Noxious Weed Control Boards

County and State Weed Control Boards, Mission and Background

County weed boards and weed districts carry out the state's noxious weed law at the local level. Each county board is comprised of five members who volunteer their time and effort to oversee the County's Noxious Weed Program.

Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board members serve as responsible stewards of Snohomish County by protecting and preserving the land and resources from the degrading impact of noxious weeds.

 County Weed Control Board

• Board Members
  John Tellesbo, President, District 1
  Vacant, District 1 
  Vacant, District 2
  Vacant, District 3 
  Ed Stocker, District 4
  Dick Barr, District 5
  Curt Moulton, Ex-officio member
  
  
• Mission
  The mission of the Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board members is to serve as responsible stewards of Snohomish County by protecting and preserving the land and resources from the degrading impact of noxious weeds.
  
  
  
• Background
  The Board was formed in 1980 as a response to requests to control Canada Thistle and Tansy Ragwort. Canada thistle was the first weed listed for control in the County due to its invasiveness and threat to agriculture.
  
  
  The local noxious weed control boards and weed districts carry out the state's noxious weed law at the local level. Each county board is composed of five directors who volunteer their time and effort to oversee the county noxious weed program. Washington State University Cooperative Extension agents serve as ex-officio, non-voting county weed board members.

 State Noxious Weed Board

At the state level, noxious weeds have a long history, dating back before statehood. In 1881, the territorial legislature enacted a law "To prevent Spread of Chinese and Canada Thistles." This legislation made it the duty of the landowner to control certain weeds on property they owned or managed.

The State noxious weed law holds landowners, including state, county and city landowner/ managers, responsible for controlling weeds on their property. Federally owned lands are subject to the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Since many people are unfamiliar with noxious weeds and the weed law, the State and County Weed Boards are available to provide information on identification and control options. Landowners can choose the control method they think is most appropriate for their property. When property owners fail to comply with RCW 17.10, the Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board may control noxious weeds or contract for their control at the expense of the property owner.

View more information on the State Noxious Weed Control Board.