Supervisors approve grant application for invasive weed control

Although the size of some of the sites in San Diego County affected by invasive weeds does not sound impressive, the county’s Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures wishes to eradicate those weeds before they spread and the Board of Supervisors approved a grant application for invasive weed control on a 5-0 vote October 18.

The supervisors’ action authorized the department to apply for a $100,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for a two-year project titled Prevention, Early Detection, and Eradication of Noxious and Invasive Weeds in California. The supervisors also authorized acceptance of the grant if offered by CDFA, although a subsequent board action would be needed to appropriate the funds.

Since 2001 the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures has conducted projects throughout the county which detect, map, and control non-native invasive weed species. AWM has identified 29 sites with perennial peppercress, 17 with yellow starthistle, four with spotted knapweed, and two with purple loosestrife. Some of those sites have since been eradicated, including a quarter-acre of knapweed by Harris Truck Trail.

Other identified sites include 30 acres of peppercress at San Luis Rey Downs, 10 acres of peppercress along Sandia Creek, 24 acres of starthistle at three Camp Pendleton sites, and 50 square feet of yellow starthistle by the former warehouse along South Mission Road.

The grant funds would be used for weed mapping and monitoring, application of herbicides, mechanical or biological removal, and outreach programs. A 50 percent match is required, and that will be provided through departmental costs for contract administration, oversight, public education, and weed control. A $147,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for weed control in the San Dieguito River Park will also cover part of the match requirement.