Help the Brattleboro Conservation Commission map Japanese Knotweed and join efforts to control its spread!

The Brattleboro Conservation Commission is seeking volunteers to help conduct a Japanese Knotweed survey over the summer.

The kickoff event will be a volunteer training on-- 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM

at the West River Park.

This training will introduce citizen scientists to a project database so they contribute their own observations. Participants will also learn about the plant biology, how to identify it, and management options from Elizabeth Spinney, Invasive Plant Coordinator at VT Department of Forest, Parks & Recreation.

Japanese knotweed is a non-native invasive plant. Knotweed invades river and stream banks, affecting native plants, fish and wildlife. Dense infestations clog drainage ditches and obscure visibility along waterways and roadways. Unwanted populations are also nuisances to landowners.

“This is the start of a multi-year effort to address invasive plants in Brattleboro. We want to first determine the extent of the knotweed problem – to try and identify where it is and how far it extends along waterways,” said Sue Fillion, Planner for the Town of Brattleboro and staff to the Conservation Commission. “This activity will help us bring attention to the problem with the ultimate goal of creating a community-driven effort between volunteers and landowners to tackle the problem.”

People of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Bring your smartphone if you have one.

Everyone will add observations to our real-time online website on iNaturalist. Don’t have an iNaturalist account yet? Sign up for an iNaturalist account in advance of the workshop at www.inaturalist.org, then download the app for your iPhone or Android device. Don’t know how to use iNaturalist? We’ll have people on hand to help you get started.

Volunteers should meet at the entrance of the trail down to the West River.

In the event of rain, this training will be held in the Selectboard Meeting Room in the Municipal Center at 230 Main St., Brattleboro.

For more information about the Conservation Commission and events, please visit www.brattleboro.org or the Town of Brattleboro Conservation Commission Facebook page. Please contact Sue Fillion, Town of Brattleboro Planner at sfillion@brattleboro.org or by phone at 802-251-8112 with any questions.