Did you know that most of the stormwater that goes into our lakes, creeks and rivers goes untreated? This means we need to be extra careful about what goes down them. One of the biggest threats to the water in Big Lake, as well as many other waterways in Skagit County, is fertilizer, which runs off of lawns, into the stormwater system and into the water. Dog poop left on lawns is an unexpected but plentiful source of nutrients, too. In the summer, the extra nutrients in the water can cause toxic algal blooms. These blooms harm fish and wildlife and make contact with the water dangerous for humans. So much for all that swimming and fishing we had planned this summer!

Luckily, most yards around the county already have high levels of the nutrients grass needs to grow. If you're considering fertilizing your lawn, test your soil first to see if it actually needs it and only fertilize in fall when water ways are at lower risk for algal blooms. Learn more about protecting fun on Big Lake here.

To learn more about responsible fertilizing, check out our video here! 

Do you have a new neighbor with a big flat tail, chisel-like teeth and an affinity for water? Do they go by the name of Mr. or Mrs. Beaver? Head over to our new beaver solutions webpage to learn how to keep peace in the neighborhood!

Depending on who you ask, beavers are either adorable ecosystem engineers or destructive pests. Beaver dams create habitat, improve water quality and even store carbon. They can also cause flooding and damage to vegetation on public and private land.

It can be hard to know how to deal with these furry forces of nature when they're causing problems. Our beaver solutions webpage acts as a flow chart to help you decide what action to take. It will also direct you to any permits you'll need to implement your chosen solution. The most effective solutions aim to discourage beavers from building dams in the first place. Removing dams or beavers often only helps in the short term— beavers are persistent and often rebuild overnight, and when one beaver is removed from prime habitat another quickly takes its place.

When beavers aren't causing problems for us, they can be fantastic neighbors to other wildlife. If you're sharing your land with beavers that aren't causing trouble, sit back and enjoy the ecosystem benefits they provide. You can learn more about beavers and their environmental benefits on our beaver webpage, too!

Farm Tip of the Month

Spring is starting to show itself, and the grass in your pastures might be showing itself, too! But you'll still have to hold your horses— and your cows!

Grasses should be at least 6 to 8 inches tall before animals are turned out to graze. This is because grasses store their energy in the bottom three inches of the plant. If this lower three inches is eaten, the grass's growth will be stunted. In short, grazing too early will mean less grass for the rest of the year.

How can you tell when it's time to graze? Once the grass is tall enough (6 to 8 inches) you can do a "pull test" by tugging the grass until it breaks or pulls up from the roots. If the grass pulls up by the roots, it is NOT ready to be grazed on. If it breaks and leaves its bottom portion behind, you can turn your animals out to pasture.

Keeping your pastures healthy can discourage weeds that could be toxic to livestock (check out the Noxious Weed of the Month section to learn about a particularly deadly weed being found in Skagit pastures). Grazing taller grasses can help keep your animals healthy, too, because it keeps them farther from the dirt where they could be exposed to pathogens. Strong root systems can also help animals in the surrounding environment by reducing erosion and improving water quality.

For more tips and information like this, check out Skagit Conservation District's Farming Resources Page to access resources like their monthly farm planner.

One of the weeds you'll want to protect your pastures from is poison hemlock. Poison hemlock, also known as carrot-fern, fool's-parsley or spotted hemlock, is deadly to both humans and livestock. It is often mistaken for Queen Anne's lace and other wild carrot species, making it especially dangerous. Now is the best time to form a control plan to eliminate this plant from your property. Here's what you need to know:

Description: Poison hemlock starts out in its first year as a small rosette of leaves close to the ground. In its second year it grows flowering stems. These stems can grow up to 12 feet tall and have small white flowers in umbrella shaped clusters about 4 to 8 inches across. Its leaves are green, small and look like finely divided fern fronds.

One thing that sets poison hemlock apart from its look-alikes are the purple spots and lack of hair on its stems. However, you should be careful handling any plant that looks like poison hemlock.

Toxicity: Based on its name, it won't come as a surprise that poison hemlock is extremely toxic to both humans and animals. Even when dried, all parts of the plant are poisonous.

Control: Poison hemlock can be pulled up by hand, but you'll want to wear gloves to protect yourself from the toxins. All parts of the plant should be bagged and put in the garbage, not the compost. After pulling up the plants, a layer of sheet mulch can discourage any seedlings from growing back. Still, be sure to monitor the area carefully for new sprouts.

Keeping hearty pastures with native forage and damp, healthy soil can help keep poison hemlock out of your fields and yard.

If you are experiencing a larger infestation, please reach out to our Noxious Weed Coordinator Madelyn Loy at (360) 416-1467 or mloy@co.skagit.wa.us to discuss control options and support.

Learn more about poison hemlock from the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.