spartina eradication program

Spartina Eradication Program 2 0 2 0 P R O G R E S S R E P O R T

AGR PUB 809-929 ( N/1/22 )

Do you need this publication in an alternate format? Contact WSDA at (360) 902-1976 or TTY Relay (800) 833-6388.

WSDA Spartina Eradication Program ~ 2020 Progress Report

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For more information or additional copies of this report, please contact: Washington State Department of Agriculture Spartina Program P.O. Box 42560 Olympia, WA 98504-2560 (360) 902-2070 This report and previous annual reports are available on the WSDA Web site at: https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/weeds/spartina

Survey and removal efforts in late fall aid locating small plants, such as these Spartina anglica finds in November 2016 in Kitsap County. Once native saltmarsh vegetation begins to die back in late fall, detecting small intermixed plants in

outlier populations becomes very productive.

Cover photo by (WSDA) Other photos provided by (WDFW & WSDA)

Cover: Spartina anglica intermixed with native Distichlis spicata before removal, Kitsap County, 2020.

WSDA has made every effort to ensure accuracy in compiling data and maps for this report. However, because much of the information comes from outside sources, WSDA cannot guarantee that it is without errors or omissions.

https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/weeds/spartina


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PROGRESS OF THE 2020 SPARTINA ERADICATION PROGRAM

Washington State Department of Agriculture


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Table of Contents

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Spartina Eradication Program ............................................................................................................ 4

WSDA Spartina Program ............................................................................................................ 4 Budget .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Washington State Spartina Status by Species .............................................................................. 6

Spartina Eradication Effort by County .............................................................................................. 7 Pacific County .............................................................................................................................. 7 Grays Harbor County ................................................................................................................... 7 Snohomish County ....................................................................................................................... 7 Island County ............................................................................................................................... 8 Skagit County............................................................................................................................... 8 Whatcom County ......................................................................................................................... 9 San Juan County .......................................................................................................................... 9 Clallam County .......................................................................................................................... 10 Kitsap County ............................................................................................................................ 10 Jefferson County ........................................................................................................................ 10 King and Pierce Counties........................................................................................................... 10

Concepts or definitions used in this report: Solid Acres A measure of how many acres a dispersed population would occupy if all Spartina plants

were grouped together.

Survey/Treatment Lap Refers to a single detailed survey of all susceptible habitat in the referenced area. Surveyed Acres A measure of how many acres were surveyed for Spartina, a minimum of once, during a

given year. Site Eradication Criteria Requires that six consecutive negative survey events occur over the course of three or

more years. Also specifies that a maximum of two qualifying negative survey events can occur in any one year.

Ten Year Washington State Department of Agriculture Spartina Site Eradication Criteria ReviewCalendar Year *Cumulative Sites

Eradicated as of 2020Sites Eradicated - Data as of 2020

Eradicated Sites Found to be Infested

Cumulative Sites Found Infested

Cumulative Potential Sites Eradicated

**2011 Eradication Criteria Confidence

2011 8 8 0 0 8 100.00%2012 13 5 0 0 13 100.00%2013 21 8 3 3 24 87.50%2014 35 14 1 4 39 89.74%2015 39 4 0 4 43 90.70%2016 46 7 1 5 51 90.20%2017 54 8 1 6 60 90.00%2018 59 5 1 7 66 89.39%2019 65 6 2 9 74 87.84%2020 70 5 0 9 79 ***88.61%

* Data Based on 2020 Eradicated Site List and Location Intelligence/GIS data. Data reflects current eradication status, as reported by the project partners, and may not match past WSDA reports.

** 2011 Eradication Criteria Requires that six consecutive negative survey events occur over the course of three or more years. Also specifies that a maximum of two qualifying negative survey events can occur in any one year.

*** The 2011 Eradication Criteria was designed to achieve an overall 90% confidence when declaring sites eradicated.


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Executive Summary The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) serves as the lead state agency responsible for control and future eradication of invasive intertidal cordgrass, Spartina (RCW 17.26). Accordingly, WSDA facilitates the cooperation of local, state, federal, and tribal governments, universities, and private landowners responsible for the success of the program. From an estimated statewide high of over 9,000 solid acres infested in 2003, the effort reduced Spartina detections to less than 2.4 solid acres in 2020. While this is a substantial reduction in acreage, it does not tell the full story. Washington State’s remaining infested sites contain thousands of individual plants and small clones spread along the vast shorelines of the Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, and estuaries along the Pacific Coast. While the Spartina Eradication Program previously focused on results in terms of acres controlled, eradication success is most accurately reported as the presence or absence of a species in a geographic area. Utilizing a presence/absence metric, WSDA tracks the infestation status of 200 historically infested sites in Washington. As of 2020, 70 sites have met this eradication criteria, while 130 sites remain infested. Figure 1 describes the current eradication status of the program. Spartina, commonly known as cordgrass, is an aggressive noxious weed that has severely disrupted the ecosystems of native saltwater estuaries in Washington State. Left unchecked, Spartina out-competes native vegetation and converts mudflats and estuaries into monotypic, higher elevation Spartina meadows. As a result, important salmon and forage fish, shorebird and waterfowl habitats are lost, expensive restoration projects are threatened, and the state’s shellfish industry is impacted. This program supports green jobs, benefiting the environment and economy of Washington. The coming years will be pivotal as the cooperators continue to survey the vast intertidal waters of Washington State to find and eradicate the remaining plants and small clones. WSDA remains confident that with continued program support, statewide eradication can be achieved.

4% 7% 11%18% 20% 23% 27% 30% 33% 35%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Percent of 200 sites Eradicated - based on 2011 Criteria

2020 Washington State Spartina Eradication Status

- 70 sites have met eradication criteria as of 2020- Of the 70, five new sites met the criteria in 2020

Site eradication criteria adopted in 2011 require that six consecutive negative survey events occur over the course of three or more years. A maximum of two qualifying negative survey events can occur in any one year.


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Washington Coastal Counties As of 2020, ten of Washington’s 50 coastal Spartina sites have been eradicated with the remaining 39 sites showing significant reductions in plant counts. This year, Pacific County saw 414 Spartina alterniflora finds, while Grays Harbor County saw four Spartina alterniflora and 11 Spartina densiflora finds, and in Clallam County a single Spartina alterniflora plant was found, in the Waatch River Estuary. Puget Sound Counties In 2020, over 9,000 individual Spartina plants, were located and treated in the Puget Sound. The cooperative effort has now eradicated 60 of 150 Puget Sound sites. An unwavering focus on the remaining Puget Sound infestations will be necessary in the coming years in order to recreate the reductions seen on Washington’s Coast. Statewide Trends The requirement to social distance in 2020, due to the pandemic, did not prevent the project partners from inspected over 80,000 acres of saltwater estuaries and hundreds of miles of shoreline in 12 counties for evidence of Spartina. The effort found and recorded 9,427 individual plants and clones. While the program is a success, the remaining plants and small Spartina clones are the most difficult and time consuming to find and eradicate. Once found, Spartina locations are documented, and plants are controlled using an integrated approach including targeted aquatic herbicide treatments, mechanical removal/digging and seed head removal and disposal. Statewide Spartina eradication funding was reduced an additional $550,000 for the 2019-2021 biennium. As program support has been reduced over the years, the cooperators have joined to leverage resources, increased cooperative survey and treatment efforts, expanded the survey season to include fall/winter months and planned staffing/survey surges in even calendar years. These practices have become essential. At current funding levels, the cooperators are able to deliver a viable, but slowed, eradication program. Statewide eradication remains attainable. The total number of previously infested sites eradicated as of 2020 is 70, or 35 percent of the 200 Spartina sites tracked by the program. Early detection and rapid deployment of control measures at these eradicated sites, before Spartina became dominant, contributed to successful outcomes. Encouragingly, the infestations at many of the remaining 130 sites have been reduced to levels consistent with those initially detected at previously infested and successfully eradicated sites. Continuing progress is evidenced by five additional Spartina infestations declared eradicated in 2020 (Fig. 2). Conversely, three new sites were added in 2020. Two of these sites were found during late season surveys, and a WDFW restoration site, where dikes were breached in late 2019, was added following numerous Spartina detections in 2020. The Spartina Eradication Program directly protects habitat for salmon and forage fish, shorebirds and waterfowl, ensures that expensive salmon restoration projects are not overrun with Spartina and limits negative impacts to the state’s shellfish industry. With current program resources, up to 90 percent of Washington State’s known Spartina sites can be eradicated in the next 25 years.


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Spartina Mapping Resources Interactive mapping resources are available on the WSDA Spartina website at: https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/weeds/spartina

https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/weeds/spartina


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Spartina Eradication Program

WSDA Spartina Program In 2020, the WSDA Spartina Eradication Program worked collaboratively with partner agencies to continue Spartina eradication. WSDA hired, equipped, and managed personnel to survey and treat infestations in Grays Harbor, San Juan, Clallam, Jefferson, King, Pierce and Kitsap counties. WSDA assisted the Shoalwater, Swinomish, Suquamish, Makah, Puyallup, Lummi and Tulalip tribal communities, and the noxious weed control boards in Pacific, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and Island counties with eradication work. WSDA worked cooperatively with the Department of Natural Resource (DNR), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the aquaculture industry. WSDA continued to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit required for Spartina eradication activities. WSDA provided resources through interagency agreements and contracts with state and local government agencies. WSDA organized and facilitated the exchange of Spartina eradication information through regional planning meetings. The department also continued to explore more efficient and cost-effective ways to eradicate Spartina with partner agencies. In 2020, WSDA continued to allocate funding for resources and Spartina work crews in counties with the most significant infestations. In Willapa Bay, $87,500 was designated for Pacific County to continue their survey, treatment and weed board involvement. In the Puget Sound, WSDA provided resources totaling $165,000 by entering into agreements with the noxious weed control boards in Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties, WDFW, and the Swinomish Tribal Community. WSDA staff participated in field activities throughout the control season and facilitated coordination meetings to ensure contract priorities were addressed. WSDA continued working with the cooperators to facilitate the restoration of once-infested tidelands to functional habitat. An opportunity was provided to the Puget Sound partners during the 2020 summer Spartina survey season for the return of Puget Sound Corps (PSC) crews. DNR was able to fund PSC crews who assisted with a variety of projects including Spartina survey and eradication. Whether they worked directly in the field with Spartina crews or along rivers on the knotweed project, their contribution to the Puget Sound effort took pressure off the county and state crews and contributed to a successful 2020 Spartina effort.


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Budget WSDA allotted $1.335 million of the appropriation from the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) for statewide Spartina activities during the 2019-2021 biennium. Table 2 describes how WSDA allocated funds to conduct Spartina survey and eradication activities.

Table 1: WSDA Spartina Budget Activity – FY20 and FY21

ActivityFiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 thru June 30, 2020)

Fiscal Year 2021 (July 1, 2020 thru June 30, 2021)

Biennial Totals (July 1, 2019 thru June 30, 2021)

WSDA Eradication & Coordination Activities 1 $430,000.00 $465,000.00 $895,000.00

Purchased Services 2

Pacific County $80,000.00 $87,500.00 $167,500.00

Skagit County $35,000.00 $45,000.00 $80,000.00Island County $35,000.00 $45,000.00 $80,000.00

Snohomish County $35,000.00 $45,000.00 $80,000.00

Swinomish Tribe $2,500.00 $5,000.00 $7,500.00

WDFW $0.00 $25,000.00 $25,000.00Totals $617,500.00 $717,500.00 $1,335,000.00

1. WSDA Eradication and Coordination Activities: Expenses include WSDA eradication, survey, permitting, salaries and benefits, herbicide, equipment, travel, legal fees, public notification, and other goods and services.

2. Purchased Services: WSDA interagency agreements and intergovernmental agreements to accomplish Spartina eradication goals.

Other cooperators received additional funding for Spartina activities during the 2019-2021 biennium. This funding is provided from ALEA, federal agreements, grants and other sources. Table 3 documents these additional funds, as reported to WSDA.

Table 2: Other Cooperators Spartina Budget Activity – FY20 and FY21

Cooperator Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 thru June 30, 2020) (USFWS Refuge funding follows

Federal fiscal period)

Fiscal Year 2021 (July 1, 2020 thru June 30, 2021) (USFWS Refuge funding follows

Federal fiscal period)

Biennial Totals (July 1, 2019 thru June 30, 2021)

WDFW Spartina Activities $219,500.00 $219,500.00 $439,000.00

DNR Spartina Activities $213,000.00 $209,000.00 $422,000.00

The Nature Conservancy $15,000.00 $15,000.00 $30,000.00

USFWS Willapa Refuge $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $100,000.00Totals $497,500.00 $493,500.00 $991,000.00


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Washington State Spartina Status by Species S. alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass or Saltmarsh Cordgrass) has been found in Pacific, Grays Harbor, Skagit, and Clallam counties. This species was unintentionally introduced to Pacific County (Willapa Bay) during the late 1800s where it spread to more than 8,500 solid acres by 2003. The extent of the infestation in Willapa Bay spurred one of the largest and most successful estuarine eradication programs in the nation’s history. Through dedicated funding and aggressive eradication efforts by local, state, and federal agencies, less than 0.2 solid acres of S. alterniflora remained in all affected counties during 2020.

S. anglica (Common Cordgrass) was introduced to Snohomish County in 1961 and the infestation increased to a peak of more than 1,000 acres by 1997. This introduction quickly spread to Skagit and Island counties and to a lesser extent the counties of Whatcom, San Juan, Clallam, Jefferson, King, Pierce and Kitsap. The infestation also spread to Boundary Bay along the southern British Columbia coast. Of these four species of Spartina, S. anglica is currently the most abundant species in Washington State. In 2020, approximately 2.2 solid acres of S. anglica remained in the infested counties.

S. densiflora (Dense-Flowered Cordgrass) is an aggressive South American species discovered at Bills Spit in Grays Harbor and at Race Lagoon in Island County in the fall of 2001. This species exhibits bunchgrass type growth and blends in well with the native saltmarsh flora making survey and treatment difficult. Winter and spring surveys conducted north of Bills Spit to the mouth of the Humptulips River have contributed to the decline of S. densiflora solid acreages in Grays Harbor. During extensive winter surveys conducted in 2020, approximately 11 ft2 of S. densiflora was found and manually removed.

S. patens (Saltmeadow Cordgrass) also known as salt marsh hay, is a species of cordgrass native to the Atlantic Coast and discovered in 1982 at Dosewallips State Park (Jefferson County) on Hood Canal. S. patens, like S. densiflora, exhibits physical characteristics that blend in well with the native salt marsh flora making survey and treatment difficult. Historically, Dosewallips contained the only known infestation of S. patens in Washington State. Then in 2013, a WSDA survey crew discovered a second infestation of S. patens on Hood Canal across from Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. There was 152 ft² of S. patens treated across both sites in 2020.


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Spartina Eradication Effort by County Pacific County In 2020, the Pacific County cooperators collectively located 414 Spartina alterniflora plants and small clones treating 0.2 solid acres. WSDA provided Pacific County $87,500 for Spartina eradication activities in 2020. The cooperative effort has eradicated two of 29 historically infested sites within Pacific County. The remaining 27 sites are progressing, with most showing annual reductions in plant counts. The Willapa Bay Treatment Program requires the cooperation of many different organizations. WSDA provides funding, coordination, permitting, equipment, in-field assistance and GIS and Spartina location mapping services. Pacific County, DNR, WDFW, USFWS, Pacific County, and the Shoalwater Bay Tribe all provide survey and treatment crews. The cooperators typically meet regularly to maintain communication regarding the progress of eradication efforts. In 2020, due to social distancing requirements, remote meetings, conference calls and shared mapping technology replaced these in-person meetings. While this solution was adequate for some purposes, the cooperators have expressed a desire for return to in-person meetings. As the Pacific County infestation approaches eradication, survey effort at eradicated sites can be reduced. Once a site has been declared eradicated, survey effort will drop to a single detailed, annual survey/monitoring lap. With this plan in effect, funding and resources can be focused on the remaining infested sites. Grays Harbor County In 2020, crews from WDFW, and WSDA completed surveys at sites within Grays Harbor County. The crews found and treated 15 Spartina plants estimated at 100 ft², four plants were S. alterniflora (89 ft²) and 11 were S. densiflora (11 ft²). Extensive winter, late summer, and fall surveys in Grays Harbor found no Spartina outside of known infested areas. The cooperative effort has eradicated four of 15 historically infested sites within Grays Harbor County. One site, “The Sink,” was declared eradicated after extensive surveys in 2020. Several additional sites are approaching eradication. In 2021, crews will prioritize survey at the Westport site, which requires two additional negative surveys to be declared eradicated.

Snohomish County In 2020, the largest Spartina infestation in Washington State was located in Snohomish County. The Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board (SCNWCB), WDFW, WSDA, DNR, TNC, PSC, Skagit County and the Tulalip Tribal Nation found and treated 1.42 solid acres (5,266 individual plants) of Spartina anglica in 2020. WSDA provided Snohomish County $45,000 for Spartina eradication activities in 2020. The cooperative effort has eradicated three of 35 historically infested sites within Snohomish County.


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WSDA staff continued to facilitate and participate in numerous cooperative treatment days in 2020. Cooperative treatments have become the norm in Snohomish County; on any given day, two to three agencies will work the same area combining their resources, crews and equipment to accomplish program goals. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), SCNWCB and WSDA combined to treat 0.72 solid acres of the Snohomish County infestation, while WDFW treated 0.70 solid acres. The majority of this Spartina was contained within the South Skagit Bay area. SCNWCB and WSDA also worked closely with the Tulalip Tribal Nation to treat Spartina infesting Tulalip Bay, Big Flats, Quilceda Creek, and other culturally significant areas. Continued cooperation from the Tulalip Tribes will be essential to eradicating Spartina from Snohomish County. In addition, TNC participated in a cooperative treatment of S. anglica within their 4,100-acre saltmarsh located in the Port Susan Bay Preserve south of Stanwood.

Island County In 2020, Island County contained Washington State’s second largest Spartina infestation. Island County, PSC, WDFW, and WSDA participated in the Island County effort. Island County Noxious Weed Control Board (ICNWCB) and WDFW treated the majority of the Spartina controlled in Island County. A total of 0.6 solid acres of Spartina anglica representing 3,115 individual plants was found and treated in 2020. WSDA provided Island County $45,000 for Spartina eradication activities in 2020. The cooperative effort has eradicated 17 of 38 historically infested sites within Island County. One site, “Harrington Lagoon” was declared eradicated after 2020. Island County contains Puget Sound’s only known infestation of Spartina densiflora in Race Lagoon located on Whidbey Island. After no finds in 2017 and 2018, two small plants were found along the shore of the lagoon in 2019, no plants were found in 2020. With continued vigilance and increased winter survey efforts, this species may be eradicated from the Puget Sound in the next few years.

Skagit County In 2020, Skagit County contained the third largest infestation of Spartina in Puget Sound. Approximately 0.16 solid acres of Spartina anglica, representing 533 individual plants, were found and treated in 2020 by the Skagit County Noxious Weed Control Board (SCNWCB), Ecology, WDFW, WSDA, and the Swinomish Tribal Nation. WSDA provided $45,000 to SCNWCB and $5,000 to the Swinomish Tribal Nation for Spartina eradication activities in 2020. The cooperative effort has eradicated two of the 26 historically infested sites within Skagit County. WSDA provided airboat, Marsh Master, and crew assistance to SCNWCB in 2020 to survey and treat difficult-to-reach areas of the county. Similarly, Skagit County provided assistance to the surveys in Snohomish, and Island Counties. Their participation in these efforts on nine different days in September and October is greatly appreciated. Additionally, SCNWCB assisted both the Swinomish Tribal Nation and Ecology efforts within Skagit County. Social distancing requirements greatly curtailed the Swinomish Tribal Nation’s field activities in 2020. The cooperators hope social distancing restrictions will ease, allowing this valued cooperator to send


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staff back into the field. The Swinomish Tribal Nation’s cooperation and support are essential to eliminate Spartina from Skagit County. Ecology has controlled Spartina on their Padilla Bay Estuarine Research Reserve since 1996. Two species of Spartina have historically infested Padilla Bay, Spartina anglica and Spartina alterniflora. In 2020, Ecology staff located a number of plants at their Bayview Edison site. Ecology contacted Skagit County who treated and documented all finds at the site. During 2019 and 2020 no S. alterniflora was found. With continued survey vigilance and an increased winter survey effort, S. alterniflora may be declared eradicated from Skagit County in the next few years.

Whatcom County In Whatcom County, Spartina anglica was discovered within the Lummi Reservation in 2008. By 2011, a cooperative effort was initiated with the Lummi Nation, the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board (WCNWCB), People for Puget Sound, and WSDA. With the cooperation of the Lummi Nation, survey and removal (digging) efforts were conducted through 2017. During these years and in spite of ongoing removal efforts, the Lummi Flats infestation expanded from a few square feet to over 800 ft². In light of the expanding infestation and potential negative impacts to salmon, shellfish and forage fish habitat, WCNWCB worked with the Lummi Nation to coordinate the permission, permits, licensed staff, equipment and materials necessary to conduct initial treatment of the Lummi Flats infestation during the 2018 treatment season. Approximately 1,100 ft² of Spartina anglica, representing 300 individual plants, were subsequently found and treated. In 2019, 354 ft² of Spartina anglica, representing 44 individual plants, were present on the site. By 2020, only 231 ft² of Spartina anglica, representing 44 individual plants, remained. This cooperative effort has eradicated two of the three historically infested sites within Whatcom County.

San Juan County In 2020, the WSDA crew found and treated 25 S. anglica plants estimated at 171 ft² at three sites in San Juan County. Large clones were treated at the Fisherman’s Bay and Westcott Bay sites after permission was granted by private land owners. These treatments were the first in the county since several large clones were located in Argyle Lagoon during a 2014 survey. Eight of the 13 historically infested sites within San Juan County have been eradicated. Eradication of the five remaining sites will require extensive survey and control efforts in the coming years. In 2021, WSDA anticipates declaring the Argyle Lagoon site eradicated. This site currently requires one additional detailed negative survey to meet eradication criteria.


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Clallam County In 2020, WSDA continued to work with the Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Board, USFWS, and the Makah Tribal Nation to conduct surveys for Spartina in Clallam County. A single Spartina alterniflora plant was found in Clallam County in 2020, at the Waatch River site. Four of the six historically infested sites within Clallam County have been declared eradicated. The Pysht River site met eradication criteria in 2020, and the Dungeness Spit site is progressing well. With sustained effort, Clallam County may be declared eradicated in the next few years.

Kitsap County In 2020, the WSDA crew found 10 S. anglica plants in Kitsap County for a total of 63 ft². Two plants were treated at the Murden Cove site estimated at 41 ft² and eight plants were manually removed at the Doe-Kag-Wats site, approximately 22 ft². Ten of the 12 historically infested sites within the county have been declared eradicated, with the Foulweather Bluff site declared after a detailed 2020 survey effort found no Spartina. WSDA and the Suquamish Tribe work cooperatively to treat the most challenging site in the central Puget Sound, Doe-Kag-Wats, where fall survey protocols have contributed to increased finds. All eight plants located at the site were found during late season surveys.

Jefferson County WSDA worked with the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Board, U.S. Navy, Washington State Parks, and private landowners to conduct surveys and control Spartina in Jefferson County. Two species of Spartina infest Jefferson County, S. anglica and S. patens. In 2020, survey and control efforts found and treated three Spartina patens plants (152 ft²) within Jefferson County, at the Dosewallips site. One S. anglica plant (4 ft²) was found and manually removed at the North Indian Island site. Of the 18 historically infested sites, 13 have been declared eradicated. Pending the results of the 2021 survey, WSDA anticipates adding Chimicum Creek to the list of eradicated sites.

King and Pierce Counties Infestations of S. anglica were found in King County on Vashon Island at the Rabs Lagoon, Point Heyer, Gorsuch Road and Fern Cove sites. As of 2017, these four sites were declared eradicated. Spartina anglica was discovered in Pierce County in 2010 at Squally Beach/Commencement Bay along the Hylebos Waterway in the Port of Tacoma. As of 2017, this site was declared eradicated. All historic King and Pierce County sites were inspected during 2020 with no Spartina found.

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