A collaborative approach to invasive species management:
To launch this project, our Invasive Plant Management Crew worked alongside a crew of technicians from EcoForesters to remove and treat several target non-native invasive plant species.
This work was performed during the second half of a two-week partnership with EcoForesters. After the combined crews spent the first week removing kudzu and other non-native invasive species from the Davidson River corridor, they set their sights on these heavy infestations of non-native invasive plant species – primarily autumn olive – along Avery Creek Road.
The process:
The crews used the following tools to remove these harmful plants:
- Brush cutters
- Chainsaws
- Hand tools
A selective herbicide was applied to all the stumps that were cut to prevent the plants from resprouting.
Our Invasive Plant Management Crew will return to chip and spread this debris at a later date when more material has been accumulated. This cut-and-chip method accelerates the decay of the invasive plant material and helps to release important nutrients back into the soil. It also reduces potential sources of fire fuel along the road.
Our first collaboration with EcoForesters was a great success, with our combined crews of forestry professionals getting great work done at a swift pace. Given the large scale of this moderate to heavy infestation, it was valuable to have a large, skilled crew to kick off this project.
Long-term efforts to address a decades-old problem:
In the past, several attempts have been made to remove areas of autumn olive along Avery Creek. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful due to:
- The scale of the infestations
- The persistence and aggressive spreading of invasives
- The lack of capacity and workforce to continue the necessary new and follow-up treatments over a long-term period
Now, thanks to the capacity that has been added by our dedicated Invasive Plant Management Crew – the first of its kind for the Pisgah Ranger District – expanded treatment areas and continued management efforts after the initial treatments have been conducted will help to restore the ecological balance in this area.
This project is in progress and will require additional treatments to remove the remaining invasive species. Follow-up assessments and treatments will also be completed in order to manage new sprouts and regrowth from previously treated areas.
