gal spraying for weeds

Weed Management

Smoky Lake County actively works to detect and control invasive weeds in the County and to educate residents on control measures. By using multiple control methods such as mechanical mowing, hand-pulling, herbicide application, seeding, and weed inspections, as well as actively involving landowners and maintaining weed management records, the County can limit the spread of invasive weeds in an efficient and proactive way. Some of the ways we do this include: 

  • Road Side Weed Control - Roadside spraying controls undesirable weeds and brush in ditches throughout the County. The program ensures that vegetation in all county ditches is controlled through herbicide applications, mowing, hand-picking, and competition by ensuring bare areas are seeded to grasses. The County is broken up into 3 sections, with a 1/3 of the County being blanket sprayed each year. Spot spraying is conducted in problem areas as needed.

  • Weed Inspections - Each summer, Smoky Lake County appoints Weed Inspectors who conduct weed inspections and investigate complaints, while increasing awareness of invasive weed species and weed management in the County. Weed Inspectors have the ability to enter onto land at a reasonable time to monitor compliance with the Weed Control Act. It is an offense to willfully obstruct or delay them while they are exercising their duties. Weed Inspectors are looking for noxious or prohibited noxious weeds as defined in the Weed Control Regulations. The goal is to create awareness about weed concerns and educate residents on why these weeds are of concern.  
  • Weed Reports - If a Weed Inspector finds noxious or prohibited-noxious weeds on a property, they will inform the landowner and provide guidance and information to control the issue. Weed Inspectors document the inspection results with a formal Weed Report, which details all inspections on the property as well as attempts to contact the landowner, and any subsequent actions taken. The intention of a Weed Report is to communicate the issue with the landowner, and initiate a weed control plan with the landowner. 

If a landowner is not willing to work with the Weed Inspector and fails to comply with their request to control Prohibited Noxious or Noxious Weeds, they will receive a Weed Notice; a legal document notifying the landowner of a weed infestation and setting a firm deadline for control. If the County has to act to control the weed infestation, the cost of weed control action will be billed to the landowner.