Duchesne County Weed Board discusses expanded invasive-species work, staffing and enforcement

The Duchesne County Weed Board reviewed this year’s spraying map, discussed expanding grant-funded invasive-species work and enforcement options for noncompliant landowners, and approved the minutes from the Sept. 23, 2024 meeting by voice vote.

Board members and staff opened the meeting with the introduction of a new employee, Matt Skews, who said he had “lived in Duchenne most of my life” and recently worked for the city and county. The board then moved to routine business and approved the minutes from Sept. 23, 2024 “as presented” by voice vote.

In a report on operations, staff described the county’s 2024 spraying coverage and said the county received approval to hire a third temporary employee for road spraying this year. The crew staffing plan now includes two returning temporaries and the additional third temporary road-truck operator. Staff clarified that a commercial pesticide license and a driver’s license are required for roadside spraying; a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is not required, though some road work may need licensed drivers.

Board members discussed product choices and application approaches for new-road construction and rights-of-way. Staff said they generally apply pre-emergent products on newly graded dirt and rely mainly on Milestone and mixes containing 2,4-D; glyphosate (Roundup) was described as used less often. One board member raised the option of using a “sterile” treatment to control vegetation along road edges but cautioned that sterilant approaches can move off-target and would be difficult to maintain. Other speakers urged discretion when spraying near private gardens and yards to avoid killing desirable vegetation.

Speakers flagged past homeowner complaints about heavy applications on a private lane several years ago that left plants brown and described by one resident as “dripping off” (resident’s characterization from public remarks). Staff said they prioritize county roads, project sites and corridors where new dirt is being hauled in and that they keep vegetation on some roadside berms to reduce erosion.

The board discussed grant funding and an ISM grant program used last year to target Japanese knotweed and Russian olive. Staff reported the county’s ISM work last year covered small sites countywide and that one large ISM project under the Starvation Dam totaled 72 acres. Other completed projects this year included a roughly 10.3-acre site near Jason Youngs’ bridge (Olive Tree LLC/M A W) and about 7.5 acres for the Duchesne County Water Conservancy District along a pipeline right-of-way. Staff said the county “can’t get very far with $15,000” and one participant recommended pursuing a larger ISM award (an example figure cited was $200,000) to do a sustained push—especially against Russian olive along roadways.

Speakers reviewed contractor and partner activity, noting Moon Lake and other contractors have been active on some roads; Ivester crews were mentioned as sometimes not completing follow-up spraying and county crews occasionally clean up behind contractor work. Tribal lands and access to tribal-held parcels were raised as complicating factors; staff said communications with tribal representatives had declined after personnel changes and that some access or coordination may not be possible until after elections or staffing changes on the tribal side.

Board members described using parcels and GIS to track sprayed properties and to bill landowners who do not pay. Staff explained county practice for unpaid spraying bills: attempts to collect, then routing unpaid assessments to the county auditor to be attached to property tax bills if necessary. For persistent noncompliance, staff said the next steps could include referral to the county attorney and, if access is blocked, taking a deputy to accompany crews.

Other topics included an outreach booth the weed program used at recent sales and expos, donated equipment (a four-wheeler sprayer offered by Soil Conservation), and prioritized species for next grant cycles (Russian olive, white top, spotted/knapweed and musk/scotch thistle in higher elevations). Several landowners and staff noted progress at Starvation Dam and other long-running efforts, but speakers emphasized that many infestations remain and that keeping roadside drainage and bar ditches treated prevents larger problems.

The meeting ended with the board asking staff to continue targeted outreach, pursue ISM grant opportunities, monitor priority parcels (including several properties repeatedly noted for infestations), and coordinate with county attorneys and law enforcement on collections and access when needed.