Following a cool, wet spring, summer will begin to bring increased vegetation growth. But with that growth comes weeds and pests. Each year, Rocky View County hires seasonal staff to support the management of pests and invasive weed species.
Weed Inspections Across the County
Weed inspectors will be throughout the County this summer inspecting private, public, and municipal property to help stop the spread of regulated weeds listed as noxious and prohibited noxious under Alberta’s Weed Control Act. These weeds can pose serious economic, ecological, and environmental threats to the land by displacing native plants, reducing biodiversity, degrading soil and water quality, and interfering with agricultural production.
Prohibited noxious weeds, such as nodding thistle and bighead knapweed, must be destroyed in their entirety to prevent establishment. Noxious weeds, such as Canada thistle, black henbane, and perennial sow-thistle, must be controlled to limit their spread. Controlling these species helps protect native ecosystems, maintain the health of rangelands and croplands, and reduce the long-term costs of invasive species management.
It is the landowner’s responsibility to manage and control the spread of noxious and prohibited species.
Rocky View County Agricultural & Environmental Services is responsible for the management and control of invasive species. The County delivers an annual weed control program, and crews will be treating invasive species in roadside ditches and on County-owned lands in Divisions 1, 2, and 6. Spot treatments may also be carried out in other divisions on an as-needed basis. For more information on the County’s program, please click here.
Crop Inspections and Pest Control
While the weed inspectors work with the Weed Control Act, the crop inspector works under the Pest Control Act. The Pest Control Act manages the animals, birds, insects and disease that threaten crops and livelihoods of our producers. Throughout the season, the crop inspector carries out surveys for a variety of concerns including clubroot, Dutch elm disease, emerald ash borer, bertha armyworm and grasshoppers.
Meet the 2026 Team
Back Row L to R: Caitlyn Sutherland (Equipment Operator), Hayden Gervais (Weed Inspector), Avariella Rogers (Equipment Operator), Cassandra Karlzen (Weed Inspector), Will Shea (Weed Inspector)
Front Row L to R: Barrett Hubers (Equipment Operator), Chloe Nielsen (Crop Inspector), Caroline Champagne (Administrative Clerk), Bennett Erickson (Weed Inspector), Wyatt Fyten (Weed Inspector)
Spot a Weed? Report It Today
Help us protect Rocky View County by using our Report-a-Weed/Pest-Problem Form, available here. We encourage you to notify us of any weed infestations you observe on private, public or municipal properties. Our primary goal is to prevent the further spread of invasive species throughout Rocky View County.