Knotweed has been observed in the city of Forks for several years and it is of concern because Forks is close to both the Calawah and the Bogachiel. One tributary to the Bogachiel passes through Forks and close to some of the knotweed sites. The Calawah and Bogachiel are major waterways in the Quillayute System. Both rivers have knotweed which the Quileute Tribe is trying to eradicate and there is fear of re-infestation if the Forks sites go unchecked.

In 2006 CCNWCB became aware of a large Bohemian knotweed infestation in a gravel pit at the County Shop in Forks. We treated the site twice in 2006. In June the same year the Quileutes surveyed knotweed in Forks and recorded 51 sites. 47% of the knotweed stems seen in Forks were taller than six feet and many of the sites (41%) had more than 200 canes. However, since ">200" was the highest category available in the Data Dictionary at that time, some patches may have been larger. (More categories were added to the Data Dictionary later, so surveys taken from 2007 onwards are more representative.)

In 2007 an herbicide training was held in Forks and as a practical exercise several crews went out and treated at least 10 of the knotweed sites. Monitoring, treatment and re-treatment continued throughout the summer. CCNWCB crews and the Quileutes treated Forks sites on several occasions, including the County Shop, Rayonier Gravel Pit, Forks Industrial Park and several other commercial sites in and around Forks

In 2008 all sites were monitored and re-treated as necessary. Several new sites were discovered and new Landowner Agreements obtained. Land parcels in Forks are mostly small, residential parcels. Consequently, a knotweed infestation may cover 3 or 4 different parcels and the crews sometimes experienced difficulties in knowing exactly which property plants were on. In some cases plants were determined to cover more properties than we had Landowner Agreements for and we had to try to get more. Several completely new sites were found during the summer and we had to solicit new Landowner Agreements and were not always successful in obtaining new Agreements in time for that year's treatment.

In 2009 we continued to treat knotweed in Forks, treating one new site and monitoring and re-treating where necessary. The crew reported that 15 (out of 30) parcels had no remaining knotweed and all other sites are reduced in size and number of stems. One landowner with a large infestation still has not given permission to treat. Working with this landowner next year should be a priority.

In 2010 no knotweed treatments took place in Forks, because most sites are strictly terrestrial (and therefore low priority), have been treated for many years, plants are small and many landowners are now actively involved in knotweed monitoring and control. As discussed above, our focus was on outreach and education. In April we wrote to all landowners in the area known to have knotweed, explaining we would not have a crew out this year, asking them to monitor and spray their own knotweed, and giving some control recommendations. We held training workshops for landowners in Sekiu, Forks and Port Angeles, to give people a choice of dates and locations. Equipment and supplies were made available to landowners who took our training.

One landowner in Forks, with a large infestation, has persistently refused permission to treat. Because so much work has already been done in Forks and because of its proximity to major waterways we may require control there in 2011 to encourage the landowner in question to allow our crews to treat or to hire someone for the task.