Weed pullers work to eliminate invasive species
Photo courtesy of Michael Shepherd
Melilotus (white sweetclover) is an invasive weed that is widespread in Glacier Valley, but local weed pullers have spent the last four years trying to eradicate the plant from the area.
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By Betty Charnon
Special to the Turnagain Times
Summer is over and once again it brought another season of colorful wildflowers as well as weeds. While some people may feel weed pulling is a fruitless, never-ending effort, I can point out a Girdwood success.
For the past three to four years we have been pulling white sweetclover throughout Girdwood. The first place I spotted this plant was along Alyeska Highway in front of Little Bears. I promptly pulled that patch, but then noticed more patches popping up along the Alyeska Highway from Glacier Creek Bridge to the Hotel and around the Girdwood School.
With excellent volunteer effort we pulled those pesky plants as we saw them. Some of these patches were quite extensive filling over 100 bags at one spot. Our efforts are noticeable. The white sweetclover are essentially gone from many of the areas we have pulled. Now we are concentrating our efforts on a huge patch at the airport, but even that patch is diminishing.
Why are we even bothering to pull this plant? White sweetclover is an invasive weed that has the potential to cause much ecological and economic harm. It thrives in disturbed sites, riparian areas (streamsides), and gravel bars and can displace native plants such as willow, which are prime moose browse.
This invasive exotic has the potential to alter soil conditions due to its ability to fix nitrogen, additionally compromising conditions that favor native plant communities. The tap rooted plant does not hold soil as well as native willows and grasses and can increase sedimentation into rivers.
There are probably other impacts as a result of this species that are currently unknown. Since plants are at the bottom of the food chain, seemingly minor changes could have large consequences. Because of the known characteristics of this species many ecologists feel that white sweetclover may be one of the biggest threats to natural ecosystems in Alaska, especially native riparian communities.
The impacts of this species on native ecosystems are currently being studied. Unfortunately, often by the time critical impacts are recognized, infestations are too large to control, which is why it is important to address invasive species before they become major issues.
Betty Charnon is an ecologist for the Chugach National Forest.
