One of the main invasive plant species along the Swift Current Creek is being targetted during a clean-up planned for Tuesday.
The Southwest Naturalists and the Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards are partnering for a riverbank clean-up of the Dame's Rocket flowering plant which is growing in abundance along the creek bank.
Dame's Rocket, a purple flowering plant, is one of the plants spreading along which is causing concern for the two groups.
Invasive species like Dame's Rocket, which is not native to the watershed, can spread rapidly and are capable of producing up to 20,000 seeds per year. This particular plant is detrimental to riparian areas and contribute to choking out the beneficial and naturally occuring plans in this moist green zone of vegetation beside the creek. Dame's Rocket is inadequate at filtering pollution out of the water, it provides poor wildlife habitat, and its roots are not suitable for holding the soil along the stream bank in place.
The two organizations are asking the public to avoid purchasing "wildflower" seed mixes with Dame's Rocket to help prevent its spread. They explain people can clip off flowering heads or entire flowering plants near the ground before they seed, or to pull out the entire plant and bag it for burning or landfilling.
The two groups are meeting on May 26 near Crawford Ave. and Poplar St. starting at 5:30 p.m. to pull some of the Dame's Rocket which are growing along the creek. Gloves and trowels will be provided for individuals who are participating.
Many other invasive plant species can be found in the Swift Current area, including purple loosestrife, baby's breat, scentless chamomile and leafy spurge.
For further information on these invasive plants, or to report a plant patch, visit the Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards website at www.sccws.com. For information on Tuesday's event contact Arlene 778-5007 or Jacquie 778-3112.
Groups target invasive plants along Swift Current Creek
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Published on
May 21, 2009
- Published on July 9, 2009
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Staff ~ The Southwest Booster
One of the main invasive plant species along the Swift Current Creek is being targetted during a clean-up planned for Tuesday.
The Southwest Naturalists and the Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards are partnering for a riverbank clean-up of the Dame's Rocket flowering plant which is growing in abundance along the creek bank.
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