Skamania County Noxious Weed Program

05/18/2026

Now is a great time to get out and smell the roses…or, at least, the wildflowers! 🌸🌺🌻

The Columbia River Gorge is lucky to boast a variety of habitats, including woodland meadows. These pollinator paradises begin their transformations in early spring, when the first flowers begin to bloom.

One benefit to revisiting these sites is to see how they change from month to month, as different flowers have different peak bloom periods.

Here are some of the wonderful flowers you may be able to spot in the Gorge right now!

(Pic 1: Camas [Camasia sp.]; 2 & 16: ookow [Dichelostemma congestum]; 3, 4, 13 & 18: larkspur [Delphinium spp.]; 5: allium/onion [Allium sp.]; 6: death camas [Toxicoscordion venenosum]; 7: thimbleberry [Rubus paviflorus]; 8: Western columbine [Aquilegia formosa]; 9: Wood’s rose [Rosa woodsii]; 10 & 17: cow parsnip [Heracleum maximum]; 11: Oregon manroot (Marah oregana]; 12 & 15; lupine [Lupinus sp.]; 14: yarrow [Achillea millefolium])
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04/15/2026

See beautiful places, work with great people, and protect the ecosystems of Skamania County!

The Skamania County Noxious W**d Control Program is hiring Natural Resource Aides for our 2026 field season. In this seasonal position you’ll tackle invasive vegetation and help to restore habitats across the county. If you’re passionate about botany, invasive species management or protecting the natural world, then this is the position for you!

A full description of the position and instructions on how to apply can be found under the Links section of our profile.

Come join us and help Keep Skamania Wild!
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04/14/2026

The saying goes that April showers bring May flowers. But April’s NWotM is one plant you wish would never bloom: Scotch broom! 🧹🟡🚫

Scotch broom, or Cytisus scoparius, is a shrubby member of the legume family native to Europe. While originally brought to the US as an ornamental and for erosion control, it has since escaped and established itself along both the West and East coasts. This plant can be identified by its ‘broom’ like appearance, trifoliate leaves, pea-like seed pods and bright yellow flowers.

Scotch broom reaches maturity on its second year of growth, can produce up to 10,000 seeds a year, and can live for up to 25 years! Combine this with the hardiness of its seeds-which can remain dormant from anywhere between 10-80 years-and you’ve got one tough, quick-spreading invader!

Luckily for anyone battling this yellow-flowered menace there is hope. Smaller plants can be pulled by hand before they flower, and larger plants can be removed using a w**d wrench or treated with herbicide. Prevention, as always, is key, so it is important to check known-locations yearly.

Remember this spring to do your part in keeping Skamania Wild. Help us sweep Scotch broom away! 👋🧹
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**dofthemonth **ds

03/19/2026

Last month the Columbia Gorge CWMA-a collaborative group that includes Skamania County NWCP-held it’s 15th annual Invasive Species and Exotic Pest workshop (ISEP). This gathering of w**d-wise professionals from across the Gorge was held here in Skamania County!

Together we celebrated our wins and accomplishments, and shared the latest research in invasive species management. This unique event allows different partners to network and collaborate with each other and ensure we are doing our best to protect our natural resources.

Thank you, everyone, who made this possible. Together we can Keep The Gorge Wild! 🌱💪✨
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03/05/2026

Welcome back w**d warriors! Get ready to say 'Hello' to spring with us by learning about March's Noxious W**d of the Month: spurge laurel.

Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola), also known as Daphne laurel, is an ornamental, evergreen shrub. It is shade-loving and quickly forms monocultures in forest understories, outcompeting our native vegetation. Worst of all, all parts of this plant are toxic to people and pets! This includes the leaves, stems, flowers, fruits and sap. In fact, even the fumes from this plant's sap have been known to cause dizziness!

While this plant can look very similar to the native Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum), there are a few characteristics that set these two apart. The leaves of spurge laurel are thick and waxy, while the leaves of the rhododendron are leathery, with prominent veins branching out from the midvein. When it comes to flowers, the difference is stark: the rhododendron's flowers are pink and showy, while the laurel's are tubular and yellow. The final trick to tell them apart lies in where their flowers and fruits grow: on spurge laurel the majority grow under the last whorl of leaves. On the rhododendron, however, they grow at the very top of the branch.

Spurge laurel is a Class B noxious w**d in the state of Washington-meaning it is widespread in certain areas, but limited in others. In Skamania County, control to prevent its spread is required by law. This species is also on the Washington quarantine list, meaning all parts of this plant are illegal to sell or transport within the state.

To learn more about this w**d and how to safely control it, contact us at w**[email protected] or visit one of the resources below!:

https://conservationdistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Spurge-laurel.pdf
https://emswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/spurge-laurel.pdf
https://www.portland.gov/bes/invasive-plants/spurge-laurel

03/03/2026

Do you love forestry? Are you excited by the outdoors and ecology? WSU'S Extension Forestry Program is offering a unique opportunity to learn more about your natural world!

The Extension Forestry Program will be holding its Winter School on March 21st, from 9AM-4PM in Vancouver, Washington. Over 20 workshops will be available, with the opportunity for each attendee to join up to 6!

For more information, please visit the url below!
https://forestry.wsu.edu/sw/events/winterschool/

02/23/2026

This week, celebrate National Invasive Species Awareness Week with us! This is an event, led by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) dedicated to sharing information about invasive species and the impacts they can have on our environment.

The Noxious W**d Department at Skamania County has participated in this event for many years, and 2026 is no different. This year, we want to make one post a day highlighting different issues related to invasive species control in Washington. To kick things off for Day 1, read above about the Don't Let It Loose initiative!
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02/20/2026

The USFS Gifford Pinchot is hiring for the summer season! Come work for some of the best stewards of our local National Forest!

Visit:
https://www.facebook.com/100066879647590/posts/1230186242554019/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
For more details!

02/19/2026

Gifford Pinchot National Forest- U.S. Forest Service is hiring!
This is an excellent opportunity to work with some of the greatest stewards of the GP National Forest. Head on over to their post to learn more!

Looking for a meaningful job in your own community? The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is hiring seasonal employees for the summer season. Applications will open February 20th - March 3rd.

These roles offer:
• Outdoor, hands-on work
• Experience in natural resources
• A chance to support national forests near you

Local residents are strongly encouraged to apply.
Visit USAJOBS.gov and for more information see: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot/newsroom/releases/gifford-pinchot-national-forest-announces-seasonal-hiring
**Positions will not be viewable on USAJOBS until they go live on February 20th. Applicants are encouraged to use this time to develop their resumes, cover letters, and other material.

Positions are available at a variety of locations:

✅Vancouver, WA:
- Forestry Technician GS6 (2 positions): will support the Spirit Lake program, forest road and recreation site access to the Forest.

✅Amboy, WA:
- Forestry Technicians GS5 (2 positions): will support the Spirit Lake program and recreational access to the Forest.
- Forestry Technician/Aid GS3-GS5 (5 positions): will provide support and expertise in recreation and front desk positions.

✅Toutle, WA
- Forestry Technician GS4-GS5 (4 positions): will support the Coldwater Science and Learning Visitor Center and developed recreation program.

✅Trout Lake, WA
- Forestry Technician/Aid GS3-GS5 (11 positions): will assist in developed recreation, trails, wilderness, or front desk positions.

✅Carson, WA
- Forestry Technician GS5 (2 positions): will aid in road and recreation site access for visitor use.

✅Randle, WA
- Forestry Technician/Aid GS3-GS6 (7 positions): will assist in either developed recreation, trails, wilderness, front desk, or timber related programs.

Bunkhouse style housing is available in all locations except Vancouver, WA for approximately $10 -$15 per day.

02/18/2026

Interested in selling at the Skamania County Spring Fest?
Apply now to be a COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE VENDOR for this two-day community event, happening May 1–2, 2026, from 11 AM–5 PM both days.
https://forms.gle/GzkfQMdGes9CWPRFA