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News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date: Feb. 27, 2008
King County launches annual roadside weed control
program
The King
County Road Services Division is scheduled to begin its roadside
weed control program in unincorporated areas of the county and in the
cities of Burien, Covington, Maple Valley and Woodinville beginning
April 1, 2008. As part of the program, certified technicians will
perform controlled herbicide spraying along some road shoulders through
the summer to reduce safety hazards for pedestrians, motorists and
bicyclists. The spraying will also control noxious weeds that are toxic
to some animals and pose environmental risks to native vegetation.
As in past years, residents who do not want crews to spray county
right-of-way that abuts their property may post “owner" will maintain”
signs. Those residents, however, must sign an agreement with the county
to maintain the right-of-way themselves. Maintenance agreements must be
completed and returned to the Roads Services Division before “owner will
maintain” signs can be issued. Maintenance agreements should be received
by the Road Services Division by March 31, 2008.
The signs are once again being provided to property owners at no charge.
The county has already sent letters to property owners who asked to
maintain right-of-way last year. Signs and copies of the maintenance
agreement are available by calling (206) 296-8100 or toll-free by
calling 1-800-KC-ROADS. The maintenance agreement is also available on
the Road Services Division
website.
The Road Services Division uses small amounts of herbicides on a
carefully controlled basis. Trained technicians use only those
herbicides approved by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, Food and Drug Administration and the state Department of
Agriculture. Applications are additionally guided by best management
practices that include follow-up monitoring and soil testing.
No spraying is conducted near water including rivers, streams, wetlands,
bridge abutments, guardrails near water, ditches, levees, back slopes,
or in moratorium zones, which include the Snoqualmie Valley and Vashon
and Maury islands. Spraying in moratorium zones is only conducted in
very limited situations mandated by state or local law and/or by action
of the King County Weed Board. Herbicide applications are designed to
keep road shoulders safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, prevent root
systems from damaging roadways and reduce sod buildup that causes road
flooding and icy conditions in winter. Weed control also reduces fires
that can ignite uncontrolled vegetation and overgrowth that can causes
accidents due to reduced visibility.
The Road Services Division will also be removing all tansy ragwort from
right-of-way due to the flowering weed’s danger to animals. State and
local laws require the removal of tansy ragwort and other noxious weeds.
Residents who maintain right-of-way are asked to place vegetation that
may contain tansy ragwort in sealable bags to prevent the spread of the
weed. |
