...Those beautiful blankets of purple color along the river in August. This is purple loosestrife, an invasive plant which is dominating habitat that used to support cattails and other plants.

PICTURE

...Orange and red seeded Bittersweet is picked and made into festive fall wreaths. This aggressive vine is climbing trees and choking them to death.

PICTURE

The introduction of non-native species is becoming a global issue, and a very difficult one to manage. These species are aggressive, displace native plants and animals, degrade natural biodiversity and alter natural processes. These invasive species move from human settings like gardens and agricultural areas to wild settings. They do not respect property lines, so management must be considered on a broader scale.

The SUASCO Invasive Species Task Force was formed in 2005 to provide a forum to discuss invasive species management in the watershed, coordinate efforts and share ideas and resources. Membership includes organizations that own land and are working to manage invasives on their properties.- NPS, SVT, MassAudubon, FWS, as well as RSC, NEWFS.

The RSC supports the inventory and management work of the land management organizations, and also is working to develop educational materials for the public. Private landowners should be working in conjunction with other organizations to create a more effective and comprehensive approach to eradicating invasive species. The RSC is also working to develop a poster to be used in schools etc .

Valuable resources addressing invasive species management include:

The Nature Conservancy http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/index.html

New England Wildflower Society http://www.newfs.org

Invasive plant Atlas of New England http://invasives.uconn.edu/ipane