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Scotch broom is an invasive species and a noxious weed, as defined by the WA State Noxious Weed Control Board. This plant is becoming more prolific in Ocean Shores, due to its hardiness and nature to propagate quickly. In 2019, the City worked to clear approximately ten acres of this noxious weed from the dunes in partnership with the Grays Harbor Marine Resource Committee and the 10,000 Years Institute. The 10,000 Years Institute is led by Executive Director Jill Silver, an ecologist and expert in invasive species eradication, amongst her many professional accomplishments and achievements. With Ms. Silver’s guidance, the City has begun to target larger areas of inundation. The plan is to focus on the most saturated areas, learn the process for eradication and implement accordingly.
Due to the immense presence of scotch broom at the marina, the City connected the 10,000 Years Institute to the Quinault Nation Enterprise Board (QNEB) to focus on those parcels. Seeds can travel through waterways and still be viable to prosper, making it an ideal focal area. QNEB has entered into a contract with Rake Force, a Veteran owned Regenerative Agroforestry, Conservation entity, and the 10,000 Years Institute to begin a scotch broom eradication demonstration project. This project will begin with five acres of scotch broom removal and utilize mobile pyrolysis kilns to create usable bio-char. This project is funded by QNEB, and RCO Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative funding obtained by the 10,000 Years Institute, for efforts just as these along the Washington coast. The City has offered support to implement the demonstration project, to include use of the Public Works yard for mobilization, potential burn site and a fire tender for safety precautions.
This project will begin on November 1st, 2023, for an estimated six-day work plan, weather permitting. Rakeforce and the 10,000 Years Institute will provide an informative presentation to the community and City Council on October 23rd, 2023, at the regularly scheduled Council meeting. Community outreach to surrounding properties will be performed between October 23rd and November 1st, 2023.
The City’s next step will be to select properties of its own for removal. In addition, the City will work with the 10,000 Years Institute to provide educational outreach material and eradication instruction to private property owners to control this noxious weed on a much smaller scale, in their own backyard. Together, we can make a big difference in the presence of this pesky plant! Please stay tuned for more information.
Links to both Rake Force and the 10,000 Years Institute webpages are provided below:
www.10000yearsinstitute.org/scotch-broom-prevention-and-control www.rakeforce.us
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