The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) continues to work with the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) organization to address invasive species growing along roads throughout Oakland County.
Starting in August and running through October, state-licensed contractors will apply herbicide to knotweed and Phragmites located along RCOC roadways. On the day of treatment, yellow signs will be posted to indicate what products were used, specific restrictions and when the application took place.
Phragmites grows in wet areas and can reach heights of 15 feet, leading to safety and environmental problems. It forms dense stands blocking views at intersections, impeding water access, impairing drainage, damaging infrastructure, crowding out habitat and causing hot, damaging fires if ignited
Knotweed spreads easily when cut and can damage infrastructure including buildings and roads.
During application, the licensed applicator will apply the treatment from vehicle-mounted hand spray equipment or utilizing a backpack sprayer. The public is advised not to enter treated areas until the spray has dried.
The only effective means to deal with knotweeds and Phragmites is to chemically treat them utilizing a state-licensed commercial applicator.
The contractor that will perform the knotweed treatment is Stantec. Stantec can be contacted with questions about the chemical products used and method of application. Stantec’s address is 8060 Kensington Ct., Brighton MI 48116. Their phone number is 616-847-1680, and their web address is: www.stantec.com.
The contractors listed below will perform the Phragmites treatment and can be contacted with questions about the chemical products used and methods of application:
- PLM Lake and Land Management Corp, 10785 Bennett Drive, Morrice, MI 48857, 800-382-4434, www.plmcorp.net
- Stantec, 8060 Kensington Ct., Brighton MI 48116. 616-847-1680, www.stantec.com
For a list of CISMA members and supporting partners, visit https://oaklandinvasivespecies.org/current-members/. For more information or questions, contact RCOC by calling (877) 858- 4804 or by email at dcsmail@rcoc.org.
