Clark County staff outline mandatory noxious-weed program; officials press on aquatic impacts of roadside spraying

Kevin Tyler, division manager for the lands management division of Public Works, told the Clark County Council at a work session that the county’s noxious weed management program is a state‑mandated effort to prevent invasive plants from damaging agriculture, native habitat and watershed health.

Staff described the program’s legal framework, field operations, and outreach. "A few months ago during public comment, Councilor Little asked staff to provide an overview of the county's noxious weed program," Tyler said. Justin Kell, coordinator of the Clark County Noxious Weed Control Board, and Daniel Eert, lead on county lands control, joined the briefing.

Kell summarized state law (cited in the meeting as RCW1710) and Clark County’s Local Code (Title 7), explaining that the state classifies noxious weeds (Class A requires eradication; Class B and C have differing regional requirements) and that the county must adopt the state list and may locally mandate control when allowed. Kell said the county board also hears appeals and can waive fines.

Staff walked through examples of high‑priority species, including Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed (Class A, which can cause severe skin burns), garlic mustard (Class A) and tansy ragwort (toxic to…