Invasive Plants

Invasive, non-native plants crowd out the native plants that indigenous creatures rely on for food, breeding and nesting, shelter, shade and more. Some invasives are quite beautiful – but they throw nature’s balance out of kilter. Local streams have been particularly hard hit. The invaders, including Japanese Knotweed, multiflora rose, barberry and Purple Loosestrife, move quickly and can completely dominate a stream within just a few seasons.

BRODHEAD WATERSHED 

Invasive Species Management Plan

PHASE I

In Phase I project, riparian areas along the 15 mile Cherry Creek and the 12 mile lower Brodhead were surveyed. The Buck Hill Falls area was also surveyed. Property owners in the 21 square mile Cherry Valley and the 28.2 square mile lower Brodhead were contacted and offered the services of Master Gardeners to survey their property. In the following years all other streams in the watershed were walked, and density of invasive plants recorded.

View Maps of the  Phase I Findings:
– JAPANESE BARBERRY
– GARLIC MUSTARD
– JAPANESE KNOTWEED
– MULTIFLORA ROSE
– JAPANESE STILTGRASS
– BUSH HONEYSUCKLES

PHASE II

In Phase II of the project invasive plants in the Marshalls Creek corridor. were mapped and the Management Plan was completed.

View Maps of PHASE II Findings from the Marshalls Creek Watershed:
– JAPANESE BARBERRY
– GARLIC MUSTARD
– JAPANESE KNOTWEED
– MULTIFLORA ROSE
– JAPANESE STILTGRASS
– BUSH HONEYSUCKLES

Archive of Invasive Plant of the Month

January  – Didymo
March  – Spotted lantern fly
April  – English ivy  – Japanese Barberry 
May  – Hairy bittercress  – Garlic mustard
June  – Pennywort  – Multiflora Rose
July  – Mile-a-minute  – Knotweed
August  – HAB

September  – Wineberry
October  – Rough horsetail  – Tree-of-heaven
November  – Norway maple  – Burning bush
December  – Don’t decorate with bittersweet  – Oriental bittersweet