Restore and enhance ecological integrity and wildlife habitat values within portions of the great BAY national wildlife refuge that have been seriously degraded by invasive plant species

This project will specifically address the rapid spread of three invasive species: black swallowwort (cynanchum louiseae), common reed (phragmites australis) and japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica). These species are a serious concern and left untreated, will continue to degrade valuable habitat within the reserve including pollinator meadows, wet meadows, saltmarshes, wetlands and forested uplands. Using low volume foliar herbicide applications the rockingham county conservation district (rccd) will work to control and minimize further spread of these invasive plants within the reserve. Applications will be done by trained personnel under the supervision of a licensed pesticide applicator. Rccd will also employ a contractor to assist in black swallowwort control efforts. In the short-term, rccd s expected project outcome is for our herbicide applications to have a overall control rate of 80% or greater broken out by species. The long term goal of this project is to successfully contain black swallowwort, phragmites and japanese knotweed populations, minimizing further spread into the reserve and reduce population numbers to a level that can be managed by usfw longterm. Reducing the number of invasive plant species will also promote native plant species regeneration which can ultimately lead to a healthier, diverse system that is less susceptible to RE-invasion in the future.intended beneficiaries include the usfw, rccd, taylors invasive control, refuge resources and the general public.