Weeding the river

CAMBRIDGE -- Southwest Weed Management Area officials are calling the first year of efforts to remove invasive plant species on the Republican River a success.

The work was made possible by an $817,000 grant funded through Legislative Bill 701 and administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

LB701 provided the State of Nebraska with $2 million for invasive species removal along rivers in this state. SWWMA is removing invasive species in the Republican River from the Colorado border to the diversion dam east of Cambridge.

Species targeted were phragmites, eastern red cedar, salt cedar and Russian olive. Crews removed trees within 100 feet of the Republican River.

Southwest Weed Management Area began the project by mapping the Republican River and its main tributaries Aug. 22.

NorthStar of Japer, Texas, was able to fly the river with a helicopter in approximately 12 hours. The company used GPS/GIS technology to mark areas of invasive species in the river bed. This data was then added to aerial photos providing a completed map of the areas flown.

The first phase of invasive control began in October with the spraying of phragmites by Chem-trol Professional Vegetation Management from Kansas City. Chem-trol used an airboat to spray these weeds. Small patches of phragmites were located in Furnas, Red Willow and Hitchcock counties.

Additionally, a few small salt cedar trees were located and destroyed. Chem-trol sprayed noxious weeds on the river from the diversion dam east of Cambridge until Culbertson, where they ran out of water.

The principal component of SWWMA's project began in February 2008 when SWW MA contracted with BSB Construction Inc for mechanical tree removal on the Republican River in portions of Furnas, Red Willow, Hitchcock and Dundy Counties. BSB Construction Inc. subcontracted with Adams Construction in Arapahoe and Vrbas Construction in Stratton. This work began Feb. 15, and was completed by June 20.

The Southwest Weed Management Area board of directors is happy with the progress made since February.

"Phase one has come to an end. We have completed 100 percent of our goals," Rick Hedke, SWWMA President said.

"All phragmites have been eliminated on the Republican River. We have removed 33 miles or 1,064 acres of invasive trees from the Colorado border to the Cambridge Diversion Dam. It has been a challenge and learning experience. We are ready to move into phase two," he said. "After phase 2 is completed, we should have 90 percent of the Republican River cleared from Colorado to Swanson Reservoir. From Swanson to Cambridge diversion dam we should have approximately 19 miles of river cleared.

"Landowner participation in Dundy and Furnas Counties is over 90 percent. Hitchcock and Red Willow landowner participation was way lower than I expected. Phase two will begin July 1, and be completed by Oct. 31."

Work will include invasive tree removal of Red Willow County 273, Hitchcock County 52, and Dundy County 524, he said.

Mechanical removal took place in the four counties bordering the river in this weed management area. In Furnas County, four miles of the Republican River and a half-mile of the Medicine Creek have had invasive species removed. Red Willow County also had 31⁄2 miles of trees removed. Hitchcock County received 13 miles of work on the Republican River. Dundy County was completed with eight miles on the Republican River, three miles on the Arikaree, and one mile on the South Fork of the Republican River.

Tim Smith, Coordinator for The Western Republican River Riparian Improvement Project, is also pleased with the progress. "As our first season of work winds down, I am very satisfied with how the project has progressed. We hit a few snags and had the occasional bump in the road, but overall, things went better than we expected.

"I can't thank our lead contractor, BSB construction from Curtis, enough. Their willingness to go the extra mile really made a difference. Another big thanks to their sub contractors; Adams Construction from Arapahoe, Frontier Land Clearing from Curtis, Paul Lockenhour, and Vrbas Construction from Stratton.

An especially big thank you goes to our local landowners. Without their foresight and willingness to let us try and tackle this huge problem, no progress would have been made"

Additionally, SWWMA would like to thank Chem-trol Professional Vegetation Management, Doug Haller of BASF, NorthStar Aero, Ted Bethel from Van Diest Supply Company, NRCS, the Upper, Middle and Lower NRDs, Sen. Mark Christensen, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Southwest Nebraska RC&D.