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.

Invasive of the Month

Don’t decorate with bittersweet

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 of the Month

April 2020 – Japanese Barberry 
May 2020 – Garlic mustard
June 2020 – Multiflora Rose 
July 2020 – Knotweed
October 2020 – Tree-of-heaven
November 2020 – Burning bush
December 2020 – Oriental bittersweet

January 2021 – Didymo
March 2021 – Spotted lantern fly
April 2021 – English ivy
May 2021 – Hairy bittercress
June 2021- Pennywort
July 2021 – Mile-a-minute
August 2021 – HAB

September 2021 – Wineberry
October 2021 – Rough horsetail
November 2021 – Norway maple
December 2021 – Don’t decorate with bittersweet