On Monday, July 11, ecological restoration technicians will be treating invasive plants in Swan Pond and along Riverside Road. Invasive plants such as Reed Canary Grass and Canadian Thistle are being targeted to control invasive, non-native weeds. It is important to note that this is not a Village-wide application to all areas within the Village. AquaPro and Intensity are being applied only as a spot application within Swan Pond and the Riverside Road ecological restoration areas. AquaPro is an Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) approved, systemic aquatic herbicide, ideal for broad-spectrum non-selective control of invasive plants such as stands of cattails, grasses, or brush in close proximity to waterways. Intensity is a post emergent herbicide that is used to achieve selective control of Reed Canary Grass on upland sites only, primarily on Riverside Road and only the far southern area in Swan Pond. Areas of standing water are not being treated. All applications are performed in accordance with product label instructions, as specified by the EPA. A chemical surfactant (also known as a surface active agent) is also added to all spot applications to ensure the chemicals do not travel off site or move into waterways. Blue dye is being used to show where spot applications were made.
These chemicals dry within 10 minutes and will not travel off site as it is inside the plant and being translocated to the roots of the target to kill the invasive plant. The Village of Riverside understands and respects public concern about the use of herbicide applications. We do not take the use of these chemicals lightly; however, they are necessary in controlling invasive, non-native species in favor of our native vegetation. When applied judiciously, these chemicals can help to support ecological restoration initiatives in a responsible and safe manner.
The Village is aware of the public concern regarding the use of herbicides and in the future will provide as much notice as possible when coordinating with the Village’s contractor. For those wanting access to notifications on these items and other Village matters, please sign up for Village E-Flashes at https://www.riverside.il.us/list.aspx?Mode=Subscribe#newsFlash