Please come join us for two public meetings being held on April 4, 2019, to talk about invasive plant species – such as Japanese hops – along the Root River.
The first meeting will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the Houston Community Center, 109 W Maple St, Houston, Minn. 55943 and the second meeting will be held from 6-8 PM at the MiEnergy building 31110 Cooperative Way, City of Rushford Village, Minn. 55971. The public – especially landowners along the Root River – are encouraged to attend these meetings. Attendees can expect to learn how to identify Japanese hops and other invasive species and why these invasive species are especially detrimental to our area.
Native to eastern Asia, Japanese hops was introduced to North America as an ornamental. Similar to other invasive plants, Japanese hops escaped cultivation and infested natural areas, out-competing native species. These vines can grow up to 35 feet in a single growing season and can climb trees and structures or form dense mats on the ground. Japanese hops is currently only found in a few areas in Minnesota, including along the Root River in Fillmore and Houston counties. The goal of state and local partners is to eradicate these infestations before the vine has a chance to spread further.
Another invasive species that will be covered at the meeting is poison hemlock. Poison hemlock is native to Europe and was also brought to the United States as an ornamental. Poison hemlock has an umbel-shaped set of white flowers, fernlike or lacy leaves and stems with purple spots. It looks very similar to other plants in our area including cow parsnip, water hemlock and common elderberry. All parts of the poison hemlock plant are very poisonous to humans and livestock, which is why it is listed on the Eradicate List of the Minnesota Noxious Weed List.
Both meetings are being hosted and supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota DNR, Fillmore SWCD, Houston County, and the University of Minnesota Extension.
Zed says
To whom it may concern,
A friend at work told me about this Public Meeting that he had attended and told me that it was very interesting.
Could you tell me if the DNR intends to hold any other Public Meetings regarding invasive weeds in southern Minnesota?
Thanks