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Commission: Knotweed not wanted

Originally from eastern Asia, the plant has been classified as a noxious weed by the National Park Service (NPS).Photo courtesy of nps.gov
By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW The Conservation Commission held a short but important meeting Aug. 8, discussing issues such as the use of a grant to spray herbicides on the invasive Japanese knotweed and the approval of a request to install a new water line to a house on Dunn Road.

Japanese knotweed is an upright, shrublike, herbaceous perennial that can grow to over 10 feet in height. Originally from eastern Asia, the plant has been classified as a noxious weed by the National Park Service (NPS). It can currently be found in 36 states and is considered a heavily invasive species in 23 states, including all of New England.

Knotweed spreads quickly to form dense thickets that exclude native vegetation and greatly alter natural ecosystems, according to the NPS Web site (www.nps.gov).

Because the purpose of Longmeadow's Conservation Commission is to protect the town's wetland resource areas, Japanese knotweed poses a major threat. Before the weed can be eradicated, however, permits need to be filed with both the Conservation Commission and the Department of Public Works.

A complete list of invasive alien plants in the United States is available online at http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact.htm.

Once the discussion of how to deal with the Japanese knotweed had concluded, chairman John Bresnahan announced that in the town's new fiscal year, all accounts for the Conservation Commission had funds available. Public hearings began after this announcement.

Matt and Christine Regan of Dunn Road were looking for approval to connect a water line from the town to the front of their home. Up until now, they had used well water. The pipeline would be five feet, six inches below the surface and 61 feet long from the main line to the front of their home.

The area they wanted to do this in is considered a protected habitat for certain endangered species in the region, so any excavation or construction of this type is usually forbidden. Because what they were doing was such a small project, however, they were exempt from those regulations and will be some of the first residents of Dunn Road to have access to town water.

Minor activity exemptions are listed online at www.longmeadow.org.

An emergency certification was approved for the repair of a yard on Wimbleton Drive resulting from a recent washout caused by a rise in Wolf Swamp Brook. A contractor will fix the problem by installing trap rock and a large drainage catch basic in the yard to prevent future washouts from occurring. This is the usual way to solve this problem.

According to the Conservation Commission's Web site, it is illegal for anyone in Longmeadow to dredge, fill, modify or alter any of the resource areas in town without first filing for and receiving a permit to do so.

Those with property within 100 feet of a wetland or within 200 feet of a brook, stream or river who wish to build, grade, clear, apply herbicides or to do any work which could alter the resource area must contact the Conservation Commission before doing so.

The commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month in the Community Meeting Room of the Longmeadow Police Station, located at 32 Williams St.