Summit County weed‑control chief outlines mapping, loaner sprayer program and biocontrol gains
May 24, 2023 | Summit County Council, Summit County Commission and Boards, Summit County, Utah
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Dave Bingham, head of the Summit County Weed Board, described the county’s approach on May 24 to tracking and treating noxious weeds, emphasizing outreach, public reporting and biological controls.
Bingham told the Summit County Council the county uses EDDMapS, a public mapping tool the state recommended, and that staff and residents have recorded roughly 5,000 positive points this year. He said the map now shows substantially more treated and eradicated sites than in prior years. “There’s about a little over 5,000 points that are positive, and if you added the treated and the eradicated, they’re pretty close to 5,000, so we’re about half and half on that,” Bingham said.
The presentation outlined several county programs: education days for landowners and students, a loaner sprayer program that allows residents to borrow application equipment and buy herbicide at near‑cost, and bio‑control efforts. Bingham said the loaner program has grown steadily; the county sold roughly $110,000 worth of herbicide in 2022, largely to many small landowners rather than a few large customers. He emphasized the county sells at near cost and provides training on label requirements.
Bingham highlighted the program’s student partnerships. He described taking FFA students to an insect collection event and said the county collected tens of thousands of seedhead‑ and root‑feeding insects used to suppress spotted knapweed. “We collected a hundred thousand insects last year in about four hours … we probably got about 20,000 of those and spread them throughout the County,” he said.
Council members asked about community reporting versus staff surveys, the effectiveness of biocontrol on other species (such as garlic mustard), and enforcement on private lots. Bingham said many mapped points are on publicly owned land but that staff and private landowners both enter data; he noted the county has one enforcement officer who cannot inspect every parcel but works cases as capacity allows.
No formal action was required; the council thanked Bingham and members of the public for their work and outreach.
Bingham told the Summit County Council the county uses EDDMapS, a public mapping tool the state recommended, and that staff and residents have recorded roughly 5,000 positive points this year. He said the map now shows substantially more treated and eradicated sites than in prior years. “There’s about a little over 5,000 points that are positive, and if you added the treated and the eradicated, they’re pretty close to 5,000, so we’re about half and half on that,” Bingham said.
The presentation outlined several county programs: education days for landowners and students, a loaner sprayer program that allows residents to borrow application equipment and buy herbicide at near‑cost, and bio‑control efforts. Bingham said the loaner program has grown steadily; the county sold roughly $110,000 worth of herbicide in 2022, largely to many small landowners rather than a few large customers. He emphasized the county sells at near cost and provides training on label requirements.
Bingham highlighted the program’s student partnerships. He described taking FFA students to an insect collection event and said the county collected tens of thousands of seedhead‑ and root‑feeding insects used to suppress spotted knapweed. “We collected a hundred thousand insects last year in about four hours … we probably got about 20,000 of those and spread them throughout the County,” he said.
Council members asked about community reporting versus staff surveys, the effectiveness of biocontrol on other species (such as garlic mustard), and enforcement on private lots. Bingham said many mapped points are on publicly owned land but that staff and private landowners both enter data; he noted the county has one enforcement officer who cannot inspect every parcel but works cases as capacity allows.
No formal action was required; the council thanked Bingham and members of the public for their work and outreach.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
