Noxious weeds program seeks amendment to Forest Service agreement to expand invasive-plant work; WSU Extension runs supply drive
Summary
The county’s noxious weed coordinator requested that the commission place an amendment to a Forest Service agreement on the action agenda to add nearly $19,000 in project funding for invasive-plant survey and control in Olympic National Forest; she also noted an upcoming WSU Extension supply drive for Adopt-a-Pet.
Heidi Steinbach, Mason County’s noxious weed program coordinator, asked commissioners to place an amendment to an existing Forest Service agreement on the next action agenda.
Steinbach said the county’s resource-advisory-committee award added $18,996 for invasive plant survey and control work in Olympic National Forest, bringing the total of the existing agreement to $53,996. The agreement was finalized May 25 and the funds expire Sept. 30, 2026, she said. The amendment would provide up to $27,000 of additional budget support during the 2025–2026 budget year and could support increasing an extra-help position from 0.5 FTE to 0.75 FTE in the 2026 budget year.
Steinbach said she learned of the Forest Service amendment deadline last week and requested the amendment be added to the commission’s next action agenda so payment processing would not be delayed. She said she had coordinated with county staff (Cammy/Kimmy) who indicated administrative support for the amendment as long as the commission approved adding it to the action agenda.
Steinbach also asked commissioners to publicize and support a WSU Extension service event: an Adopt-a-Pet supply drive on Sept. 12, with a list of requested donations (specific pet-food brands, garbage bags, old towels, leashes, Kong toys and similar items). She offered to send the donation list to county staff to post on county channels.
Ending: Commissioners agreed to add the amendment to the action agenda for timely signature; staff were asked to publish the WSU Extension drive details once Steinbach provided the list.
