It is the task of state agencies to adopt the rules and regulations that spell out how legislation will be implemented. When agencies are working to adopt rules that may affect how growers protect their crops, Washington Friends of Farms & Forests is at the table.

WSDA Endangered Species Program

The Washington State Department of Agriculture sampled water in the Yakima Basin and in Thornton Creek in Seattle for residues for some of the pesticides named in the Washington Toxics Coalition lawsuit, as well as others, as part of their Endangered Species Program. To learn more about this study, and read its final report, click here.

Roadside Vegetation Management

Washington Toxics Coalition targeted the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and several county transportation departments with a campaign to remove herbicides as a tool for vegetation management.

Washington Friends of Farms & Forests (WFFF) encouraged counties to develop Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) plans and produced a white paper for vegetation managers to refer to when answering questions. Click here to view the white paper.

WSDOT continues to work with several counties to document the costs of not using herbicides. In addition to the cost of purchasing and maintaining mowers, there is additional labor, hazards to employees and drivers, damage to wildlife and difficulty in controlling noxious weeds.

WSDOT plans to develop Roadside Vegetation Management Plans for all Washington State highways by 2007. Plans already in place or currently being developed are available for review by clicking here.

WSDOT welcomes public review and comment on these plans and all other aspects of roadside vegetation management at any time. Please submit comments to Ray Willard at (360) 705-7865, or email willarr@wsdot.wa.gov. For more information on vegetation management plans in Eastern Washington, contact James Morin at (360) 709-8218, or e-mail morinj@wsdot.wa.gov.