The war on weeds will begin in Wright Co.

Beginning June 9, the Wright County Highway Department, as part of its vegetation management program, will be scheduling some roadside vegetation work along all Wright County highways. The unwanted brush and noxious weeds will be cut and/or treated with herbicide. People who have property abutting county highways to the work that is scheduled may may use alternative methods, but must post signs on their property (see below).

“Our goal is to eliminate the brush and noxious weeds and promote grass cover along the roadside,”  according to the Wright Co. Highway Department. “Brush along the road reduces driving visibility, obstructs road signs and reduces driver reaction time to crossing wildlife. Brush presents maintenance problems by retaining water along the roadbed, obstructing ditches and damaging equipment.

“To meet these goals, we use selective herbicides that control the brush and noxious weeds but allow the grasses to grow, unharmed. All herbicides we use have been fully tested and are approved for use by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

“During the spraying operation, we’ll take care to avoid sensitive areas adjacent to the right-of-way such as tree plantations, ornamental plantings, crops, gardens, front yards, lakes and streams.

“If you would like to maintain the right-of-way adjacent to your land in some other fashion, such as mowing, please follow these instructions:

1. Prior to June 6, 2008, stop at the Wright County Public Works Building (located along State Highway 25 at the Jct. of CR 138 on the north side of Buffalo) and fill out the proper form including property description.

2. Post, on your property, the “DO NOT SPRAY” signs that you will be given.

3. Remove the brush and/or noxious weed plants (such as thistles and leafy spurge) within that site by July 1, 2008, and continue to maintain it. If the brush and/or noxious weeds are not removed, then we must treat the area as part of our vegetation management program.

If you have any questions, please call the Wright County Highway Department at 1-800-362-3667, ext. 7383 or (763) 682-7383.”