FUDR and Partners Battle Knotweed in the UDR Watershed

In 2018 FUDR was awarded funding from the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to study the impacts of Knotweed and techniques to manage it in the Upper Delaware River Watershed. This summer the focus was on research to understand the extent of the 100 year floodplain that is colonized by Knotweed and which of the three types of Knotweed exist in our area. Recently, we did a river flyover to capture aerial imagery of Knotweed in bloom and we floated the river to identify species composition. Next Summer, we will initiate on-the-ground demonstration projects to showcase management techniques to control knotweed.

Our PSU biologists were amazed by the extent of knotweed on the river. They work in invasives throughout PA and can only name a couple of rivers that have this much knotweed. This stand is on the NY side at Knight’s pool, extends 1/2 mile & 50-100 yards deep.

Volunteer pilot recruited by LightHawk flying our 5th mission to photograph the Delaware River flood plain. The visible and infrared light photographs will be converted into digital maps to calculate the % of the flood plain colonized by knotweed.