
The extremely invasive perennial has pushed out native species and upset the ... Control: Pull out young plants by hand. Larger shrubs might need to be cut ...
Giant hogweed is a dangerous invader, North Shore News
This program has helped hold back the spread of this noxious weed and has ... is also working towards developing a policy on invasive plant species by 2012. ...
Tansy outbreak sparks concern, Statesman Journal
Roger Gilbertson, physical plant manager for Mill Creek and other DOC ... think may be a noxious weed should contact the state invasive species program at ...
Lack of funds not deterring weed control in Jefferson County, Peninsula Daily
“It's the same plant that killed Socrates.” The state mandates that each county fund a noxious-weed control program. Dixon, a Jefferson County employee, ...
Spring Gardening Special Section: Follow these laws for a beautiful healthy garden, Blaine Northern Light
Washington State's first noxious weed law was passed in 1881 to help control invasive plants that were threatening farmer's fields. Today we recognize their ...
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Announces Grants for Oregon Habitat, AmmoLand.com
Fire suppression and noxious weed infestations are slowly altering the composition of ... treat 800 acres of weeds and invasive plants in Monument area of ...
Woodinville Weed Alert: Remove These Weeds For Your Garden and the Environment. Nice reminder of what to watch for in eastern King County and lots of photos and links.
Olympic National Park growing nature's 'defenders' for Elwha River restoration. This experiment in large scale restoration includes a plan for keeping invasive plants at bay. This is great news because this issue is all too often left until the problem is already there. Prevention is much cheaper and it sounds like they will be making every effort to stay ahead of the weeds. It will be worth watching to see what works and what doesn’t.
Restoration project helps heal the ecosystem: The University of Washington joins Pierce in a collaboration to restore the Oak Prairie ecosystem through academics and community outreach. This project at Pierce College is working to restore a piece of the prairie habitat that used to be much more common in Pierce County and other parts of south Puget Sound. The main obstacle is, not surprisingly, Scotch broom.
Killer weed invades farms, grazing lands, and national parks. O.K. this story is from Kenya, but I couldn’t resist the dramatic headline. The weed in question is from Central America, so not very likely to be a threat in our colder climate. Still, it is an interesting look at how similar the issues and impacts are globally with noxious weeds.
English holly and English laurel – uninvited guests. An article about English laurel and holly from Mukilteo Washington.
Weeds lurk in package of wildflower seeds. This article talks about wildflower seed mixes and how some of these packets may contain noxious weeds. A few good points highlighted here are: not all species are listed on wildflower seed packets, a ‘native’ seed mixture may not be native to where you are actually planting the seed mix and that planting a trial section in your yard first is a good way to see what species are in the packet of seed you purchased. The studies on this were done at the University of Washington.
Boat stickers proposed to fight spread of invasives. This article talks about an effort in Minnesota to have boats use stickers (red or green) to denote if they have been in clean or invaded lakes. The idea is that boats that are used in uninvaded or ‘clean’ lakes would have a green sticker and can go in other clean lakes while boats with red stickers would boat in invaded lakes. For a boat with a red sticker to go into a clean or green sticker lake, the boat would need to be inspected to make sure it is not transporting any invasive species. It’s an interesting proposed program and is one to watch to see if they can make it practical to implement.
Winter-long, Officials Prep to Fight Invasive Species. This second Minnesota article on invasive species mentions a few we are familiar with here (parrotfeather, purple loosestrife and Eurasian watermilfoil) and how some of the aquatics may not be growing as much this winter due to the large amount of snow they have (less light is penetrating the ice for the aquatic invasives).
Building an outdoor classroom in McKinleyville: Land trust, Dow's Prairie effort explores seasonal wetland for education. In McKinleyville, California school children are taking part in a restoration project called the Dow’s Prairie Schoolyard Habitat Program. The program, funded by grants, teaches the school children all about a wetland that they are working to help restore. Restoration work includes removing invasive plants we deal with here including Scotch broom and blackberry. Involving schools that are close to restoration projects may be something many of your are doing already or could be something to try in the future.
Effort by Legislature to stop invasive plants shrivels. News update on Texas and invasive aquatic plant species: it looks like the white list effort in Texas—creating a white list of aquatic plants (vs. a black list approach) is being dropped.
Grazing Arizona: Goats vs. Mesa weeds, Round 2. This article talks about goats being used in Arizona to control weeds including saltcedar. There is a nice video here if you are interested in watching the goats in action, along with how and why they are being used in this area.

2010

WEED WARRIORS: Grant to help council fight invasive weeds in the Truckee River watershed. Invasive weed control in Tahoe gets a financial boost.
BLM announces decision on weeds. Oregon’s BLM office announces an expansion of herbicide use for weed control efforts to include all invasive weeds as well as other vegetation management activities.
"Worst ever" fireweed destroying paddocks. This story about a toxic pasture weed in New South Wales, Australia sounds very familiar to those of us fighting with tansy ragwort. Their plant pest called fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is in the same genus as tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and is toxic to livestock in the same ways. You could call it tansy ragwort’s South African cousin. Note that, although it’s called fireweed, this plant is completely different from our native plant also called fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). Interestingly, Senecio madagascariensis is a noxious weed in Hawaii as well as Australia, although it prefers a more tropical climate, so it’s not likely be a problem here.
Holly growers gather forces against weed-listing efforts. The Capital Press reports that holly growers are worried about what listing holly as a noxious weed will mean for their industry.
Idaho man builds career out of aquatic species removal after home lake is threatened. In more news from Lake Tahoe, a local homeowner and expert diver makes it his personal mission to fight back against milfoil in the lake.
Foreign plants, animals conquering native species. In this article from Kentucky, the names of the invasives are different, but the story is familiar. It is interesting also to read about one of the unintended consequences of the ornamental plantings in their Olmsted parks.
Green My Ballard: Upper Golden Gardens, Ballard’s backyard wilderness. Closer to home, this story is all about the great invasive weed control work being done in one of Seattle’s really great forest remnants.
Noxious Weeds Take Note: Your days are numbered. If only the weeds could read, they would be shaking in their roots.
It's a scary time to be a weed. Communities around the country band together to fight back against invasive weeds. Wall Street Journal, September 29, 2010.
Root out trouble: Noxious weeds grow quickly, choke out native plants. Eco-consumer Tom Watson alerts readers to the problems of noxious and invasive weeds like knotweed and giant hogweed. Seattle Times, July 29, 2010.
Attack of the giant hogweed? Hogwash. The Globe and Mail, July 23, 2010.
Nasty weeds know no bounds - Noxious: Invasive plants can take over, even kill people. Tacoma News Tribune, July 14, 2010.
King County fights invasive weed threatening Snoqualmie Valley. SnoValleyStar.com, May 5, 2010.
Snoqualmie Valley forests at risk from aggressive invasive weed garlic mustard. SnoValleyStar.com, April 23, 2010.
Park officials fighting largest noxious weed growth in Bellevue. King5.com, April 7, 2010.
Harnessing the power of bugs for profit. CNN.com, April 5, 2010.
King County Noxious Weed Program helping Bellevue fight tough forest invader. Discovery of the largest garlic mustard site in Bellevue jump starts the county's noxious weed season. King County DNRP Newsroom. March 30, 2010.
Natural weed killer. The World, Southern Oregon Coast, March 18, 2010.
Mortgages refused over invasive weed. Telegraph.co.uk. March 13, 2010.
Montana noxious weed list is restructured. Montana State University News, March 12, 2010.
Under quarantine: Ivy, butterfly bush, Scotch broom and their cultivars face tough new state rules. OregonLive.com, March 2, 2010.
Noxious Weed Policy Differs in Washington and Oregon. KUOW News, February 22, 2010.
Texas to begin invasive plant program. Texas is developing a list of approved plants and considering banning all plants not on the approved list. Statesman.com, February 20, 2010.
Oregon bans sale of English ivy, butterfly bushes. The Oregonian, February 10, 2010.
Invasive Plants Are Beneficiaries of Climate Change in Thoreau's Woods. ScienceDaily, February 3, 2010.
Group helps rid Kodiak of invasive plants. Kodiak Daily Mirror, February 3, 2010.
Invasive species threat growing globally, experts warn. Guardian.co.uk, Janaury 22, 2010.
Agriculture, forestry hit by alien plants. The Vancouver Sun, January 17, 2010.
Invasive species and climate change work together to threaten biodiversity. Guardian Environment Network, January 5, 2010.

2009

Cowlitz County gets a boost in their weed-fighting budget Weed assessment increase will allow this county to continue to battle noxious weeds. The Daily News Online, December 26, 2009.
Volunteers battle holly and ivy in local forests Non-profits and volunteers struggle to fight English holly and ivy in parks and forests in the Seattle area. KOMO News, December 20, 2009.
Brazilian weed infestation might be beaten. Thurston County Noxious Weed Board believes they may have eliminated Brazilian elodea from the Chehalis River after 10 years of removal. The Olympian, October 6, 2009.
County is after milk thistle. Enumclaw residents are asked to watch for this aggressive Class A thistle that is infesting farms on the Plateau. Enumclaw Courier-Herald, June 16, 2009.
'Super weed' taking strong hold in Utah. Big, bad phragmites is getting worse. It looks like the plants toxins are getting stronger thanks to increased UV light and fertilizer run off. KSL.com, June 8, 2009.
Boom Times for Scotch Broom Blooms. Kitsap County Noxious Weed Program struggles to keep up with bumber broom season, tansy ragwort and other noxious weeds. Kitsap Sun, June 3, 2009.
Something Wicked This Way Grows . If you like horror stories and botany, this might be for you. Read about a new book that tells all about plants from around the world behaving badly. Miller-McCune, June 2, 2009.
It’s a noxious task, but someone’s got to control weeds . Outdoor enthusiasts are called to action (and to become educated) to fight weeds impacting wildlife and natural areas. Spokesman-Review, May 28, 2009.
Garlic mustard invasion killing native plants around Portland. It's getting pretty bad in the Portland area, but there is still a chance to keep garlic mustard at bay if everyone works at it. KGW News Channel 8 Portland, Oregon, May 27, 2009. Re-posted on KGW.com on August 15, 2009.
Klahanie's natural areas registered as wildlife sanctuary . A local success story of invasive weed control and community stewardship leading to improved habitat and protection for wildlife. Issaquah Press, May 26, 2009.
The Hungry Gardener tackles weeds . Helpful tips for weed control in home vegetable gardens. JS Online, May 26, 2009.
So far, no more garlic mustard weed found. The search is on for more sites, but so far garlic mustard has been nipped in the bud on the Olympic Peninsula (see first story below). Peninsula Daily News, May 26, 2008.
Invasive weed found in Port Angeles probably first on Peninsula . A scary discovery considering that garlic mustard has never been seen on the Olympic Peninsula before. Peninsula Daily News, May 18, 2009.
King County battles invasive garlic mustard . TV news story about our fight to control garlic mustard at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle. King 5 News Seattle, April 27, 2009.
Invading garlic mustard marches on beloved Columbia gorge flora (The Oregonian, April 26, 2009)
Why Invasive Plants Take Over (USDA-ARS News & Events, April 30, 2009)
King County's noxious weed list growing (King County Press Release, February 3, 2009)
Web site would help state track invasive plants (Seattle Times, January 16, 2009)
Scientist names top 5 invasive plants threatening Southern forests in 2009 (PHYSORG.com, January 12, 2009)

You will need Acrobat Viewer to read the following articles:

Noxious Weed Threatens Local Gardens, Parks (KIRO 7 TV, May 12, 2003)
Garlic mustard, highly invasive noxious weed spotted in Seattle's parks and neighborhoods; County seeks help to identify and eradicate (King County Press Release, May 8, 2003)
Scot's Broom - Northwest Garden News (May 1, 2003)
Giant Hogweed - Northwest Garden News (March 4, 2003)
Ivy - Northwest Garden News (February 4, 2003)
Weeds - Northwest Garden News (January 10, 2003)

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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.

Weeds in the news

2012

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