Volunteers remove tough invading vegetation from Riverwalk

Visitors to Jasper’s Riverwalk Saturday morning may have been surprised to see volunteers wrestling with some tough vegetation.

Nearby signs offered a clue exclaiming “Stop Plant Invaders!”

The Invasive Species Awareness Coalition of Dubois County (ISAC), a volunteer group dedicated to removing invasive plants, held a workday at Jasper’s Riverwalk and the surrounding woodland to remove invasive species choking out native plants and trees.

According to their battle report, they succeeded in removing numerous invasive plants, including several hundred pounds of Asian bush honeysuckle, winter creeper, privet, multiflora rose and garlic mustard.

The plants that were removed are known for taking over natural areas, leaving little room for our native plants to thrive.

The Jasper Park Department plans to chip and shred the removed woody debris to use for mulch.

To replace the invasive plants, ISAC volunteers planted native shrubs donated by Buschkoetter’s and Green Thumb nurseries.

Other planned ISAC activities are to have a booth and hold “Discover the Riverwalk” strolls at Old Jasper Day on May 22, and to hold a volunteer workday at another public property in Dubois County this fall.

Anyone interested in receiving information or email updates of the group’s meetings and activities can contact Ron Rathfon at 812-678-5049 or ronr@purdue.edu.