What's New

Proposed Changes to the Washington Noxious Weed List 2027

The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board (WSNWCB) will hold a public hearing on November 3rd, via zoom and in person at and in person at Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, 137 N. Wenatchee Ave #101, Wenatchee WA, 98801 at 1:00 p.m., to take comments on proposed rule-making changes to the 2027 state noxious weed list and WAC 16.750. The changes proposed consist of two class A additions, two Class B additions and four class A addition, and 4 designation or other changes.

To comment on the proposed changes, written testimony can be mailed to WSNWCB; P.O. Box 42560; Olympia, WA 98504-2560, or emailed to noxiousweeds@agr.wa.gov by 5:00 p.m. Monday November 2nd, or given via zoom or in person during the public testimony section of the hearing. Verbal testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per person. To attend the hearing, contact Mary Burrows at mary.burrows@agr.wa.gov or 360-561-4428.

The WSNWCB will vote on the proposed rule changes during its regular board meeting the next day via Zoom and in-person, Wednesday November 4th, beginning at 9:30 a.m. This meeting is also open to the public. Please contact Mary Burrows at Mary.Burrows@agr.wa.gov or 360-561-4428 for login information if you would like to attend the WSNWCB Regular Meeting virtually. Physical location is Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, 137 N. Wenatchee Ave #101, Wenatchee WA, 98801.

The proposed listing changes:

WAC 16-750-011 Class B Noxious Weed Designation Changes

Hoary alyssum – Berteroa incana: to be designated in Pend Oreille County

WAC 16-750-011 Class B Noxious Weed Scientific Name Specification

Common reed – Phragmites australis: update the listing for common reed to Phragmites australis ssp. australis, common reed (does not include native common reed, P. australis ssp. americanus).

WAC 16-750-015 Class C Noxious Weed Additions

Purple foxglove – Digitalis purpurea
Bird cherry – Prunus avium
Cherry laurel – Prunus laurocerasus
Bittersweet nightshade – Solanum dulcamara

WAC 16-750-015 Class C Noxious Weed Grouping

Ivies – Hedera helix and H. Hibernica; update the listing of Hedera helix, Hedera hibernica, and hybrids to not include wording on cultivars or varieties.

WAC 16-750-015 Class C Noxious Weed Scientific Name Change

Yellow archangel – Lamiastrum galeobdolon: update the scientific name for yellow archangel from Lamiastrum galeobdolon to Lamium galeobdolon

Washington Noxious Weed List 2026 additions and changes (continued)

The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board voted on an addition to the 2026 Noxious Weed List following a public hearing in March. At the beginning of the year, waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus), delta arrowhead (Sagittaria platyphylla), Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and Norway maple (Acer platanoides) were put on the weed list. The new listing is:

WAC 16-750-005 Class A additions

The addition of sunflower broomrape, Orobanche cumana

RDS-6955.1

WSR 26-08-059

CES - 2026 Sunflower Broomrape

Washington Noxious Weed List 2026 additions and changes

The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board voted on the 2026 Noxious Weed List following a public hearing in November. County noxious weed control boards have 90 days from the adoption of the state weed list to adopt their own county noxious weed list. The county noxious weed list must include all class A noxious weeds and any class B noxious weeds designated by the state in their county. You can find the whole lists in WAC 16.750.