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Noxious-weed program ramps up seasonal hiring; staff seek vehicle solutions and discuss tribal collaboration
Summary
Noxious-weed staff told commissioners they have started hiring seasonal crews, tested pre-emergent herbicide with promising results, and are coordinating with the Washington Conservation Corps and the tribe on shared projects; staffing and vehicle availability were flagged as constraints.
Skamania County's noxious-weed coordinator reported the department has opened recruitment for seasonal employees, has used pre-emergent herbicide in pilot sites with preliminary success, and hosted training and networking events with regional peers.
The coordinator said one returning seasonal employee is likely to reapply and additional hires will depend on candidates' availability; the Washington Conservation Corps assisted with field work in February and is scheduled to return. The department also held a cooperative weed-management workshop in February with roughly 90 attendees and continuing-education credits available for pesticide license holders.
Staff described operational constraints for the upcoming field season, notably vehicle availability. The coordinator said the department currently uses three vehicles (one 4-door crew vehicle) and may need to rent additional vehicles for peak months, but also raised the possibility of accepting surplus county vehicles if available. Commissioners and staff discussed the county auditor's rules and audit guidance that complicate setting aside funds for vehicle replacement; they asked staff and the auditor's office to explore compliant approaches for establishing replacement funding or equipment pools.
The coordinator also said the county will meet with a tribal partner in the coming months to discuss chokecherry harvest and potential tribal support for weed-control projects in specific areas. Staff cautioned that some federal funding streams are in flux and that contract updates are ongoing; the program is proceeding under existing contracts until changes occur.
