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Mason County staff seek permission to apply for state noxious-weed eradication grant
Summary
County staff asked commissioners to place a request on the June 24 action agenda to authorize submission of a grant application to the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board to fund control of giant hogweed, lesser celandine and perennial pepperweed, with a maximum award of $5,000 for the 2026 budget year.
Mason County staff told commissioners June 23 they plan to apply to the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board’s Class A and B designated noxious weed eradication program to continue control work on giant hogweed, lesser celandine and perennial pepperweed and asked for approval to put the application on the June 24 action agenda for the board’s consideration.
The proposal would seek up to $5,000 for the county’s 2026 budget year to assist an extra-help noxious weed specialist and support manual and other control measures in Mason County, staff said.
The county presenter, identified in the briefing as a WSU Extension representative and noxious-weed program staff member, said giant hogweed is a Class A plant that requires eradication and that lesser celandine and perennial pepperweed are Class B designates that require control. The presenter said the funding request is time-sensitive and must be approved by the board quickly to meet application deadlines.
Commissioners who spoke during the briefing expressed support for the application and for the county’s control work at local sites such as Belfair State Park, where staff said manual removal has allowed native plants to begin revegetating. "If you go to Belfair State Park, we are making really good progress at that site," the presenter said.
Staff noted the $5,000 figure is the maximum allowable award and that the county expected competition for the grant; the presenter said they would be "shocked" to receive the full amount.
No formal vote or motion was recorded during the briefing; the presenter’s requested action was that commissioners approve placing the funding request on the June 24 action agenda so the board can make a final decision during its action meeting.
The application material and the county’s 2024 report on prior funding for perennial pepperweed control were provided to commissioners as attachments ahead of the request, staff said.
