Box Elder County has released a general public notice reminding property owners of their duty to manage and prevent the spread of noxious weeds on land under their control. The notice serves as a warning that county authorities may impose enforced weed control measures if owners fail to comply with these regulations.
The authority to enforce these laws is derived from the Utah administrative code, specifically Rule R68-9, also known as the Utah Noxious Weed Act. This regulation includes various classifications of weeds that require different levels of monitoring and management.
Class 1A and 1B consist of Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) watch lists, featuring species such as common crupina, Mediterranean sage, African mustard, camelthorn, and Japanese knotweed. Class 2 weeds are designated for control and include species like leafy spurge, spotted knapweed, and yellow starthistle.
Class 3 weeds focus on containment and include plants such as Canada thistle, field bindweed, poison hemlock, and tamarisk. Notably, the notice mentions that bermudagrass may not be a noxious weed in Washington County, and triploid hybrid bermudagrass from certified producers is permitted for use throughout Utah.
Class 4 weeds are strictly prohibited for sale or propagation because they are not native to Utah and pose threats to the environment, human health, animal health, and property. Prohibited species include cogongrass, myrtle spurge, Russian olive, and scotch broom.
