Non-Native Invasive Plant Control
What is a non-native plant?
A non-native plant is a plant whose origins do not belong in a particular place or setting. Non-native plants migrate to other areas where they can flourish through human, animal, insect, or other intervention. Non-native plants are also called exotic plants and/or alien plants.
What
are the types of non-native plants in the area?
Several types of non-native plants have been identified in the area of Johnstown Flood National Memorial. The non-native plants are Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunberdii), Giant Knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense), Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and four species of Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica, Lonicera morrowii, Lonicera X bella, Lonicera japonica).
What is the purpose of non-native plant control?
Non-native plants threaten the natural resources of the area by displacing native herbaceous species, preventing photosynthesis from occurring in native plants, uprooting native plants, overcrowding, decreasing light received by native plants, and depleting nutrients and moisture in the soil. In order to preserve the native plants, natural resource management is to provide direction in managing the vegetation in the lakebed and along the vistas at Johnstown Flood National Memorial, and record the treatment actions and accomplishments of each year.
What treatment actions has the natural resource management used?
Several
actions have taken place to prevent the spread of non-native plants. Light
infestations can be controlled by hand removal of whole individual plants
including roots. With larger infestations or when hand pulling is not
practical, flowering stems can be cut at ground level to prevent seed
production. When there is little to no risk involved to native plants,
herbicides may be applied. Herbicide use has declined due to the continual
maintenance of the area. 
Only
certified pesticide applicators are allowed to spray.A herbicide named
Garlon 4 is used for its low toxicity levels and its effective ability
to travel to the roots. It has no effect on grasses and other herbaceous
plants
