1. Flowering Rush

    Butomus umbellatus Flowering Rush - An emergent invasive with a very limited distribution in Washington state that can sometimes stay submerged. Can grow up to 5 feet tall.Leaves: - Thin upward growing leaves that often twist when above the surface of the water and reach 3+ feet in length (when plant is emerged and much longer when it is submerged). Leaves have a triangular cross section.Flowers: - Blooms June - September with umbrella shaped clusters of 20-50 flowers that have 3 sepals and three white to deep purple petals.Habitat: - Can appear in a variety of habitats and is often …


    Weed Control - Sept. 12, 2022, 1:31 p.m.

  2. Spurge Laurel

    Daphne laureola Spurge Laurel - An evergreen shrub that gets to be around 1.5 to 5 feet tall. Plants can either be upright or arched at the base before spreading upwards.Leaves: Leaves alternate and are more prominent towards the top of the shoots. They are dark green and shiny on the top with lighter undersides. Leaves are oval in shape and about 0.8-5.1 inches long.Flowers: Flowers bloom from March through June. Small, green and yellow flowers grow at the base of the leaves and are fragrant.Habitat: Commonly found amongst the forest understory. Spurge Laurel prefers partial sun.Weed Classification: B DesignateWhy …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:49 a.m.

  3. Tree of Heaven

    Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven - A deciduous tree growing up to 60 feet tall. Plant parts may be identified by a distinctive peanut butter/popcorn smell.Leaves: Leaves are compound and alternate, and each leaf has anywhere from 10-27 leaflets usually. Leaflets are mostly smooth-edged, except for a few rounded teeth and a visibly large gland on the underside, towards the base of the leaf.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-July. Trees will either have male or female flower clusters at the tips of the stems with the male flowers being larger. Flowers are light green-yellow in color.Habitat: Commonly found near forest edges, …


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

  4. Eurasian Watermilfoil

    Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian Watermilfoil- a fully submerged escaped ornamental perennial that readily alters aquatic ecosystems by multiplying quickly and blocking sun with dense "floating" mats.Leaves: Feather-like leaves occur in whorls of 4 on a red stem. Each leaf can have 12+ leaflet pairs.Flowers: Tiny pink-reddish flowers appear as terminal spikes. Male and female flowers appear on the same plant.Habitat: Highly adaptable to any freshwater body including streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and ditches. Has been found as deep as 10 meters.Classification: B SelectThis aquatic weed is confirmed to be present in Carlisle lake, Riffe & Mayfield lakes (and the downstream portions …


    Weed Control - Sept. 26, 2022, 11:01 a.m.

  5. Yellow Flag Iris

    Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag Iris - Perennial invasive ornamental that grows 2-3 feet tall, is considered toxic to herbivores and contains a skin-irritating sap.Leaves: Broad, flat sword-shaped basal leaves that reduce in size going up the stemFlower: Multiple flowers appear at stem terminals, can be pale to dark yellow, have 3 sepals and 3 petals with its petals shorter than its sepals. Blooms visible May - July.Habitat: Grows in wetlands along the margins of lakes and slow moving rivers. It is most commonly found in shallow water or mud such as those in wet ditches.Weed Classification: C SelectWhy is it …


    Weed Control - Sept. 12, 2022, 12:12 p.m.

  6. 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.

  7. Parrotfeather

    Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrotfeather - An escaped ornamental that is submerged until it grows long enough to reach the surface where it will then have emergent leaves. This plant has a unique highly hydrophobic property that allows its leaves to hold bubbles of air.Leaves: Featherlike with whorled formation of 4 to 6 leaves. The subsurface leaves are darker than the emerged leaves which are bright green and resemble little fir tree seedlings.Flowers: Inconspicuous whitish flowers found at the leaf axils of emerging stems during summer months.Habitat: Found in freshwater ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. Tends to be rooted in shallow muddy …


    Weed Control - Sept. 26, 2022, 11:33 a.m.

  8. About Risk Management

    The Risk Management Department administers the County's self-insurance and claims programs. Risk Management's mission is to provide loss prevention and control programs and consultation, direction, insurance, and claims management services to Lewis County elected officials and departments to reduce or eliminate losses to property, liability, personnel, and net income.We believe that:Accidents and Injuries are preventableSafety can be managedSafety is an individual responsibilitySafety is a way of lifeNothing is more important than employee safetyRisk Management's primary activities are:Risk consultingInsurance procurement above self-insured retention levelsLewis County Self-Insured Fund management and financing for self-insured retention levelsAdministration of workers' compensation and unemployment claims (in …


    Risk Management - Feb. 22, 2013, 1:38 p.m.

  9. False Brome

    Brachypodium sylvaticum False Brome - A perennial, loosely tufted grass with upright stems.Leaves: Leaf sheathes have spreading hairs (can be hairless). Leaf blades are flat and arched up to 14 inches long. Leave blades are covered with long soft hairs.Flowers: Flowers bloom from April-June. Flowers are grouped in upright to nodding spikes. Flowers vary in hairiness and typically don't have stalks connecting them to main stem.Habitat: Grows in a variety of habitats including: forests, forest edges, woodlands, riparian areas, prairies, and roadsides.Weed Classification: AWhy is it a Noxious Weed?It spreads very fast and outcompetes native flora. Can form dense monocultures …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:46 a.m.

  10. Himalayan Knotweed

    Persicaria wallichii Himalayan Knotweed - A clumping perennial with hollow stems and creeping rhizomes. It grows about 6 feet in height.Leaves: Leaf shape is elongated compared to other knotweeds and are around 5-12 inches in length. They are leathery and alternate along the stem.Flowers: Flowers bloom from July-October. Whiteish pink flowers that are fragrant grow at the tips of branches.Habitat: Grows in disturbed, moist sites like roadsides, riparian, and wetland areas.Weed Classification: B DesignateWhy is it a Noxious Weed?This plant vigorously grows into dense stands that overtake native vegetation and alter ecosystems. It can survive severe floods and spread plant …


    Weed Control - Oct. 5, 2022, 4:16 p.m.