County crews begin roadside herbicide spraying March 31
Kitsap County road maintenance crews begin herbicide roadside shoulder spraying March 31, 2025. “We recognize the concerns residents have about spraying herbicides,” said Jacques Dean, Road Superintendent. “We use products that are approved through the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture to control vegetation,” he added. Kitsap County discontinued the use of Glyphosate for broadcast spraying by Board of County Commissioner Resolution 085-2019, on May 22, 2019.
Herbicide spraying is an integral part of the County’s vegetation management program. “Maintaining sight distances and ensuring signs aren’t obstructed are essential on our road system. We use mowers and other methods to help control vegetation, and the selective application of herbicides makes the other processes more efficient.
Spraying is done sequentially by geographical area. Residents can explore an interactive map to identify the scheduled date that their neighborhood will be sprayed (weather dependent).
“Kitsap County is committed to using the lowest effective application rate of herbicide product possible to manage roadside vegetation,” said Dean. Trained and certified application crews spray adjacent to existing pavement, around guardrails and around signposts. Most application is on heavily used arterial and collector road shoulders. It’s also used on local roads as conditions warrant.
Crews do not spray in these areas:
- School zones
- Along park frontages
- Along identified bus stops
- In dense residential areas
- In road side ditches.
- Or within 50 feet on either side of a critical environmental area.
Property Owner Vegetation Maintenance – "Owner Will Maintain" Program
Residents can maintain rights-of-way adjacent to their property by submitting an Owner Will Maintain form and installing a County-provided sign. They must ensure clear sight distances and remove noxious weeds.
For further details, please explore the links provided below.
To learn more about how Kitsap County Public Works maintains and preserves over 900 miles of roadway, visit http://kcowa.us/roadmaint.
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