What is Spartina?

Spartina is an invasive, non-native, salt-tolerant weed. There are four species of Spartina found in Puget Sound. The most abundant of the four is Spartina anglica; however each of the four species poses a potential threat to Puget Sound shorelines.

How did it get here?

There are no native species of Spartina in western Washington. Each of the four species now found here arrived through a combination of accidental and intentional introductions. S. anglica, the species most common in Puget Sound, was introduced from Europe in the 1960s for dike stabilization and cattle feed. The site of introduction, near Stanwood in Snohomish County, corresponds to the area of largest infestation in Puget Sound today.

What makes it invasive?

The properties of an invasive weed include its ability to spread rapidly and outcompete native vegetation. Spartina has two modes of reproduction, making it an aggressive competitor. Spartina can tolerate variable salinity, temperature and oxygen levels, and can infest multiple habitat types.

Why is it a problem in Puget Sound?

It aggressively displaces native vegetation, disrupts shorebird and juvenile salmon foraging areas, and impacts shellfish habitat. Spartina is easy to remove when it's young, but after a year or two, the roots are very deep and difficult to dig up.

Where does it grow?

S. anglica has adapted itself to grow in a variety of tide-influenced locations, such as mud flats, salt marshes, sand or cobble beaches. Its ideal growing environment would be in a protected soft-bottom bay with some freshwater influence. S. anglica is not found in upland areas or on rocky headlands. It is most abundant in Island, Skagit and Snohomish counties, but has also been found in San Juan, King, Kitsap and Jefferson counties.

What does Spartina anglica look like?

S. anglica is a perennial grass, bright to grayish green in color. It grows in circular clumps called clones. A distinguishing feature of S. anglica is a strong 45°-90° angle of the leaf blades to the stem.

What are the laws concerning Spartina?

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) describe the regulations governing the inventory and control of invasive plants, also known as noxious weeds. RCW 17.10 defines three classes of noxious weeds as follows:

• Class A consists of those noxious weeds not native to the state that are of very limited distribution or are unrecorded in the state and that pose a very serious threat to the state.

• Class B consists of those noxious weeds not native to the state that are of very limited distribution or are unrecorded in a region of the state and that pose a serious threat to that region.

• Class C consists of any other noxious weeds.

In the most current weed list housed under WAC 16-750, S. densiflora and S. patens are listed as Class A noxious weeds, due to their very limited distribution. S. anglica and S. alterniflora are listed as Class B noxious weeds, due to their larger distribution.

What is my responsibility as a shoreline property owner?

Private owners are responsible for controlling Spartina on their property under RCW 17.10. It states that every owner shall:

• Eradicate all Class A noxious weeds;

• Control and prevent the spread of all Class B noxious weeds that are designated for control in the area. To find out if S. anglica and S. alterniflora are designated for control in your county, contact your county's noxious weed control board.

Who is doing Spartina control work in Puget Sound?

RCW 17.26 identifies the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) as the lead agency to manage the control effort. The WSDA collaborates with, and provides funding for, other state and federal agencies, state noxious weed boards, tribes, non-profits, private owners and concerned citizens to develop management plans using an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.

People For Puget Sound focuses on educating the public on the environmental impacts of Spartina and engages citizens in stewardship of affected habitats. We also organize annual volunteer events called 'Dig Days' to manually control infestations.

What is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a coordinated course of action using the most appropriate control techniques in an environmentally and economically sound manner.

What control techniques are used?

A variety of control methods have been used on Spartina infestations through the years, some successful and some not. More methods available in the "control toolbox" increase the potential for eradication of Spartina. Some of the methods that have been, or are being, used in Puget Sound include seed removal, manual digging, mowing, covering, and mechanical methods such as crushing and rototilling.

Regulated biological and chemical controls are also used in Washington. Proklesia marginata, an herbivorous insect, has been released in three sites to assist with Spartina control after several years of required research and permitting. Regulated use of herbicide in Puget Sound has been ongoing since 1996. Only licensed applicators working under a National Pollution Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) permit may conduct herbicide applications to any aquatic weed, including Spartina.

Is the herbicide used to control Spartina safe?

Glyphosate and Imazapyr, the two herbicides currently being used to control Spartina in Puget Sound, have been listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "practically non-toxic" to fish and mammals. The surfactants that are used with the herbicides to maximize the amount of chemical that adheres to the plant surface are shown to be generally more toxic than the herbicides themselves.

State agencies and organizations are working to balance the environmental impacts of herbicide treatment with the widespread damage caused by Spartina, the goal being to reduce the necessity of herbicide use through a concerted control effort.

More information on herbicides and toxicity can be found at the following website:
Environmental Protection Agency

Who do I call if I find Spartina?

If you find a plant that you know, or think, is Spartina, contact the Noxious Weed Control Board coordinator for that county. Contact information can be found on the Spartina Resources page.

How can I get involved in the Spartina control effort?

People For Puget Sound has developed a stewardship training program to assist shoreline property owners and anyone interested in long-term monitoring of areas affected by Spartina. Training is available for private beach communities in Puget Sound and individuals interested in stewarding public beaches.

For more information and to find out how you can get involved:

Identifying Spartina in Puget Sound - Beach Guide

Invasive Spartina in Puget Sound - Handbook
Subtitle - a citizens' handbook. For beaches currently infested or threatened. 2005.

Contact Keeley O'Connell, (360) 336-1931 to get a printed copy.