On Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00 a.m. the Southeast Exotic Plant Management Team (SE- EPMT) debarked from Congaree National Park located in Hopkins, South Carolina to Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area (CRNRA) in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Joining them was CRNRAs very own interns- Joe and Noelia, along with guest appearances from fellow intern Lexi and former intern Jessica and two volunteers (VIPs). The goal of the trip was a return visit to CRNRAs Sope Creek unit which has been annually treated since 2010. The exotic and invasive species Pueraria montana, natively known as Japanese Arrowroot or more commonly known as Kudzu, was the primary target for the team, interns, and VIPs. Their efforts, as tasked, were to uphold the National Park Service's mission as stated in the Organic Act of 1916; to "…conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." With this mission in mind, the crew spent approximately 225 hours over the course of four days treating this exotic invasive plant in forest conditions with high humidity and a sweltering heat index. Despite the challenges and rigors of the field, the crew kept spirits high and concluded a treatment five days later. Knowing that they had completed another round of the battle against the kudzu infestation, the SE -EPMT returned the next day to Congaree National Park.
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September 18, 2014
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Last updated: August 5, 2020