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Resident warns of Japanese knotweed infestation, urges town-led eradication plan
Summary
Resident and BRAC member David Goodson told the council Japanese knotweed colonies are established across town and urged a pre‑spring, town‑led eradication program combining targeted herbicide treatments, contractor engagement for large sites, public education and a hotline for sightings.
David Goodson, a Blowing Rock resident and member of the Blowing Rock Appearance and Advisory Committee, told the council at its Nov. 12 meeting that Japanese knotweed poses a “major threat to the ecosystem and natural beauty” of the town and urged immediate action to prevent permanent establishment.
Goodson presented maps and photos he said document colonies along Main Street, near the Chitola entrance, at Ridgeline and Wheelys and at other locations he walked and drove. He described the plant’s biology — rapid vegetative spread by rhizomes, the ability of small root fragments to resprout, seed longevity and deep root systems — and warned that the species can cause bank erosion, clog small waterways and damage pavement and drainage systems.
“Japanese knotweed displaces native vegetation due to its fast, dense aggressive growth,” Goodson said during his presentation, adding that the plant’s rhizomes can spread 23 feet or more and extend down several feet in depth. He told the council that the town is currently in a dormant stage for the plant and has a roughly five‑ to six‑month window beginning in spring to apply effective treatments.
Goodson recommended a town-led, multi-part plan: identify and map infested areas before new growth in spring; prioritize treatment windows beginning in May; use contractors for large infestations where town crews lack capacity; secure property-owner permission on private lots; educate town employees and residents to report sightings; and create a hotline or reporting channel for follow-up. He said herbicide application timed to the plant’s growth stages is the most effective method, but emphasized selecting products and application methods appropriate for wetlands and waterways.
Council members asked technical questions about herbicide impacts on streams and fish; Goodson said some herbicides are safe near wetlands and that contractors and extension agents are familiar with acceptable products. He also cited regional examples and local contacts with experience managing knotweed, including Boone’s sustainability staff and local watershed outreach coordinators.
The presentation prompted council agreement on the need to address the problem proactively. Staff and council members noted resource limits for large sites and suggested a combination of town spot treatments and private contractors for extensive infestations. Goodson offered to assist the town further and to share lists of effective herbicides and control protocols.
Next steps: Goodson urged the council to have staff inventory and prioritize known colonies before the spring growing season and to consider an outreach and reporting program so residents can notify the town of new sightings.
