Suncrest and Hwy 291 Corridor Area

The state noxious weed laws and our county weed list apply throughout the county (with the exception of federal lands). There are no special ordinances that cover the urban-like areas known as Suncrest, Felton and Tum Tum but there are special circumstances that should be mentioned to  property owners in one of these unincorporated yet heavily populated areas.  

Many of the lots in these areas are 1-2 acres in size.  They frequently hold a nice home, garage, some outbuildings, yard and great ornamental landscaping.  Some also make room for horses, goats, sheep and the occasional pig.  Then, in many cases, there is a band of "no-mans" land left either around the perimeter of the property or along at least one side of a lot.  Quite often we hear these areas referred to "natural areas".  These are the areas where the noxious weeds take hold and spread.  There are a number of native wildflowers and shrubs in the area that should be encouraged to flourish, but more often than not, the noxious weeds are crowding out the good guys and forming exclusive communities themselves.  Not doing anything to an area of ground and calling it "natural" is really not practical.  Noxious weeds are aggressive invaders that will move in and take over in a very short time span.  Then they will move into your lawn, your corral, your gravel drive and onto your neighbor's lot.  

Another area of concern is along the portion of the lots that are adjacent to roads.  While it is the responsibility of the Stevens County Department of Public Works to control noxious weeds along their rights-of-ways throughout the county, it is an especially difficult, if not impossible task in areas where the lot owner has landscaping almost right up to the road edge.  The road crews will not spray the knapweed, blueweed, rush skeletonweed, etc. that is popping out from your juniper or rose bushes because they don't want to damage your ornamental plants.  Of course they cannot be expected to hand pull or otherwise mechanically remove weeds from each of these lots.  This is where cooperation from adjacent landowners is so important.  PLEASE take the time to walk along your frontage  3 or 4 times through the growing season and look for weeds that obviously cannot be treated by county road crews without wiping out your desirable plants.   While you're at it, pull those weeds under the mailboxes, too!

Be a good neighbor and steward of the land.  Keep the weeds from going to seed and, in the case of those weeds that spread by underground roots (rush skeletonweed, leafy spurge) dig or spray appropriate herbicide to try to knock out the roots as well.  We are happy to help with control recommendations, identification, etc.  All you have to do is ask...

Click here for some of the more frequently found noxious weeds in the extreme southern portion of the county-and a few to be on the look out for!