Preventing invasive plant species expense and harm starts with early detection; state governments can help

Japanese knotweed can grow 8 inches
a day. (Photo: Jack Ranney, U of Tenn.)

What can prevent the damage and expense that an invasive plant species can cause? Early detection and action. "By leveraging innovative detection and monitoring tools, state and local land managers can get ahead of the environmental and fiscal consequences of the aggressive spread of non-native plants," reports Kaitlyn Levinson of Route Fifty.

For example, "Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant commonly found in the Northeast . . . can damage highway and water infrastructure, according to a 2021 report from the Transportation Department. It can grow up to 8 inches per day and quickly block lines of sight at intersections and stop signs. When the plant's roots expand, they can weaken the integrity of or even cause fractures in road pavement and concrete on bridges. Stormwater and septic systems are also vulnerable."

Bromus tectorum or cheatgrass
(Wikipedia)

Cheatgrass is an invader spreading in the Great Basin. The grass is "notorious for being flammable, worsening the spread of fires," Levinson writes. "Nevada recently felt the fiery effects of cheatgrass when California's York Fire crossed state lines, burning more than 80,000 acres last week."

Knowledge of where non-native plants are growing or may return to grow is helpful. Bethany Bradley, a professor of biogeography and spatial ecology at the University of Massachusetts, told Levinson, "You can translate that [data] back onto a map of what the future climate conditions are likely to be, and that can give you a sense of [invasive species] risk right now, and what risk looks like 20 years, 50 years [or] 100 years, which, from a management perspective, can help with advanced planning."

Non-native phragmite in Utah
(Photo via Utah State University)

Utah is using plant management strategies to fight "an invasive reed called phragmite that has taken over the Utah Lake shoreline," Levinson explains. "Phragmites create a fire-prone landscape and often impede recreation and rescue efforts. . . .To better identify where treatment is needed and to track treatment progress, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands uses geographic information systems to map the phragmite landscape. . . . . Last year, phragmite coverage was reduced by 74% with improved monitoring, herbicide treatments, revegetation and other efforts."

Levison reports, "The state is also exploring how drone imagery and artificial intelligence could be used to enhance the identification management of invasive species in wetland areas, FFSL Senior GIS Analyst Gabriel Svobodny said."