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Whitman County draft CAO would exempt noxious/invasive plant removal; staff to reference county weed list
Summary
Consultants proposed classifying noxious and invasive plant removal as an exemption in the CAO (hand removal/light equipment/aquatic/terrestrial herbicide with limits); county staff will reference the Whitman County Noxious Weed Board list for species definitions.
The draft Critical Areas Ordinance was updated to treat removal of noxious and invasive plants as an exempt activity when done by hand, light equipment, or approved herbicide methods that avoid substantial soil disturbance or compaction.
Mark Storey, Whitman County Public Works Director, recommended referencing the county’s weed board list instead of embedding species lists in the CAO: "I think the best way to handle this is just have a definition up at the top of the document in your definition section that says noxious and invasive plants shall be as defined by the Whitman County Noxious weed board." Planning staff agreed to add a cross-reference to the county’s adopted noxious-weed rules.
Commissioners discussed related implementation issues, including how and when state or county agencies (for example, Fish & Wildlife) could undertake vegetation control that affects habitat. Staff noted those agencies have their own authorities and that the county currently lacks explicit code language delegating control to them. The CAO draft will be revised to add a weed-board reference and clarify permitted removal methods before SEPA publication.
