The Boone County Conservation Board is organizing a volunteer project on the High Trestle Trail, near the High Trestle bridge.
Due to the inclement weather coming on Friday afternoon, we will be starting at 10:00 am and end at 1:00 pm so people can get home before that white stuff starts flying.
There is an invasive plant along the High Trestle Trail called Tartarian Honeysuckle. If left unchecked, this weed out competes native plants and degrades our ecosystems. If you look along the trail, and in almost any natural area, you will see a shrub / tree like plant that has green leaves on it still-- this is most likely Tartarian Honeysuckle. Not only do infestations of Tartarian Honeysuckle present an ecological problem, but an aesthetic issue as well. More information on this nasty weed can be found here: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/invasives/fact/tatarianhoneysuckle.html
The best way to battle these infestations is to cut the stem at the base and spray the stump with herbicide. This is a very labor intensive process as there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Tartarian Honeysuckle plants along the trail. Because of this, we are asking for some volunteer help to remove and spray these plants. I plan on working on this project this coming Friday the 20th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in helping, please email Park Ranger Steve Nugteren at snugteren@boonecounty.iowa.gov so we know how many tools and sprayers to provide. Please keep in mind removing these plants will require bending, squatting, and walking on uneven terrain. We will be starting from the QF Ln. parking lot and work our way west towards the bridge.