King County knotweed class July 14 helps North Bend-area landowners tame plant

In its ongoing effort to control the spread of invasive knotweed along the Snoqualmie and Raging rivers, the King County Noxious Weed Program has scheduled a hands-on workshop July 14 where area landowners can learn how to stop this ongoing ecological threat.

The workshop is set for 7-8:30 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Farm Interpretive Center, 1711 Boalch Ave., North Bend.

Knotweed is a “Class B” noxious weed on the Washington State Noxious Weed list, which means that control of the plant is strongly recommended but not required. King County encourages aggressive action against knotweed, which quickly spreads along waterways and displaces natural streamside vegetation, increases bank erosion and lowers the quality of habitat for fish and wildlife.

Treating knotweed requires an injection of herbicide directly into each stalk, and landowners who attend the July 14 workshop will not only learn about controlling the plant, but will also be eligible to borrow the county’s herbicide injectors for controlling knotweed on their own property.

County noxious weed staff will also describe the grant-funded cooperative knotweed control projects on the Snoqualmie and Raging rivers, and where knotweed is going to be controlled this year.

More information about knotweed and other noxious weeds is available on the King County noxious weed website, http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds.aspx.