The primary objectives of this project are to protect washington state's natural and agricultural resources through two spongy moth eradication projects in pierce and king counties in washington state…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Washington State Department of Agriculture $666,948 under Cooperative Agreement AP26PPQFO000C155, effective April 1, 2026, to conduct spongy moth eradication and delimitation surveys across Pierce and King counties in Washington state.

WSDA will execute aerial Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (BTK) treatments at two sites: 498 acres in Lakewood, Pierce County, and 333 acres at Lake Youngs, King County. WSDA staff will perform phenology modeling and foliage monitoring to optimize treatment timing, provide ground safety support during aerial applications, and conduct community outreach. Following treatment, WSDA personnel will deploy and monitor delimitation traps—49 traps per square mile in a core zone and 25 traps per square mile across an extended four-square-mile radius—on a 7- to 10-day cycle through September 2025 to assess BTK treatment effectiveness over the first year of a three-year survey.

Work will include drafting spray block boundaries, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklists, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) documentation, stakeholder communications, and tribal nation coordination beginning in January 2026. The period of performance extends through March 31, 2027.

Activities

Treatment - eradication sites - location: lakewood, pierce county, 498 acres; lake youngs, king county, 333 acres. Treatment/eradication activities: wsda will contract an aerial application company to perform three applications of BTK at each treatment site (listed above). Wsda staff will conduct phenology modeling and foliage monitoring at each site to determine the most effective treatment timing, provide ground observation support to ensure the safety of the operation, and conduct communication and outreach activities in the impacted communities. Post treatment response: wsda staff, agriculture technologist and agricultural aide, will deploy 49 traps per square mile centered on each of the catch sites for the first square-mile radius (core zone) and 25 traps per square mile for an additional four square mile radius (extended zone). Traps will then be monitored for the presence/absence of spongy moth on a regular 7-10 day cycle in july and august and removed by the end of september 2025. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the washington state department of agriculture will use the following timeline to monitor project goals and accomplishments: january 2026: proposed spray block boundaries established based on survey data; create communications plan; start work on state environment policy act (sepa); national pollutant discharge elimination system (npdes) report sent to the department of ecology; stakeholder update and postcards sent out; communication with tribal nations; phenology modeling. February 2026: draft sepa checklists sent out for review; planning public virtual open houses; phenology modeling. March 2026: determine USDA aphis PPQ funding commitment; request for bid sent for internal review and opened to accept bids; request for bid closes and contractor is selected; public open houses - virtual, recorded, and/or in-person; update aerial application safety plan and observer manual; sepa checklist sent out for 14-day public comment period; department of health postcards mailed to communities; phenology modeling. April 2026: incident action plan; EA finalized; finding of no significant impact (fonsi) and npdes legal ADS published in local; newspapers; phenology modeling; obtain permits for roadside variable messaging signs; prepare request for governor's proclamation. May 2026: incident action plan is signed; receive governor's proclamation; final "treatments to begin soon" postcards sent out; phenology modeling; treatments completed at both sites; water samples taken within 24 hours after final treatment; interview and hire field staff; procure supplies. June 2026: train and equip field staff with supplies and protocols; trap installation. July - august 2026: trap monitoring; additional response trapping, as needed. September - october 2026: trap removal; submit semi-annual project accomplishment report to USDA aphis PPQ. November 2026: compile and summarize data; conduct alternate life stage survey, if needed. December 2026 - march 2027: enter final survey data into the national agricultural pest information system; begin planning for the second year of post treatment delimiting; submit final reimbursement billings to USDA aphis PPQ, financial report, and final AC complishment report. Intended beneficiary(IES): farmers, shippers, exporters, timber industry. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: n/a financials: personnel/salaries = $112,180; fringe = $40,090; travel = $13,878; supplies = $1,500; contractual (aerial applications/signage) = $287,213; other (printing/email/phones) = $21,630; indirect = $31,627; cost share wsda = $158,830