ST. JOSEPH — Last fall the Southwest X Southwest Corner CISMA worked with the City of St. Joseph to host an open symposium for homeowners and land managers on Japanese Knotweed, an aggressive invasive plant. The Symposium drew over 100 participants to the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center to learn about the identification, treatment, and disposal of knotweed. The partners are now hosting a second seminar to cover these topics, along with remediation, management, and decontamination. The Second Japanese Knotweed Symposium will be held on March 21st starting at 9am at The Heritage Museum & Cultural Center at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph, MI. The event is free and lunch will be provided if attendees RSVP by March 13th.
Japanese Knotweed, also called “Michigan Bamboo” or “Mexican Bamboo”, is an invasive plant that was originally introduced as an ornamental hedge-row plant, because it grows in tall, dense clumps that quickly establish and spread. It is specifically because of this that knotweed can create so many issues for homeowners. Knotweed will quickly take over areas if left unattended, and can reproduce from even small, finger nail sized pieces, making mowing or tilling a major vector of spread and establishment. The deep, spreading roots of knotweed can break foundations, pipes, and hard top, causing considerable property damage, while the stands can also shade out and kill other plants, as well as creating soil erosion and water issues.
The symposium will include information on knotweed identification and habit, State guidelines and background, as well as management, decontamination, and remediation. Sue Tangora, the Forest Health and Cooperative Programs Section Manager for the Michigan DNR, will be speaking on the history of Knotweed in Michigan, as well as the State’s efforts moving forward. “Tackling knotweed can be difficult, but doesn’t have to be costly if homeowners and land managers take action early, especially with the resources present and developing in our area” says Eleanor Serocki, the Coordinator for the SW X SW Corner CISMA.
This program is directed towards road commission and municipality staff, landscapers, property owners, concerned citizens, and land managers, but everyone that is interested is encouraged to attend. This second symposium is directed towards conversation on how to work together to treat knotweed in our area, including a round table discussion on local cooperation for landowners, and a Q and A panel for professional managers.
People interested in attending are asked to RSVP for this free event by calling the Van Buren Conservation District at (269) 657-4030 x 5 or registering online at www.vanburencd.org/events/second_japanese_knotweed/. Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) credits will be available for attendees. This symposium is hosted by the SW x SW Corner CISMA, the City of St. Joseph and The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center and funded in part with funds from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program through the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural Development.
The SW x SW Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, individuals, and various interested groups that manage (or have a stake in managing) invasive species in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. Partners include the Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Conservation Districts, Chikaming Open Lands, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, The Stewardship Network and many others.
— Van Buren Conservation District
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