'Nasty weed' flourishes south of Barnett Park

Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Non-native "phragmites australis" grows easily in a Nebraska wetland areas. Photo courtesy fs.fed.us habitat.jpg

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, weed control superintendent Bill Elliott told county commissioners during their weekly meeting Monday morning that he and Tim Smith of Benkelman, coordinator of the Southwest Weed Management Area, will work to control thistles and phragmites growing on the south side of the Republican River near McCook's Barnett Park.

Elliott said "it's a good thing" that the state declared phragmites a noxious weed on the Republican River, because, as an aggressive, non-native wetland weed variety, "it's a nasty weed."

Phragmites appeared on the Republican, Elliott said, when someone transplanted from the Platte River what he thought were cattails.

Smith said at a Resource Conservation and Development annual meeting in late 2008, "Phragmites is great on thatched roofs in England," he said. "It's terrible here."

An ag inspection specialist with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture/Bureau of Plant Industry will conduct a follow-up inspection and investigation of the county's and landowner's efforts at control.

Elliott said even weeds are struggling because of the continuing drought. "Even weeds are flat dying for lack of moisture," Elliott said. "It's pretty sad out there ... pray for rain."

Commissioner Steve Downer added, sadly, "We'll even take snow."

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