Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) on Jul 26, 2010
Submitter does not have a specimen
EDRR Status: Ongoing monitoring
Description of specimen
There is a stand of purple loosestrife in a roadside ditch I have noticed for a few years. Each year it seems there are a few more plants spreading north (downstream) along Blanton Rd., but it was recently mowed so they are not visible at this time (July 26, 2010). I was not sure who to contact about it, so I am filing a report here.
Commentary
Expert Reviewer
Tania Siemens
WISE Program Coordinator (Watershed and Invasive Species Education)
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
Oregon State University
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
541-914-0701
Thanks so much for reporting purple loosestrife to the oregon invasives hotline! Purple loosestrife is a very damaging species in wetlands and it is important to keep it from spreading. The Oregon Department of Transportation or Lane County Public Works probably manages the site since it sounds like it is in the right-of-way. I will forward your report to them and follow up with you on the outcome. We really appreciate this important report!
Purple loosestrife is just one of many priority invasive species for early detection. We have also flagged several other species that are really important to detect early before they become established and cause damage. If you are interested you can learn the other priority species to look for in Lane, Linn, Benton counties at the Western Invasives Network website:
http://www.westerninvasivesnetwork.org/pages/cwmapage.php?region=weedin
Thanks again and keep on reporting! Feel free to contact me directly with any questions.
Tania
Tania Siemens
Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response Coordinator
The Nature Conservancy
WISE Program Coordinator (Watershed and Invasive Species Education)
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
541-914-0701
Tania Siemens
July 26, 2010, 10:38 p.m.
I wanted to let you know that Lane County Public Works responded to your report. See below. Thanks and keep on reporting new invaders (see this link for high priority invaders in this area: http://www.westerninvasivesnetwork.org/pages/cwmapage.php?region=upperwillamette) . Sincerely, Tania Siemens
Response from Lane County Public Works:
That is the County section of Blanton, so I will take a look to verify...I was not aware of a population in this area, but we did have a population of Purple Loosetrife near the intersection of Chambers and Crest Drive, so it would not be to far off to think it might be nearby...and yes, we did just mow that area, so it may have to wait for identification, but I will check on it.
Orin C. Schumacher
Vegetation Management Coordinator
Lane County Public Works
3040 N. Delta Hwy. Eugene, OR. 97408
541-682-6908 / orin.schumacher@co.lane.or.us
Tania Siemens
Aug. 10, 2010, 4:35 a.m.