Efforts to control Japanese Knotweed in the Adirondacks continue to make great strides. On June 29th, fourteen people met in Inlet to discuss plans for 2014.
The Regional Inlet Invasive Plant Program (RIIPP), which started in 2008, has expanded treatment areas each year since, with a long-term goal of eradicating Japanese Knotweed throughout the Adirondacks.
In 2013 about 60,000 knotweed canes were injected and thousands more sprayed with herbicide (glyphosate) in over 200 sites including Arietta, Big Moose, Blue Mountain Lake, Bolton Landing, Chestertown, Cranberry Lake, Croghan, Eagle Bay, Garnet Lake, Hope, Horicon, Indian Lake, Inlet, Johnsburg, Keeseville, Piseco, Lake Placid, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake, Old Forge, Morehouse, North Creek, North River, Saranac Lake, Speculator, Star Lake, Town of Webb, Tupper Lake, Wanakena, Warrensburg, and Wells.
In 2014, RIIPP will continue efforts in those towns, retreating sites as needed and treating many additional sites, coordinating efforts with those of the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) and the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD).
RIIPP will also start treating Wild Parsnip, another invasive plant.
Japanese Knotweed forms dense thickets of thick bamboo-like hollow stems, with mature heights over 10 feet and an extensive network of underground roots.
The leaves are somewhat heart-shaped with white lacy flowery clusters that form in August.
We recommend not cutting knotweed at all, or not after June 1st so there is enough growth to allow effective herbicide application in August/September.
Digging the plant/roots is not recommended since tiny root fragments can start new plants. Treatment with herbicide (glyphosate) done properly is very effective. Treatment of sites near rivers and streams is important to prevent downstream spread of knotweed.
The program has been very successful. Knotweed has been eradicated at many sites, and is a tiny fraction of what it was at others. The community has pitched in, with volunteers identifying sites and obtaining property owner permissions.
Invasive plant coordinators include Ellen Collins (Blue Mountain Lake), Jan McCann (Chestertown), Terry DeArmas (Indian Lake), Patty Wittmeyer (Inlet, Eagle Bay), Larry Master (Lake Placid), Chuck Taylor (Long Lake), Elizabeth Mangle (lower Hamilton County), Evelyn Greene (North Creek, North River), Roy Keats and Bob Manning (Garnet Lake), Nick Rose (Old Forge), Katy Weil (Piseco Lake), Leslie Karasin (Saranac Lake), and Scott Chartier (Tupper Lake).
Paul Smith Lake Stewards helping in 2014 include Paul Garrison and Zack Simek. Appli-cators include Ryan Burkum, Lenny Croote, Avery Menz, Eric Menz, Kathy Vanselow, and myself.
Anne Green helped set up an independent effort for Bolton Landing. Patty Wittmeyer, Inlet Town Clerk assists me with coordinating efforts.
Brendan Quirion described APIPP’s plans, and Nick Rose described the Central Adirondack Partnership (CAP)’s invasive plant efforts. We discussed the need for raising additional funds, including from owners whose property has been treated, lake associations, and towns.
The group thanked Patty Wittmeyer, Inlet Town Clerk, for all her efforts, as well as the town of Inlet and Town Supervisor John Frey for Inlet’s ongoing support to improve conditions throughout the Adirondacks.
The group thanked the Adirondack Watershed Institute and Dan Kelting, executive director for their generous support of $5,000 and of Zack Simek’s efforts. The group also thanked the many generous donors.
While there is no cost to property owners for the herbicide applications, tax-deductable donations and volunteers are needed for these efforts to continue.
Donations should be made payable to: Town of Inlet, Invasive Plant Control Fund; and mailed to Town of Inlet, P.O. Box 179, Inlet NY 13360.
Check www.noknotweed.org which includes a slide show and provides detailed information for property owners, volunteers, and how to treat knotweed.