War against noxious weeds begins at home

With the approach of the 2009 growing season, weeds are taking advantage of a wet spring and multiplying quickly, including some species that are harmful to agricultural areas, and fish and wildlife habitats.

Wahkiakum County has listed eight Class C Noxious Weeds for control for this year's season. They are:

• Purple Loostrife, which grows along streams and wetlands, crowding out native plants and dominating entire areas, choking out wetlands.

• Four types of knotweed, Japanese, Bohemian, Himalayan and Giant, choke out rivers, streams, ditches, and banks, endangering fish habitat and growing through blacktop and foundations.

• Tansy Ragwort is a poisonous weed found in grassland and unmanaged ground. The seed can lie dormant for up to 15 years, and the plant is one of the most common causes for livestock poisoning of cattle, goats and horses. Effects can go unnoticed as alkaloids build up in the liver. Some animals die within six to 10 days; others remain in poor health with young animals in particular being at risk.

• Canada Thistle is a very invasive weed taking over large partials of land and roadsides. It is difficult to control as its seeds are spread by wind, water, birds and vehicles.

• Scotch Broom is found in pastures, forest lands and road and power line right of ways. It can grow to 10 feet tall with bright yellow flowers. A three year old plant can produce up to 18,000 seeds that can remain viable in the soil up to 60 years.

• Creeping buttercup is aggressive in pastures in moist locations and is toxic to cattle.

• Poison Hemlock is very poisonous to both livestock and humans, and is especially dangerous growing around children's play areas. All parts of the plant are poisonous, not least the root which is usually fatal within three to four hours. There is no known treatment for water hemlock poisoning. It grows along sloughs and ditch banks.

• Blackberries are now on the state weed list for some containment. Wahkiakum County does not currently ask residents to control the plant, but it is listed on the cost share to those who need help controlling it.

It is a landowners responsibility to control designated noxious weeds on their property. The weed control board can help with information for control methods or its spray program.

For more information on identifying these plants and control methods, contact the weed board at 795-3852 or at their office at 25 River Street lower level in Cathlamet.