Regional Inlet Invasive Plant Program - Adirondacks
Adirondack Research is now leading these efforts with their Invasive Species Management Initiative (ISMI). Check out their 2024 announcement which includes how to contact them or donate to support these efforts which provides services free for Adirondack property owners in the program.
Since 2008 there have been great strides in efforts to control Japanese Knotweed throughout the Adirondacks, led by RIIPP which was started in 2008 by Douglas Johnson "Award for plant eradication efforts." and "Doug Johnson:Japanese Knotweed Combatant". RIIPP is also helping manage other terrestrial invasive plants including wild parsnip.
From 2008-2014 the Town of Inlet took the lead, with support from Town Supervisor John Frey and Town Clerk Patty Wittmeyer. From 2015 to 2018 Elizabeth Mangle and in 2019 Caitlin Stewart from the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District coordinated efforts including collecting permission forms and tax-deductible donations. From 2020-2023, The Nature Conservancy's Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) with Rebecca Bernacki coordinated efforts with a Knotweed Management Partnership. Starting in 2024 Adirondack Research with Ezra Schwartzberg will coordinate efforts to treat knotweed on private property throughout the Adirondacks and other invasives such as wild parsnip, with APIPP continuing to treat priority knotweed infestations on public land. Treatment on private land is supported by donations to the Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation Inc - RIIPP fund, with RIIPP contracting with Adirondack Research. Volunteer coordinators work with landowners to secure the written agreements required to treat the properties.
Ellen Collins from Blue Mountain Lake and Terry DeArmas from Indian Lake have coordinated efforts there since 2008. In 2011 Evelyn Greene helped in North Creek and North River, Chuck Taylor in Long Lake, Katy Weil in Lake Piseco, Larry Master in Lake Placid, Leslie Karasin in Saranac Lake, and Gary Lee in Inlet. Certified applicators Ryan Burkum and D. Avery Menz with Eric Menz did most of the treatments in 2011. In 2012 new volunteers include Jan McCann in Chestertown, Bob Manning and Roy Keats in Garnet Lake, Scott Chartier in Tupper Lake, and John Wolfken in Warrensburg. In 2013 we welcomed Anne Green in Bolton Landing and Nick Rose in Old Forge as new volunteers, and certified applicator Kathy Vanselow. In 2014 we treated about 240 existing and new sites, began treating Wild Parsnip, welcomed Zack Simek as an additional applicator, and received the "Adirondack Conservation Hero Award" from the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. From 2015-2018 we treated over 250 sites a year and started wild parsnip control. In 2018 we welcomed Adrien Vlach as Saranac Lake volunteer. Property owners are encouraged to sign permission forms. See writeups of our program: ADK Case study, Japanese Knotweed Under Attack, Adirondacks Winning the War on Knotweed, and letters (8/30/2007, 8/17/2010), and Adirondack Council Newsletter story. Check out the slide show of our program. Additional volunteers are needed.
From 2008 to 2010 tens of thousands of knotweed canes were injected and tens of thousands of additional plants sprayed with herbicide (glyphosate) in over 80 sites in Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake, Inlet, Eagle Bay, and Town of Webb. In 2011 we treated about 75,000 knotweed canes in over 150 sites, with additional areas including Lake Piseco, Lake Placid, Long Lake, North Creek, North River, Speculator, and Wells. In 2012 we treated about 51,000 knotweed canes in over 160 sites including prior sites, new sites in the same towns, and additional sites in Chestertown, Lake Garnet, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake. In 2013 we treated about 60,000 knotweed canes in over 200 sites including prior sites, and new sites in the same towns, and new sites in Arietta, Morehouse, Cranberry Lake, Johnsburg, Star Lake, Bolton Landing, and Warrensburg. From 2014 to 2019 we continued to treat about 40,000 to 60,000 canes in over 200 sites (many new) each year, finding knotweed eradicated (no plants for 3 years) at many sites we previously treated. Many sites are near shores, rivers, and streams, with sites near wetlands requiring Adirondack Park Agency approval. These sites are very important to treat to prevent downstream spread of knotweed. From 2020-2023 the Knotweed Partnership of APIPP with Ryan Burkum treated hundreds of sites each year, with hundreds of sites found to have no more knotweed.
Japanese knotweed forms dense thickets of thick bamboo-like hollow stems, with mature heights over 10 feet and an extensive network of underground roots. The leaves are somewhat heart-shaped with white lacy flow clusters that form in August. We recommend not cutting knotweed after June 1st so there is enough growth to allow effective herbicide application. Digging the plant/roots is not recommended since tiny root fragments can start new plants. Treatment with herbicide (glyphosate) done properly is very effective. The 2013 Japanese Knotweed Management Summit highlighted effective treatments.
Everyone benefits from controlling invasive plants in the Adirondacks. If you a property owner and think you have knotweed on your property (in areas we cover), contact your invasive plant coordinator or Adirondack Research.
Additional volunteers are needed for other areas in the Adirondacks - to help identify sites and collect permissions from property owner. If you are interested in helping, contact Adirondack Research.
There is no cost to property owners for the pesticide application. We received grants and funding from the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (2011-2013, 2015), the Adirondack Watershed Institute (2014), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Invasive Species Rapid Response and Control (2017-2019), but the majority of our funding has been from donations. Tax-deductible donations are essential for these efforts to continue - to the Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation Inc - RIIPP fund.
Since 2008 there have been great strides in efforts to control Japanese Knotweed throughout the Adirondacks, led by RIIPP which was started in 2008 by Douglas Johnson "Award for plant eradication efforts." and "Doug Johnson:Japanese Knotweed Combatant". RIIPP is also helping manage other terrestrial invasive plants including wild parsnip.
From 2008-2014 the Town of Inlet took the lead, with support from Town Supervisor John Frey and Town Clerk Patty Wittmeyer. From 2015 to 2018 Elizabeth Mangle and in 2019 Caitlin Stewart from the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District coordinated efforts including collecting permission forms and tax-deductible donations. From 2020-2023, The Nature Conservancy's Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) with Rebecca Bernacki coordinated efforts with a Knotweed Management Partnership. Starting in 2024 Adirondack Research with Ezra Schwartzberg will coordinate efforts to treat knotweed on private property throughout the Adirondacks and other invasives such as wild parsnip, with APIPP continuing to treat priority knotweed infestations on public land. Treatment on private land is supported by donations to the Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation Inc - RIIPP fund, with RIIPP contracting with Adirondack Research. Volunteer coordinators work with landowners to secure the written agreements required to treat the properties.
Ellen Collins from Blue Mountain Lake and Terry DeArmas from Indian Lake have coordinated efforts there since 2008. In 2011 Evelyn Greene helped in North Creek and North River, Chuck Taylor in Long Lake, Katy Weil in Lake Piseco, Larry Master in Lake Placid, Leslie Karasin in Saranac Lake, and Gary Lee in Inlet. Certified applicators Ryan Burkum and D. Avery Menz with Eric Menz did most of the treatments in 2011. In 2012 new volunteers include Jan McCann in Chestertown, Bob Manning and Roy Keats in Garnet Lake, Scott Chartier in Tupper Lake, and John Wolfken in Warrensburg. In 2013 we welcomed Anne Green in Bolton Landing and Nick Rose in Old Forge as new volunteers, and certified applicator Kathy Vanselow. In 2014 we treated about 240 existing and new sites, began treating Wild Parsnip, welcomed Zack Simek as an additional applicator, and received the "Adirondack Conservation Hero Award" from the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. From 2015-2018 we treated over 250 sites a year and started wild parsnip control. In 2018 we welcomed Adrien Vlach as Saranac Lake volunteer. Property owners are encouraged to sign permission forms. See writeups of our program: ADK Case study, Japanese Knotweed Under Attack, Adirondacks Winning the War on Knotweed, and letters (8/30/2007, 8/17/2010), and Adirondack Council Newsletter story. Check out the slide show of our program. Additional volunteers are needed.
From 2008 to 2010 tens of thousands of knotweed canes were injected and tens of thousands of additional plants sprayed with herbicide (glyphosate) in over 80 sites in Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake, Inlet, Eagle Bay, and Town of Webb. In 2011 we treated about 75,000 knotweed canes in over 150 sites, with additional areas including Lake Piseco, Lake Placid, Long Lake, North Creek, North River, Speculator, and Wells. In 2012 we treated about 51,000 knotweed canes in over 160 sites including prior sites, new sites in the same towns, and additional sites in Chestertown, Lake Garnet, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake. In 2013 we treated about 60,000 knotweed canes in over 200 sites including prior sites, and new sites in the same towns, and new sites in Arietta, Morehouse, Cranberry Lake, Johnsburg, Star Lake, Bolton Landing, and Warrensburg. From 2014 to 2019 we continued to treat about 40,000 to 60,000 canes in over 200 sites (many new) each year, finding knotweed eradicated (no plants for 3 years) at many sites we previously treated. Many sites are near shores, rivers, and streams, with sites near wetlands requiring Adirondack Park Agency approval. These sites are very important to treat to prevent downstream spread of knotweed. From 2020-2023 the Knotweed Partnership of APIPP with Ryan Burkum treated hundreds of sites each year, with hundreds of sites found to have no more knotweed.
Japanese knotweed forms dense thickets of thick bamboo-like hollow stems, with mature heights over 10 feet and an extensive network of underground roots. The leaves are somewhat heart-shaped with white lacy flow clusters that form in August. We recommend not cutting knotweed after June 1st so there is enough growth to allow effective herbicide application. Digging the plant/roots is not recommended since tiny root fragments can start new plants. Treatment with herbicide (glyphosate) done properly is very effective. The 2013 Japanese Knotweed Management Summit highlighted effective treatments.
Everyone benefits from controlling invasive plants in the Adirondacks. If you a property owner and think you have knotweed on your property (in areas we cover), contact your invasive plant coordinator or Adirondack Research.
Additional volunteers are needed for other areas in the Adirondacks - to help identify sites and collect permissions from property owner. If you are interested in helping, contact Adirondack Research.
There is no cost to property owners for the pesticide application. We received grants and funding from the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (2011-2013, 2015), the Adirondack Watershed Institute (2014), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Invasive Species Rapid Response and Control (2017-2019), but the majority of our funding has been from donations. Tax-deductible donations are essential for these efforts to continue - to the Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation Inc - RIIPP fund.