Abstract
Commercial vegetable seed production, including carrot seed, is a significant contributor to the agricultural economy of the Dungeness Valley, located in Clallam County, Washington. Wild carrot (Daucus carota) is the forerunner of domestic carrots. Cross-pollination between domestic carrots and their wild progenitors reverses prized characteristics of domestic carrot seed. Because of its ability to ruin carrot seed crop value, wild carrot has been listed under Washington State’s weed laws as a noxious weed. Three different entities, the Clallam County Road Department, Washington State University Extension, and the Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Program collaborated on an action plan to reduce populations of wild carrot in the county, commencing in early spring of 2012. The plan included engaging Washington State University Master Gardener volunteers to collect information on the biology and life cycle of wild carrot, analysis of spatial distribution of wild carrot along roadsides, and investigation of effective control measures for the weed. The information collected by the Master Gardeners in the project became a catalyst for the creation of a more effective weed management policy to address the larger problem of roadside weed management in general. Using highly trained WSU Extension Master Gardeners ensured data and information that concerned stakeholders could trust. The project demonstrates the positive influence that citizen scientists as a whole, and Master Gardeners specifically, can have on shaping local policy.