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Funded Project

Funding Program: Enhancement Grants - Special Projects

Project Title: Developing Management Practices to Address Invasive Plant Pests in Riparian Areas

Project Director (PD): Barbara A Fair [1]

Lead State: NC Lead Organization: North Carolina State University

Undesignated Funding: $24,673

Start Date: Mar-01-2011 End Date: Apr-30-2012

Pests Involved: invasive exotic plants

Site/Commodity: riparian buffers

Area of Emphasis: managment

Summary: The proposed research project will assess the establishment rate and success of a variety of plant species, including those that are native to the southeast and those that are considered adapted. To accomplish this task, we propose to install vegetation plots along a riparian buffer located in Lonnie Poole golf course. Each of 6 plots will be planted with one of the following treatments: 1. no seeding or planting; 2. only seeding; 3. seeding and planting with native plants at he recommended density; 4. seeding and planting with native plants at half recommend density; 5. seeding and planting with adapted species at recommended density; and 6. seeding and planting with adapted species at half the recommended density. There will be three replicates of each plot, located along the stream based on a vegetation survey of the surrounding area to assess population levels of invasive, exotic species. Plots will be evaluated on a biweekly basis to determine rate of incursion of invasives, growth of seedlings and planted shrubs, and overall health of plantings. Research has shown that residents are willing to pay more for property either directly adjacent to open space or riparian corridors or in neighborhoods with access to these areas. To obtain maximum benefits from an open space or riparian buffer, the system must be healthy and functioning properly. The proposed study will look initially at the character of a riparian buffer system to assess how invasives impact the establishment of planted native and adapted plant materials and ground covers. As these areas establish, in time, studies will be implemented that will investigate the functioning of these buffers regarding filtering of chemical pollutants and sediment. Many species considered invasive are grown and sold by southeastern nurseries. This means that if these species are banned, many nurseries will experience significant economic losses. Therefore, they need alternatives; these may be native species or adapted species. Many of the commonly grown adapted species not only provide beautiful flowers, but are amenable to disturbed sites, provide wildlife food and require low maintenance. Additionally, many of these species have long been in use in the landscape and have not posed any threat to native plant populations. One potential management strategy is to include adapted species in restoration plans. Adapted species may have greater survivability in these difficult sites, while providing similar riparian functions as natives, and provide growers with production options in addition to native species. As we look at the success of the various species used in this study, we believe we can provide useful information to the nursery industry in the southeast which will allow it to not only grow appropriate species, but also target marketing of their materials to potentially open new markets for their products. As efforts to restore and improve sustainable quality of our urban/suburban open spaces continue to grow, the value to the green industry in the southeast will be significant. Additionally, as economic pressures limit the expansion of the housing market, the field of riparian restoration can afford landscapers opportunities to expand their activities. Objectives: The objectives of this proposed research are as follows: 1. To assess the establishment rate of combinations of planted materials and seed mixes into a disturbed riparian corridor, and evaluate the success of invasive species to populate these same areas. 2. To compare and contrast the growth rate and performance of native and adapted (non-native which are not considered invasive) species of plants. 3. To determine the density of woody plant materials needed to prevent extensive incursion of invasive species. 4. Using the information obtained from this study, we will develop planting and management recommendations for urban/suburban riparian corridors. These recommendations will be delivered through several avenues, including extension and referred publications, workshops and presentations to industry professionals.

Final Report:

Results At this time all of the plots have been seeded and planted with either native roses or introduced Knock Out roses, each at two different densities. Plants were watered throughout the summer to get them established in the site. We began to collect data on the plant material with in each plot as follows. A grid system was developed and over 30% of the each plot was randomly selected for a complete vegetation analysis. All plants were identified and percent ground cover of each determined. Data collection is finished for this year, but will be continued next year after new growth begins.

Impacts As this is a multi-year study, there are no recordable impacts. Data will again be collected over the next two years, despite lack of funding, to continue to assess plant growth and development.

Outcomes There are no measurable outcomes as of yet.

Outputs There are not measurable outputs as of yet.

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