WaterWays recently held an invasive removal behind The Gear Closet, our used gear store, where every sale goes toward clean water initiatives. This isn’t the first cleanup at our store, funded by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), multiple invasive removals have already taken place over the years. Below are photos that show the incredible progress that has been made. At first, one could not even see the stairs that led to Mountain Creek, which flows behind and underneath the store.
Led by Dom Mackenzie, our unofficial invasive removal expert certified in pesticide and herbicide usage, WaterWays staff and volunteers grabbed their shears to tackle the invasives. Using a method referred to as the Cut Stump technique, the process involves locating a rootball, cutting all the spanning roots from it, and then applying a runoff-safe herbicide. This method is most effective for woody species such as Kudzu and Chinese Privet because it allows the herbicide to be applied directly to the targeted area, reducing the need for widespread treatment. This approach also minimizes ground disturbance and is more time-efficient.
The goal is to eventually eliminate the invasive weeds by cutting off their root systems and preventing regrowth as the vines decay. The fewer invasive species there are, the more we will be able to introduce native riparian species to help stabilize the creek banks, prevent erosion, and restore the natural ecosystem.WaterWays plans to transform the area behind the Gear Closet into a “live stake nursery” for future workshops. Livestaking is a natural, bioengineered method to restore eroded stream banks by using live plant cuttings, coir matting, and logs to establish vegetation with deep root systems for erosion control and native habitat.
We would like to thank everyone who came out to our invasive removal efforts. Your contributions matter and make a difference. If you are interested in participating in an invasive removal, our next dates email rosy@mywaterways.org to sign up!
