Officials make aerial assault on noxious weeds

A helicopter perches on a trailer-top helipad to take on more chemicals for spraying along the Republican River.

Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — If you were in the vicinity of the Republican River in Red Willow County on Sept. 21 or 22, you may have noticed a blue helicopter flying low over the river. “We have been working on obtaining funding to control salt cedar and phragmites for about two years” said Bill Elliott, Red Willow Weed Supervisor.

“Working with Southwest Weed Management and local land owners we have been able to perform aerial spraying using a helicopter to control these non-native, invasive plants.”

Funding to perform this work was obtained through grants from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Nebraska Environmental Trust. “Southwest Weed Management obtains grants to perform a variety of work to control non-desirable, invasive vegetation.” stated Jim Bowen, Project Coordinator, Southwest Weed Management. “We work with county weed departments and landowners to also control eastern red cedar and russian olive trees which can spread across rangeland becoming a problem for landowners”.

A helicopter heads off to spray for salt cedar and phragmites, non-native, invasive, noxious weeds along the Republican River.

Courtesy photo

“Our work is performed by contractors having qualifications to apply herbicide and remove vegetation” Bowen said. Spraying the Republican River was contracted to Skycopters, Ulysses, Kansas. Chemicals used are safe to apply to aquatic areas. “It is very weather dependent” stated Dan Lyle, Skycopters. Visibility and wind are two key factors for applying herbicide. “You need the ability to see the target vegetation from the air and wind direction and speed must be favorable”. Skycopters arrived in the area on September 16, but were unable to fly until the 21st due to weather conditions “we were only able to fly part of the day on Saturday and part of the day Sunday due to wind conditions. There’s nothing we can do to when the wind is not right, then it becomes a waiting game” Lyle said.

“Dan has been an aerial applicator for approximately 40 years. He brings a wealth of experience to the game” Bowen said. Skycopters has performed this type of work in a variety of states in the central part of the country and has worked with Twin Valley Weed Management Area based in Red Cloud, NE for several years. “We coordinated this work with Twin Valley to maximize the funding. Instead of making two trips, we were able to spray Red Willow County before he went to the Twin Valley Weed Management Area”.

Phragmites and salt cedar are non-native, invasive, noxious weeds in Nebraska and must be controlled by property owners. “This is a win-win for everyone” stated Elliott. “We have been able to take a big step to control these non-native plants while assisting landowners. Controlling this vegetation also helps with the Kansas-Nebraska compact compliance as salt cedar and phragmites are very water consumptive plants.”

Salt cedar and phragmites have become a nuisance all along the Republican River.

Courtesy photo

Some locations were not able to be sprayed. “Overhanging trees, houses, and developed areas did not get sprayed to protect these areas. We are working with local contractors to finish spraying from the ground within the next few days as weather permits” Bowen stated.