HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works September 26 2006WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
September 26, 2006
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Sam Crawford L. Ward Nelson
Also Present:
Carl Weimer
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND FINAL APPROVAL
1. PRESENTATION, REVIEW, AND APPROVAL OF THE 2006/2007 INTEGRATED
ROADSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (AB2006 -316)
Mary Green, Public Works Department, stated this program is to minimize the use of
herbicides as much as possible using mechanical, biological, and manual means. There are
some areas where they want to continue using herbicides. In 1992, Whatcom County was
awarded for having the best integrated roadside vegetation management program in the
nation. The wildflower program is one she's especially proud of.
The program has been much the same since 1989, although they minimize the use
of herbicides every year. About 15 percent or less of the total 953 miles of road is
controlled with herbicides. This year it was less than 15 percent. There are six herbicide
best management practices (BMP's). They include the bare ground application in a 12 -inch
strip along the road edges. That prevents road damage, improves visibility, and promotes
drainage. The second BMP is dormant brush control of various aggressive tree and brush
species. The third BMP is noxious selective weed control of non - native weed species on the
County right -of -way. The County is legally responsible to do that. The fourth BMP is
signposts. It is difficult to get mowers or manual cleaning around all the signposts. The
fifth BMP is guardrails. They are almost impossible to mow. The summer crew does as
much manual maintenance as possible. The sixth BMP is miscellaneous projects, such as
controlling undesirable weeds in gravel pits and around County facilities.
Brenner stated she is concerned about wild clematis, morning glories, and
blackberries in culvert areas over creeks. She asked what happens in those areas. Those
plants will kill trees. Green stated that if the weeds are not inhibiting drainage or safety,
they let it go.
Laurel Baldwin, Noxious Weed Board, stated wild clematis is a class C noxious weed.
It is a low priority. There are stream restorations working on wild clematis infestations,
most notably on Squalicum Parkway. The Noxious Weed Board will address wild clematis
complaints if they come in, and help land owners deal with it on their own private
properties. Blackberries and morning glories aren't on the list, but she will consult with land
owners when possible.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/26/2006, Page I
1 Brenner asked Ms. Baldwin's recommendation for morning glories. Baldwin stated
2 morning glories respond to some well -timed and well - applied glyphosate treatments.
3 People hand -pull quite a bit. Her recommendations are site - specific.
4
5 Brenner asked what good hand - pulling does if they can't get it out by the root.
6 Baldwin stated people have to be persistent and keep pulling them off the top to starve the
7 root system. It takes a long time.
8
9 Green showed slide photos of different roads and treatment areas. If they don't get
10 vegetation off the road shoulder, the sod will build up, and water will stay on the road to
11 cause vehicles to hydroplane. The goal is to keep the shoulder picked or slopped, and keep
12 the sod buildup down to get the water off the road.
13
14 At the intersection of Noon Road and Kelly Road, there have been many bad
15 accidents. They focus their work on dangerous intersections. They use dormant brush
16 control to keep the vegetation back. They must keep the visibility very good at those
17 intersections. Around poles, they do manual, mechanical, and herbicide methods. They
18 only use herbicide when they can't get close to it with a mower or there aren't enough
19 people to cut around the poles. The utility companies have to do their maintenance also.
20
21 In areas where they spray, there aren't any salmon bearing waterways, creeks, or
22 streams. They stay 160 feet from waterways. The spray truck can control the application
23 width and rate by computer.
24
25 Brenner asked about rain carrying the herbicide downhill. Green stated the
26 operators are so well trained that they know to not use the spray in areas where there is
27 any chance of runoff.
28
29 Crawford asked if it is toxic. Green stated it is to plants. They use precautions and
30 don't go anywhere near the water. They only use it when they have to.
31
32 Brenner asked if staff looks at the weather predictions when planning to apply
33 herbicides. Green stated that they have to apply according to the label, by law. There must
34 not be any prediction of rain and there must not be any wind more than seven miles per
35 hour.
36
37 They treat for knapweed, which is difficult to control by hand- pulling.
38
39 Brenner asked the difference in the weed categories. Baldwin stated class A weeds
40 are limited in their abundance. Class B weeds are more abundant, and they try to contain
41 them. Class C is a low priority. Counties can decide how much monitoring and enforcement
42 they want to do on those species. The State composes that list, and decides what class a
43 weed is, based on distribution and behavior. Spotted knapweed is class B designated. If a
44 weed is class B, it must be actively managed. There is a difference between designated and
45 undesignated classes.
46
47 Brenner asked if the County has more responsibility to control designated than
48 undesignated weeds. Baldwin stated it does. The designation can also be based on
49 distribution.
50
51 Green stated knapweed has been eradicated on rights -of -way through spraying.
52
Public Works and Safety Committee, 912612006, Page 2
I Brenner asked if there are plants that are more aggressive than knapweed, but
2 aren't a problem. She asked if the problem plants can be controlled by other plants that
3 aren't problems. Green stated they have a hydro- seeding and mulching machine to
4 stabilize shoulders and banks in clean areas such as new construction. They try to plant
5 grasses that choke out those nasty weeds.
6
7 Baldwin stated they try to re- vegetate with desirable grass.
8
9 Green stated guardrails are a big challenge. They manually control brush or use
10 herbicide around guardrails. There are a few areas where the guardrails are paved. There
11 is no way to control knotweed other then spraying. They can't even mow it because it
12 reproduces so fast. In areas where they can't spray, they don't know what to do for it. It is
13 everywhere on the Lummi reservation.
14
15 Brenner asked if they've talked to the Tribe. Baldwin stated she has had
16 conversations with the Tribe about getting an exemption for specific treatment for knotweed
17 only. The knotweed treatment season is in the fall. That effort is in process.
18
19 Brenner asked if knotweed was imported as a decorative plant. Baldwin stated it
20 was, as was about 50 percent of the plants on the State noxious weed list.
21
22 Brenner asked if English ivy is on the list. Baldwin stated it is, since 2004.
23
24 Green stated they don't use any herbicide around retention ponds. They maintain 11
25 retention ponds, mostly manually. There are markers along roadsides that indicate
26 upcoming fish- bearing streams. They shut off the herbicides 160 feet from the water.
27
28 They have five full -time mower operators. There are 953 road miles. Double that
29 mileage to include both shoulders. That is a lot of mowing for five mowers. They do about
30 six mows on each road each year. That mowing cost is the most of the vegetation budget.
31
32 Brenner asked who is responsible for speed limit sign visibility. Green stated the
33 County is responsible. All the methods they use are very important. She will continue to
34 minimize the use of herbicides. Last year, they used herbicides on 150 lane miles. This
35 year they used herbicides on 77 lane miles. They are reducing their use to areas where
36 there is no other choice.
37
38 Weimer asked if the County has done any sampling for pesticides in creeks. He
39 asked why they choose 160 feet as the herbicide limit to streams, and if there has been any
40 first rain event sampling. Green stated the State Department of Ecology (Ecology) does the
41 first rain event sampling. She has reliable staff who she sends to a lot of training. They
42 know better than to go near areas that have any water, and only during the dry season.
43
44 Weimer stated a number of counties have gone spray -free. He sent the County's
45 plan to the Toxics Coalition for review. He heard from the Coalition that the County has a
46 very good plan. He asked the Coalition for ideas to change.
47
48 Angela Storey, Washington Toxics Coalition, stated she works with counties, cities,
49 and the State on herbicide use. Most counties don't have a plan at all. Whatcom County
50 and the Public Works Department should be acknowledged for the work they've done. Few
51 road miles are sprayed. There are six counties that have eliminated broadcast roadside
52 herbicide application completely. Jefferson County has eliminated any use for the past 25
53 years. She submitted a report on the Jefferson County program (on file).
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/26/2006, Page 3
Weeds around guardrails and signposts are very difficult to keep in control. Control
without herbicides would require a little more investment in long -term solutions, such as
paving or mats. The State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is looking at alternatives
to spraying in zone one, which is the area right next to the roads. Look at their results and
relate them to County roads.
Crawford asked if WSDOT makes attempts to match county practices. Storey stated
they do not. They used to spray up to ten feet past the shoulders. In the early 1990's,
they made changes after pressure from the public. Since 2002, some communities and
counties started asking WSDOT to not spray the State highways.
Crawford asked if WSDOT still sprays in Jefferson County. Storey stated it does, but
they have a number of district plans for all the maintenance districts around the state.
There are some specific districts where WSDOT has reduced its spraying. The amount of
change varies depending on WSDOT staff. Island County went no -spray because of public
pressure. Since, they've struggled with that change because of the mindset of their staff.
The Whatcom County Public Works Department is very dedicated to making sure they're not
spraying as much as possible.
There are always opportunities to continue to reduce the herbicide use. Look at
those 77 miles of roads, and then isolate the real reasons they are spraying each section.
Look at those sections to find a long -term solution. Certain larger road designs have
required continued herbicide use. Whatcom County is close to not spraying very much of its
roads.
There are seven herbicides listed in the program that are being used. She did a
toxicology analysis on each. Several are a high- hazard to the environment and human
health. She submitted and read the draft list (on file). Try to phase out three high hazard
products that are on the list.
Green stated her crew uses Landmark, Casaron, and Veteran 720 very little.
Casaron is used under new asphalt.
Brenner read from the handout on Jefferson County that says most of Jefferson
County has high rainfall, creating an ideal ecosystem for woody trees and shrubs. In the
dryer regions, annual broadleaf weeds pose an additional challenge. Whatcom County is in
a dryer region than Jefferson County. She thanked Ms. Green and the department for the
work they're doing.
Green stated the credit goes to her crew.
Brenner stated she would like a recommendation from Ms. Storey for substitutes for
these seven products. Storey stated there are thousands of alternatives on the market.
She can provide suggestions if she knew where the products are used.
Weimer asked if the WSDOT will spray less if the County asks it to. Storey stated
the State seems to be increasingly responsive to local requests.
Brenner stated the Council can send a letter.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/26/2006, Page 4
1 Crawford stated WSDOT usually attends the Whatcom Council of Governments (COG)
2 meetings. If the State gets a resolution from the COG, it should listen. He will talc to the
3 COG executives.
4
5 Green stated the State has been listening to the community. It used to use
6 herbicides for ten feet, but that doesn't happen anymore.
7
8 Crawford moved to approve the plan.
9
10 Motion carried unanimously.
11
12
13 OTHER BUSINESS
14
15 There was no other business.
16
17 ADJOURN
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19 he meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/26/2006, Page 5