It's Happening

This Spring, the Clean Water Partnership will begin a two-year project to remove invasive plants from the forested areas around Red Maple Run in M-NCPPC’s Cheverly East Park and nearby Cheverly town-owned land. The effort supports the recent Red Maple Run stream restoration project. Laura Connelly of the Low Impact Development Center and Sonya Williams of CISolutions, project manager, presented the project at the May meeting of the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Committee. 

The park boasts a canopy of healthy native oak trees, whose seedlings will be encouraged to add to the population. Removal of invasive vines will help protect the woodland. A healthy forest offers the best stormwater management. In addition, saving the 9-acre park’s trees will sequester over 81 tons of carbon to help our climate. Fourteen species of invasive plants have been identified. The heaviest infestations are of Japanese knotweed, porcelainberry, burning bush, vinca and English ivy. Interpretive signs will explain the project and identify the invasive species.

Hand-pulling will be the preferred method of removal. Vines will not be pulled from the trees, but after cutting will be allowed to dry and fall on their own. Any necessary herbicide application will be directed at leaves, not sprayed into the air. Signs will be posted before and following any herbicide application. There will be no herbicides applied at the play area. 

The project is intended to complement the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan and the Greater Cheverly Sector Plan. It is considered a pilot for habitat enhancement as part of CWP projects.

Questions? Contact OliviaB@thecleanwaterpartnership.com