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Riley County noxious-weed office will stop road-shoulder sterilant spraying and limit bulk chemical sales
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Summary
Noxious-Weed Director Mike Bowler told commissioners the department will stop spraying ground sterilant on county road shoulders (continuing targeted work around signs/guardrails), limit cost-share chemical sales to an amount sufficient for 200 acres without prior inspection, and received approval of the KDOT contract, 2025 annual report and the 2026 management plan.
Mike Bowler, Riley County's noxious-weed director, told commissioners the department will discontinue spraying ground sterilant along county road shoulders and will instead focus on targeted treatments around signs and guardrails. "We are no longer going to be spraying ground sterilant on the shoulders of county roads," Bowler said.
Bowler said the decision reflects concerns about losing shoulder material into ditches and an effort to restore vegetation that helps hold gravel in place. He warned the change will be gradual because the sterilant has an effective life of three to five years; residents may begin to see vegetation reappear over time.
The department will also limit the quantity of cost-share chemical sold to amounts sufficient to treat up to roughly 200 acres; purchases above that threshold will require an inspection to verify need. Bowler said state statute constrains how the department may sell chemicals and that limiting large bulk sales prevents a small number of buyers from capturing bargains that later force the county to reorder at higher market prices.
The commission approved the KDOT contract to treat noxious weeds on state roads in Riley County, the 2025 annual noxious-weed report and the 2026 management plan Bowler presented.
Why it matters: the change could reduce heavy chemical use along road shoulders and alter maintenance appearances over several years while attempting to keep gravel and ditches stable. The sale limit may affect large agricultural purchasers used to buying bulk chemical from the county's cost-share stock.
What's next: Bowler said staff will return to the commission to finalize purchase procedures and to present the signed KDOT contract and required annual documentation for submission to state agencies.
