1. Kudzu

    Pueraria montana var. lobata Kudzu - A perennial trailing or climbing vine. It grows at a very fast rate and can easily take over an area if left unchecked.Leaves: Alternate and compound leaves with three oval shaped leaf sections.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-June. Purple to reddish purple flowers clustered along a center stem that grows about a foot long. The flowers are similar to pea flowers and are fragrant.Habitat: Well drained eroded or degraded land or sandy loam soils in full sun.Weed Classification: AWhy is it a Noxious Weed?A highly aggressive plant that smothers anything in its path. It can …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:57 a.m.

  2. Milk Thistle

    Silybum marianum Milk Thistle - A large, sparsely branched thistle growing up to 6 feet tall. Easy to identify, due to the leaf patterning.Leaves: Alternate, deeply lobed, and pointed leaves. Leaves have a very noticeable white and dark green marbling. The basal leaves can get up to 20 inches long and 10 inches wide.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-August. Rounded cluster of tubular flowers that have spine-tipped bracts (scales) around it.Habitat: Occurs in many places such as: overgrazed pastures, roadsides, waste areas, ditches, and disturbed areas.Weed Classification: AWhy is it a Noxious Weed?It is an aggressive invader that can grow into …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:57 a.m.

  3. Common Catsear

    Hypochaeris radicata Common Catsear - A perennial with a basal rosette of leaves, followed by upright/slightly bent stems that are usually leafless in its second year.Leaves: Leaves are rough and hairy, with lobed or waxy margins. Leaves can be 1.2-13.8 inches long and .2-2.8 inches wide.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-October. Dandelion-like flowers that are yellow and disc like and are 1-1.5 inches across.Habitat: Common Catsear grows in disturbed areas, such as yards, roadsides, pastures, waste areas, gardens, and seed fields.Weed Classification: CWhy is it a Noxious Weed?It is a potentially poisonous, aggressively spreading plant that invades lawns and lowland pastures. …


    Weed Control - Oct. 6, 2022, 9:32 a.m.

  4. Reed Canary Grass

    Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canarygrass - A highly variable perennial plant, with rhizomes. Grows 3-6 feet in height.Leaves: Leaf blades are flat and smooth. The leaf has a wide connecting point to the stem.Flowers: Flowers bloom from June-July. Densely clustered flowers in panicles. 3 florets per spikelet and only one fertile spikelet. Flowers start out green-purple and change to tan/brown overtime.Habitat: Usually grows where ground is at least somewhat saturated during growing season. Habitats include: roadside ditches, river dikes, shallow marshes, wetlands, and meadows.Weed Classification: CWhy is it a Noxious Weed?A major threat to wetlands due to its aggressive nature. It …


    Weed Control - Oct. 6, 2022, 9:33 a.m.

  5. Rush Skeletonweed

    Chondrilla juncea Rush Skeletonweed - A perennial that grows 1-5 feet tall. It has a long slender taproot that can grow 7 feet in length.Leaves: Basal leaves are lobed and slightly curved towards the leaf base. The stems have very few leaves that are smaller and have smooth edges.Flowers: Flowers bloom from July-September. Flowers consist of many yellow ray flowers and are either single or clustered. They are about 1/2 inch in diameter with green bracts (scales) underneath.Habitat: Can be found in pastures, rangeland, cropland, roadsides, open and disturbed areas.Weed Classification: B DesignateWhy is it a Noxious Weed?Rush Skeletonweed can …


    Weed Control - Oct. 5, 2022, 3:36 p.m.

  6. Yellowflag Iris

    Iris pseudacorus Yellowflag Iris - A perennial, herbaceous, aquatic plant, growing 2-3 feet in height.Leaves: Basal leaves are sword shaped and larger than the leaves found higher up the stem.Flowers: There can be few or many flowers near the tip of the stems. Flowers are white-dark yellow with purple markings. There are 3 petals and 3 sepals.Habitat: Most commonly found growing in very shallow water or mud. It can also grow along lake shores and slow-moving rivers. It tolerates a variety of conditions.Weed Classification: C SelectWhy is it a Noxious weed?It is an ornamental that has become a nuisance in …


    Weed Control - Oct. 6, 2022, 11:46 a.m.

  7. Coroner Duties

    MISSION STATEMENTThe Lewis County Coroner’s Office determines the cause and manner of reported deaths by conducting professional medicolegal death investigations while ensuring that everyone who has suffered a loss is treated with dignity, respect and compassion.VISION STATEMENTThe LCCO is accessible and accountable to the public, media and other elected officials.The LCCO continually strives to increase the proficiency and professionalism of all staff members through training.The LCCO endeavors to develop and strengthen partnerships with the public safety community.The LCCO works with community partners to adopt a proactive approach to reducing preventable deaths.The Coroner is responsible for leading a team of medicolegal …


    Coroner - Jan. 31, 2014, 2:20 p.m.

  8. Purple Loosestrife

    Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife – Erect squarish stems, up to 8 feet tall, Leaves: 1 ½ to 4 inches long, lance-shaped and lack petioles, usually opposite and rotated 90 degrees from the previous node or whorled in sets of 3.Flowers: spikes of magenta flowers 4 – 16 inches long, flowers from July to October.Habitat: Found in wetlands and streams in the Centralia/Chehalis area as well as Stearns Creek and Mineral Lake in Lewis County.Weed Classification: B designateWhy Is It a Noxious Weed?Purple loosestrife is a vigorous competitor and can crowd out other vegetation including native species. It can quickly dominate …


    Weed Control - Sept. 12, 2022, 11:28 a.m.

  9. Scotch Broom

    Cytisus scoparius Scotch Broom - Everyone's favorite noxious weed! A woody perennial shrub that has many branches. Plants can range from 3-10 feet tall.Leaves: Scotch Broom has few leaves. The upper leaves are simple with the lower leaves being 3 parted. Leaves are pointed at each end and can fall early in the year, leaving bare, green stems.Flowers: Flowers bloom from March through June. Typical pea family flowers in shape. Bright yellow in color with 5 petals.Habitat: Typically, can be found along roadsides, in pastures, grasslands, and open areas with recent soil disturbance.Weed Classification: B SelectWhy is it a Noxious …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:48 a.m.

  10. Field Bindweed

    Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed - An herbaceous perennial with extensive rhizomes that help it creep through fields and over plants.Leaves: Arrowhead-shaped leaves that alternate along the stem. Leaves have two lobes at the base.Flowers: Flowers bloom from April-October. Flowers are bell or funnel-shaped and are about 1 inch across. They range from white-pink and have bracts (scales) where the flower stem meets the plant stem.Habitat: It grows anywhere from full sun to full shade and is drought tolerant. Found in ravines, greenbelts, forested parks, farmlands, driveways, flower gardens, and ornamental bordersWeed Classification: CWhy is it a Noxious Weed?Once established it …


    Weed Control - Oct. 6, 2022, 9:33 a.m.