Public Works

Road Maintenance

WEEKLY UPDATE

Information regarding maintenance work occurring in the county maintenance districts for the week of April 15, 2024:

District 1 (Wenatchee)

Watch for the road crew in the Wenatchee Heights area, prepping roads for upcoming chip seal. The chip seal season starts June 3.

District 2 (Cashmere)

The crew will grading primitive roads throughout district and patching potholes.

District 3 (Leavenworth)

The crew will be crack sealing in the Chiwawa Pines area. Watch for one-lane, flagger-controlled traffic in the work zone. Plan for minor traffic delays. The crew also will be ditching and cleaning culverts on Icicle Road and repairing potholes around the district.

District 4 (Entiat)

The crew will be grading and applying dust-control on Crumb Canyon Road. Watch for one-lane, flagger-control in the work zone.

District 5 (Chelan)

The crew will be crack sealing in the Manson area. If you come upon the crew, plan for one-lane, flagger-controlled traffic in the work zone. Plan for minor traffic delays. The crew also will be grading primitive roads, patching potholes around the district and, in the Manson downtown area, doing sidewalk repairs and starting up the water system.

Need to find out which Chelan County Maintenance District you live in? Go to Maintenance Districts Map.

 

Vegetation Management

Chelan County’s primary objectives for roadside vegetation management are:  

  • Provide for safe travel on County roads. 
  • Preservation of roadway infrastructure with desirable vegetation and stable roadsides.
  • Compliance with legal regulations concerning control of noxious weeds.

Herbicides are a cost-effective method of maintaining vegetation, and selective use over time require, less product to manage vegetation as native grasses and low-growing plants fill in along roadsides.

 

Why does the County use herbicide to thin brush?

Safe travel requires maintaining sight distance at corners, curves and intersections, ensuring water flows off of pavement and providing areas for vehicles to safely pull off the road. This is accomplished with pruning, vegetation removal or herbicide thinning of deciduous vegetation.

Herbicide thinning is only used on brush and trees (apart from landscape vegetation or commercial farms after Sept. 1). Only the limbs of the plant sprayed are affected and those limbs will not leaf out the following year. It does not kill the plant. 

 

What herbicides are used in the residual program?

When the spray zone is near sensitive areas, such as orchards, vineyards, residences and rivers, lakes and irrigation canals, the chemicals used in these areas are soft residual products that are safe to use up to the water’s edge and near orchards, vineyards or landscaping. In non-sensitive areas, different herbicides with selective properties can be used to address vegetation control issues. 

 

Why control noxious weeds?

We are required by state law to control all listed noxious weeds that occur on the right-of-way. The County is also sensitive to the needs and concerns of adjacent landowners, both for controlling the spread of noxious weeds and the need for use of herbicides to control vegetation. All herbicides used by the County are on the State of Washington Vegetation Management Contract. The Washington State Department of Transportation has completed toxicological and risk analysis for all herbicides on the contract and summaries can be accessed on its website. These herbicides have been determined to be the least toxic to mammals, fish and invertebrates.

 

When does the County spray for noxious weeds?

Control of noxious weeds is performed from mid-May to mid-September. Selective herbicides are used in non-sensitive areas to promote the establishment of perennial grasses. Non-selective herbicide (Roundup®) is used in sensitive areas as it is one of just a few herbicides that is relatively safe to use near landscaping, orchards and vineyards. 

 

Does the County spray herbicide on all of the right-of-way for noxious weed control?

No. The County spot sprays noxious weeds selectively throughout the spring and summer to promote the establishment of perennial grasses.

 

Is it safe for me to walk my pets after an application has been made?

Yes. It is safe to come into contact with areas after the herbicide has dried. If pets lick their feet after walking through a treated area, it is advisable to rinse their feet with water, although at the rates of application there is little risk to pets or people.

 

What if I do not want the County to spray herbicide on the right-of-way adjoining my property?

The County has a program in place for landowners to maintain the County right-of-way in lieu of the County applying herbicides. The County will place “Owner Will Maintain” signs (at no expense to the landowner) at the start and stop of your property, to indicate where to stop and to resume spraying. Under this agreement, the landowner is responsible to control all noxious weeds, keep vegetation from encroaching onto the asphalt and keep brush and trees back from the right-of-way line of sight and around utilities and signs. Failure to comply with the terms of the agreement will result in the County removing the signs and resuming use of herbicides to control vegetation.

Posted: 10/20/2014 11:08 AM
Last Updated: 04/12/2024 05:11 PM

Chelan County Calendar

Upcoming events and schedules at the county!

  • 15
    May 2024
    07:00 PM - 08:00 PM

    Assessor's Office Community Meeting: Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee

    Posted by: Chelan County Assessor

    Chelan County Assessor Wes Cornelius invites property owners and all interested parties to attend one of four community meetings scheduled this spring throughout the county.

    Chelan County Fire District 3 station
  • 13
    May 2024
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Final day to withdraw from the ballot

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Final day to withdraw from the ballot

  • 10
    May 2024
    05:00 PM - 05:30 PM

    Lot Drawing for Candidates

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Lot drawing for candidates placement on the ballot.

    Chelan County Elections Office
  • 06
    May 2024
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Elections: Candidate Filing Week

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Candidate filing week.

  • 03
    May 2024
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office