Battle cry against 'invaders'

Invasive exotic plants change the landscape of our forests, meadows, and wetlands by growing rapidly and crowding out native plants. They reproduce and spread quickly, and are often difficult to eradicate.

Wildlife that rely on native plants are displaced and natural biological processes are disrupted.

In their native habitat, these species are controlled by the natural checks (insects, climate diseases, etc.). However, in a new environment, they can quickly invade and destroy.

We're seeing this within the stream corridors of many of the streams in our state, affecting the health of our waterways.

Most visible and perhaps most harmful of these invasive plants is Japanese knotweed, which has invaded corridors of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, Allegheny River, Pine Creek, Sinnemahoning Creek and its tributaries.

This species, known locally as "moody cow feed," consists of stalks that from dense stands, shading out other plants. It is spread primarily through moving dirt fill or by the scouring of its root fragment during times of flooding and re-depositing them downstream.

Japanese knotweed quickly transforms a healthy, naturally functioning stream corridor into an alien monoculture habitat with little wildlife value.

The most visible example in our region is in the village of Sinnemahoning, in the flood plain along the stream after crossing over the Wykoff Run Road bridge.

If nothing is done, these populations will spread and grow to dominate the flood plain, as they have done in other stream corridors.

One conservation group in the region has decided to do something to reverse this trend of habitat destruction. Bucktail Watershed Association, a local non-profit group that covers a large portion of the Sinnemahoning Creek watershed, is beginning a program to combat Japanese knotweed.

In the near future, grants will be made available for this mission. Bucktail Watershed Association will be ready when this opportunity arises.

Meanwhile, the organization is building awareness and engaging landowners, with the goal of wiping out invasive plants and establishing native vegetation.

By having landowners on board before applying for funding, Bucktail can demonstrate a local need and cooperative spirit to funding providers.

Landowners within the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed interested in becoming involved should contact the group at bucktailwatershed@yahoo. com or 486-0705. More information is also available on the group's website, bucktailwatershed. com.