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WSU asks Mason County to place $30,000 WSDA knotweed grant application on next agenda
Summary
A Washington State University presenter asked commissioners to approve placing a $30,000 project solicitation to the Washington State Department of Agriculture on a future action agenda to fund knotweed control in Mason County over 2025–2027.
Heidi Steinbach of Washington State University briefed the Mason County Board of Commissioners on a WSDA (Washington State Department of Agriculture) project solicitation and asked the board to place a grant-submittal request on the next action agenda.
Steinbach said the county has received WSDA funding for knotweed control since 2013 and that the program would support survey and treatment work on creeks and shorelines. "I am going to request $30,000 through this project solicitation. If awarded, this would provide a maximum of $30,000 to be used over 2025 through 2027," Steinbach said.
The presenter summarized 2024 work: treatments on about 4.2 creek and river miles (not counting terrestrial sites), surveys covering more than 10 creek and river miles, and work on roughly 42 parcels across Mason County. Steinbach said the funding would help pay for an extra-help specialist position and would continue knotweed control efforts on county shorelines and creeks.
Commissioners asked technical and budget questions. Steinbach said injection is used selectively for very large stands or where spray risks off-target damage and that most current sites can be sprayed; she noted the herbicide Polaris is in use at many sites. The presenter said matches are encouraged but not required by the solicitation; in-kind match examples included staff time, mileage and donated herbicide or equipment.
Steinbach asked the board to place the request to submit the WSDA knotweed control proposal on the next action agenda for formal approval.
The briefing included questions about coordination with nearby jurisdictions; Steinbach said Grays Harbor County has a knotweed program and that coordination may be possible on some creeks. She noted knotweed’s rapid growth pattern and the erosion risk when stands die back in winter.
If the board approves placing the application on the agenda, a formal motion and vote would be required at that future meeting. The presenter did not state an expected award date.
