Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley Invasive Weed Project Sasha Shaw Education Specialist King County Noxious Weed Program

Agenda  Weed Surveys to Date  Weed Priorities  Priority Weeds Present in the Watershed Class A and B Noxious Weeds Class A and B Noxious Weeds Other Priority Invasive Weeds Other Priority Invasive Weeds  Other Weeds – Lower Priority (except in the upper watershed)  Noxious Weeds Threatening to Invade  Survey Procedures

Middle Fork Snoqualmie Weed Surveys Completed 2005 and 2006  Roadsides (10 ft in on both sides) Farther in where disturbance or weed infestations were observed Farther in where disturbance or weed infestations were observed  Disturbed Sites Quarries, cut banks, logging landings Quarries, cut banks, logging landings Camping sites, pullouts, trailheads, parking lots Camping sites, pullouts, trailheads, parking lots  Open talus fields, stream crossings  River by raft and river bars on foot

Priority Weeds Identified in the Middle Fork Valley  Himalayan and Evergreen Blackberry  Bohemian Knotweed  Scotch Broom  Reed Canary Grass  English Holly  English Ivy  Butterfly Bush  Tansy Ragwort*  Yellow Hawkweed*  Canada Thistle  Hedge Bindweed  Common Tansy  Yellow Archangel  Yellow Flag Iris  European Mountain-Ash  Spotted Knapweed*  Bittersweet Nightshade  Poison-hemlock Listed in order of total area found. Weeds with * are designated for control in King County.

Middle Fork Snoqualmie Weed Priorities  Washington State Noxious Weeds Especially those designated in King County Especially those designated in King County  Non-native species newly introduced or not previously reported in the valley  Excluded from the survey: species that are already pervasive in the valley and unlikely to be controlled valley-wide In higher elevation areas, widespread weeds should be mapped if there is a chance to control them In higher elevation areas, widespread weeds should be mapped if there is a chance to control them

What are the Weed Classes?  Class A Weeds – new invaders, control required statewide, still a chance to eradicate  Class B and C Designates – control required in King County, still have a chance to stop them from getting established  Non-Designates and Weeds of Concern – widespread invasive weeds in King County, control not required but definitely a good idea whenever possible!

Class A and B Noxious Weeds (Please notify the county noxious weed program if these are found)

Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) First year rosettes have round- lobed leaves, reddish stems Flowering stems are 1-6 ft tall with clusters of yellow, daisy flowers Flowers June to October. Seeds are viable for 10 to 16 years. Class B Noxious Weed

Yellow Hawkweed ( Hieracium caespitosum) Class B Noxious Weed

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)  Grows feet tall, perennial  Pink to purple flowers, on the tips of stem branches Floral bracts tipped with dark fringe Floral bracts tipped with dark fringe Class B Noxious Weed

Sulfur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) Class B Noxious Weed

Other Priority Invasive Weeds in the MidFork

Himalayan Blackberry ( Rubus armeniacus, R. discolor )

Evergreen Blackberry ( Rubus laciniatus )

Good Guy Look-Alike: Native Trailing Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)

Bohemian Knotweed (Polygonum bohemicum)

Stems tend to zig zag Flower clusters are upright along stems

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) Leaves gray green above and white and fuzzy on the underside, finely toothed on margins Can grow 5 to 8 feet in a single season

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) Butterfly bush has invaded along the Tolt River Seedlings thrive in open sandy soil

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

European Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia)

Native Mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensis)

English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)  Tree 15 to 50 feet tall and 15 feet wide  Bark smooth and gray  Leaves glossy, persistent, dark green, wavy and spiny  Flowers are small and white  Berries are bright red or orange and found in small bundles like the flowers

Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon (a.k.a. Lamium) Small yellow mint-type flowers in leaf axils Slivery markings on leaves of this popular garden plant make it easy to spot invading into shady forests

Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) Class C Noxious Weed – Control Not Required

Loose leaf sheath Largeligule Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)  Tall rhizomatous grass, 3 to 6 feet  Sturdy, hollow stems, sometimes reddish near top  Loose leaf sheath  Leaf blades flat, no hairs, to ¾ inch wide  Large ligule  Leaves come off stem at 45 degree angle

Other Common Weeds and Garden Escapees Present but not Surveyed (too pervasive for control or not of immediate concern)  Bull Thistle  Common Foxglove  Herb Robert/Robert’s Geranium  Common St. Johnswort  Oxeye Daisy  Creeping Buttercup  Hawksbeard, Hairy Cat’s Ear and Common Dandelion  Other Weeds and Garden Escapees

Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Large spines on stems, leaves and under the flower head

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Herb Robert (a.k.a. Stinky Bob)

St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)

Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)

Hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris)

Cat’s Ear or False Dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata)

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)

Wall Lettuce (Lactuca muralis)

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) sanangelo.tamu.edu/agronomy

Woodland Groundsel (Senecio sylvaticus)

Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) Reddish or greenish flowers in a long, slender, branching cluster at the top of a stem bearing leaves with very wavy margins

Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Russian Comfrey (Symphytum X uplandicum or S. peregrinum)

Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)

Noxious Weeds threatening to Invade (present nearby)  Orange Hawkweed (fields, roadsides)  Common Hawkweed (roadsides)  Sulfur Cinquefoil (roadsides)  Dalmatian Toadflax (roadsides)  Yellow Toadflax (roads and trails)

Orange Hawkweed ( Hieracium aurantiacum) Flowers orange, in tight clusters Flowers orange, in tight clusters Stems leafless with black hairs Stems leafless with black hairs From a few inches to 2 feet tall From a few inches to 2 feet tall Reproduces by seed and runners Reproduces by seed and runners Bolts: May-June Bolts: May-June Flowers: Late May to Sep/Oct Flowers: Late May to Sep/Oct Seeds: Late June to Fall Seeds: Late June to Fall Class B Noxious Weed

Common Hawkweed (Hieracium lachenalii)  Leaves coarsely toothed  Leaves larger at base and smaller up the stem  Flower heads more loosely clustered than yellow hawkweed  No stolons  Bolts in May  Flowering May to August Hieracium_species Class C Noxious Weed – Control Required

Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)  Leaves bluish-green with waxy coating, heart-shaped  Flowers bright yellow tinged with orange, like snapdragon flowers  Bolts: April- June  Flowers: May-Sept  Seeds: Aug- Sept Class B Noxious Weed

Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)   Perennial, 1 to 2.5 feet tall   Flowers yellow, smaller than Dalmatian flowers   May to September   Leaves: Small, narrow, linear, pale green Class C Noxious Weed – Control Not Required

King County Noxious Weed Control Program Website Weed Photo Page: Search by Common Name or Latin Name Click thumbnail picture of plant

Survey Procedures

Maps  Can be downloaded from USGS website or bought from hiking stores Mark can tell you which maps are needed for each trail Mark can tell you which maps are needed for each trail  If possible, mark surveyed area and weeds on map as accurately as possible  Aerials can be used also (we can print them out for you) but not that great for forested areas

Survey Form  Fill out one form for each trail or area surveyed One form can cover more than one survey date One form can cover more than one survey date  Description of area surveyed, directions, notes This will help us find the area to control the weeds and to map the surveyed area on GIS This will help us find the area to control the weeds and to map the surveyed area on GIS  Weed check list Mark off what you find on the trail Mark off what you find on the trail Add any additional non-native species found Add any additional non-native species found In the notes section or on the end of the check listIn the notes section or on the end of the check list Take photos of any uncertain IDs or unknown species (also known species if you have the time and interest) Take photos of any uncertain IDs or unknown species (also known species if you have the time and interest)

Survey Log  Fill out as many as needed each day you survey Separate forms for each trail or road Separate forms for each trail or road Staple logs to back of survey form Staple logs to back of survey form Can use field notebooks instead with same data collected Can use field notebooks instead with same data collected  Running list of weed sites in order found Note distance from start or an obvious landmark Note distance from start or an obvious landmark Use landmarks that can be seen on an aerial or mapUse landmarks that can be seen on an aerial or map Can use distance from last weed site but this isn’t as good as distance from startCan use distance from last weed site but this isn’t as good as distance from start GPS point (if available) GPS point (if available)  Weed name Can abbreviate with first three letters of genus and first three letters of species Can abbreviate with first three letters of genus and first three letters of species

Survey Log, continued  Growth Stage In flower, setting seed, or just green and growing In flower, setting seed, or just green and growing  Habitat Type of place it is growing in (to help find the plant and also to plan how to control it) Type of place it is growing in (to help find the plant and also to plan how to control it)  Total Infested Area (square feet) Estimate distance by pacing area Estimate distance by pacing area Put patches separated by 100 feet or more on separate lines Put patches separated by 100 feet or more on separate lines  Percent Cover Estimate % of the infested area that is covered by the weed as seen from above Estimate % of the infested area that is covered by the weed as seen from above  Notes Any other observations Any other observations Whether photos were taken Whether photos were taken

What We Need  Survey form, logs, marked map all bundled together for each trail  GPS data files if you have them  Photos of weeds found (especially unknown or uncertain weeds, digital files or prints if not digital)  Your stories and experiences (hopefully all good!)

Where to Send Stuff and Get Forms  Mail paper forms to: Sasha Shaw King County Noxious Weed Program 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600 Seattle WA Sasha Shaw King County Noxious Weed Program 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600 Seattle WA  digital files to:  Get forms from Sasha or download from: Follow links to Volunteer Information/MidFork ProjectFollow links to Volunteer Information/MidFork Project  Questions? Call Sasha at Call Sasha at

Sasha Shaw King County Noxious Weed Program 201 South Jackson St, Suite 600 Seattle, WA