For the second year, the Parks and Open Space Division has been awarded a grant from the Oregon State Weed Board (OSWB) and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to control an aggressive, non-native, aquatic weed at Delta Ponds and Golden Gardens.
Uruguayan primrose-willow, or Ludwigia hexapetala (Ludwigia), grows so densely that it threatens fish and wildlife habitat. Prior to treatment, the populations of Ludwigia at Delta Ponds and Golden Gardens were among the highest in the Willamette Valley watershed and were threatening downstream waterways, including the Willamette River. In 2013, OSWB funded implementation of phase one of the “Invasive Ludwigia Management Plan,” which outlines a multi-year strategy to eradicate Ludwigia. This year’s funding will allow the City to implement a second phase of Ludwigia control.
Since Ludwigia naturally goes dormant in the fall, the true impact of the 2013 control efforts was unknown until the last few weeks. Initial observations this season have revealed that efforts were successful and that Ludwigia populations are much less dense than the previous year. Parks and Open Space Division’s Ludwigia control effort last year was the first large-scale treatment of Ludwigia hexapetala in the state. It has now become the model for other projects across the Willamette Valley. It is anticipated that with the 2014 efforts, the City of Eugene will continue to be the regional leader in efforts to successfully control this rapidly expanding weed.
For more information, contact Natural Resources Enhancement Coordinator Lauri Holts at lauri.j.holts@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4925.