Cowlitz County reports 2024 gains, continued challenges in noxious weed control

Jennifer Mendoza, coordinator of the Cowlitz County Noxious Weed Control Program, reported final 2024 program statistics to the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners, highlighting expanded outreach, grant projects and continuing infestation trends.

The report comes as the county marks the 50th year of the local Weed Control Board. Mendoza said the board's volunteers and staff focused on education and targeted grant projects in 2024 while the program collected more field data than in prior years.

Mendoza told the board the county's program reached about 1,500 people through presentations and events and estimated contacts with roughly 9% of county households through inspections, mailings and assistance programs. "When you control something early or you have a smaller infestation and you can get on top of it early, it overall reduce[s] your control costs," Mendoza said.

The county tracks species in three legal classes. Mendoza said 163 species are listed statewide: 41 Class A species (eradication required), 70 Class B (control to prevent spread) and 52 Class C (widespread; control requested only in special situations). She reported that 80 species (class A, B and C combined) were present in the county in 2024, with about 90 species monitored overall across inspections and grant work.

Program activity in 2024 included: a grant-funded false brome eradication project; knotweed projects on waterways (about 50 acres treated) including work on Abernathy Creek, Mill Creek, Delameter Creek, the Toutle River and sections of the Cowlitz and Columbia tributaries; and treatment across about 100 acres at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument through a partnership with monument managers. Mendoza said the program was reimbursed about $65,000 for grant work in 2024 (approximately $46,000 for Mount St. Helens work, $11,000 for knotweed activity, about $4,500 for Class A projects and just under $3,000 for a Columbia Land Trust collaboration).

Mendoza described the program's approach as education-first: inspectors typically send an informational packet and a "request to control" letter (14-day window) before escalating to a certified notice of violation. She noted that the program closed about 75% of inspection reports as controlled or partially controlled and that unresolved or noncompliant cases still constitute about 25%. "We still have about 25% who, well, 10% who did no control at all," Mendoza said.

The coordinator addressed how a plant becomes listed as a noxious weed in Washington: anyone can propose a species to the state listing committee, which evaluates distribution and control data and then recommends classification to the state weed board, followed by a public hearing. Mendoza said stakeholders are monitoring House Bill 1707, which would change the listing process; she said the county weed board does not support the proposed change. "There's kind of a battle of agriculture and natural resources in the listing process here," she said, citing recent controversy over holly (a proposed Class C listing) and growers who consider holly an agricultural commodity.

Mendoza described options the program uses to help landowners: cost-share reimbursements for herbicides (expanded in 2024 to a $400 maximum), an exempt program to treat qualifying seniors or disabled landowners at no charge, disposal vouchers and a Tansy collection day (roughly 4 tons collected in 2024). She said the program hired a nine-month seasonal noxious-weed specialist in 2024 to lead grant crews and keep inspectors focused on inspections.

Commissioners and other officials asked operational questions during the presentation, including whether the county can force control of nonlisted species (it cannot), how inspectors perform road-side inspections, and permit and access limitations within the Mount St. Helens Monument (no powered equipment or animals for some treatments).

Mendoza encouraged landowners to help prevent spread by removing seed or harvested material responsibly and said educational outreach (postcards, pocket identification guides and an integrated pest management guide) has been useful to reduce violations. She said the program distributed more than 600 pocket ID guides in 2024 and sent roughly 2,300 communications to landowners during the year.

The program said it received $451,000 in special-assessment revenue in 2024, and Mendoza explained the special assessment funding model (parcel and per-acre charges), noting the board administers the program with a small staff: coordinator, administrative assistant, two inspectors, seasonal specialist and temporary summer crews. Mendoza said the program strives to keep enforcement a last resort and to prioritize education and assistance.

Ending note: Mendoza said more project reports (Mount St. Helens, Class A false brome and knotweed) were in progress and would be forwarded to the board when ready. She provided contact information for further questions.