The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) is a consortium of individuals, members of environmental organizations, and affiliates of municipal and state agencies whose mission is to promote awareness of invasive plants and their non-invasive exotic and native alternatives. Formed in 1997 as an ad-hoc group, CIPWG is now in its 24th year of operation. The working group meets 1 to 2 times per year to collaborate and share information on the presence, distribution, ecological impacts, and management of invasive plants affecting Connecticut and the region and to promote uses of native or non-invasive alternatives. CIPWG members are affiliated with federal and state agencies, municipalities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, the green industry, and the general community. Emmett Varricchio, Rose Hiskes (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station), and Vickie Wallace (UConn Extension) serve as CIPWG Co-Chairs.
Ms. Wallace also serves as CIPWG’s liaison to UConn, which hosts CIPWG’s website (cipwg.uconn.edu). Kristen Ponak serves as the CIPWG webmaster. The website provides information on invasive plant topics that include identification, management, various lists of invasive plants, photos of invasive plants, invasive alternatives, resources, legislative updates, and Connecticut Invasive Plants Council activities. In addition to the Connecticut List of Invasive and Potentially Invasive Plants determined by the Connecticut Invasive Plants Council in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes §22a-381a through §22a-381d, the website includes an Early Detection list and a Research List of plants for which more research is needed. During the 2021 calendar year, there were 72,036 page views on the CIPWG website, and 30,390 users participated in 37,004 sessions.
The CIPWG website provides links to the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS; eddmaps.org) to submit reports of invasive plants. Additional features include a photo notebook with a gallery of Connecticut invasive plants and links to invasive plant fact sheets and management information. Links to additional factsheets written by the UConn Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program are also on the site.
CIPWG’s news and events listserv has approximately 1150 members from Connecticut and other states in the region. Requests to subscribe to the listserv may be submitted online from the CIPWG website.
The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group maintains the following subcommittees:
- Education and Outreach (educational outreach about invasive species and their alternatives)
- Management (develop and disseminate information on invasive plant control options)
- Native Alternatives (explore and promote use of native plant species as alternatives to invasives)
CIPWG provides a List of Speakers who are available to give presentations on many invasive plant-related topics, including identification, control, and non-invasive alternatives. Although the number of in-person activities was reduced due to the pandemic, CIPWG members and volunteers coordinated and presented numerous lectures, workshops, demonstrations, guided field walks, and invasive plant management events during 2021. CIPWG also maintains two exhibits that feature invasive terrestrial plants and aquatic species that typically have been displayed at public events.
Planning for the 2022 invasive plant biennial symposium is underway.
Summary of 2021 Educational Outreach and Management Activities
CIPWG exhibits were displayed, invasive plant talks were presented, invasive plant educational materials were provided, and/or invasive plant management activities occurred at the following (see table below) local, statewide, and regional events during 2021. All towns are in CT unless otherwise noted; activities occurred in over 50 CT towns. At least 3,277 citizens directly and actively participated in the activities reported below. Many more (at least 122,120) were reached indirectly through articles, YouTube videos, social media, fact sheets, signs, and other educational mediums. A minimum of 16,879 hours were directly invested in invasive plant management, during intensive invasive plant training sessions and management activities, as well as educational outreach. A minimum of 5,150 hours were provided indirectly as citizens engaged in educational efforts and learned from videos, articles, and fact sheets.
| Location | Program Title/Outreach Activity | Educator/ Leader/ Reporter | # Parti-cipants/ Attendees | # Hours Contri-buted |
| Berlin | Scouting/ invasive removal sessions for the Berlin Land Trust, with a combination of paid and volunteer labor. Focal species: garlic mustard, mugwort, multiflora rose, black swallowwort and Cardamine impatiens. (06/25/21 and 07/05/21) | Sigrun Nicodemus | 10 | 30 |
| Bethany | Research list and invasives walk. Covered the identification of Jetbead, Japanese Aralia, Amur corktree and Akebia quinata. We also looked at Devils walkingstick for a comparison to the Japanese Aralia, and the more common invasives such as barberry, multiflora rose, burning bush and Japanese stilt grass. (10/02/21) | Joshua Tracy | 7 | 25 |
| Branford | Branford Land Trust property management:
Numerous invasive plant eradication sessions. Mgmt of: autumn-olive, multiflora rose, garlic mustard, bittersweet, black swallow-wort, wisteria, mugwort, wineberry, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, Japanese stilt grass, winged Euonymus, privet, phragmites, water chestnut, Ailanthus, black locust. Several mornings each month in 2021. |
Matt Reed | 10 | 350 |
| Canton | Peace Pole Pollinator Pathway invasive removal. Remove Japanese Knotweed & paint stems with glyphosate at Peace Pole Pollinator Pathway Garden under supervision of an advanced master gardener. All volunteers were master gardeners. Work was done on town land near a pond, with necessary town approvals. (8/24-8/26/21) | Theresa Sullivan-Barger | 5 | 19 |
| Cheshire | Invasive plant management – via mowing, cutting. Mugwort and others. (all season) | Karen Schnitzer | 3 | 20 |
| Cheshire | Led & organized two-hour work party during Earth Week at Roaring Brook Town Open Space. Initiated through church’s ecojustice committee. Secured official written permission from the Town Council, field training workshop for 4 leaders, educational outreach to participants via e-mail, and follow-up newspaper publicity. Focus on Garlic mustard, Japanese barberry, & encouraging volunteers to keep pulling scattered invasives as they noticed them on hikes or in their neighborhood. (04/24/21 + follow up) | Sigrun Nicodemus | 30 | 100 |
| Collinsville | Collinsville Pollen Trail – National Honor Soc. students, advisor, Master Gardeners & interns. ID and removed invasive plants mechanically (05/01/21) | Karen Berger | 14 | 49 |
| Collinsville | Master Gardener table at garden club plant sale, Master Gardeners & interns. Invasive Plant Education. (05/22/21) | Karen Berger | 4 | 16 |
| Collinsville | Collinsville Pollen Trail – CT Trails Day – Master Gardeners & interns. MG table with invasive and native plant samples, photos & pamphlets, invasive plant scavenger hunt on trail, native seed give away, Earth Tones plug display, numerous trail users stopped by with questions (03/05/21) | Karen Berger | 8 | 34 |
| Collinsville | Collinsville Pollen Trail – Walk & Talk with Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw and public. Discussed CPT project, suggested requiring knotweed disclosure before sale of property, effect of Tick Ranger and Mosquito Joe chemicals on non-target species, reducing lawn etc. (10/16/21) | Karen Berger | 15 | 15 |
| Collinsville | Collinsville Pollen Trail – Master Gardeners, interns & volunteers have worked at CPT 92 days; hours removing knotweed, mugwort, bittersweet, barberry, garlic mustard, honeysuckle, burning bush and more. “All volunteers are encouraged to engage trail users with information about the CPT, the pollinator gardens and the invasive plants being removed. We post lawn signs inviting questions as we work.” (May 1-Oct. 31) | Karen Berger | 55 | 1,200 |
| East Haddam | Haagensen Preserve – Cut invasive bushes and vines at overlook. Control of privet, burning bush, Autumn olive and bittersweet (all season) | Andy Rzeznikiewicz | 5 | 30 |
| Essex Preserve | Barberry, Multiflora rose, and bittersweet removal (all season) | Myron Stacks | 2 | 30 |
| Essex | Windswept Ridge, Cross Lots – Barberry, mugwort, and garlic mustard removal (all season) | Jeff Croyle | 60 | 137 |
| Fairfield (via Zoom) | Sustainable Lawn Presentations; education about invasive plants. Focused on the problem in general, but specific mention of Indian mock strawberry, creeping Charlie/ ground ivy, garlic mustard, Japanese stilt grass and Japanese knotweed. (5/1/21) | Dan Delventhal | 200 | 600 |
| Farmington | Consultation – on site with major invasive management challenges (black locust, mugwort and Jap. Knotweed). Fieldwork/travel to site and reporting/project coordination/specimen preparation, including invasive education in consulting report. | Sigrun Nicodemus | 1 | 5 |
| Granby | Monthly “NOT WANTED” columns in the Granby Drummer, monthly newspaper. February: “The Caterpillar Connection” — Dr. Tallamy presentation and homegrown national park https://granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com/the-caterpiller-connection—february-2021.html
March: “Winged Euonymus” — Invasive-of-the-Month https://granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com/winged-euonymusburning-bush—march-2021.html May: “What’s Invasive” — definition, process for getting on the invasive list, roles of CIPWG and IPC etc. report on second invasive action day https://granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com/invasive-action-2–whats-invasive-april-2021.html June: Report on Invasive Action Day, pulling garlic mustard, solarizing mugwort and snotweed; invasive actions for June https://granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com/invasive-action-at-home-and-in-town—june-2021.html July/Aug: “Garden Variety Invasives” — 6 pain in the neck invasive weeds such as common wine raspberry, creeping charlie, goutweed etc https://granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com/garden-variety-invasives—july-august-2021.html November: Recap of first 10 “NOT WANTED” columns, which were mostly in the “invasive-of-the-month” format, focusing on the worst: MF rose, bittersweet, barberry etc. https://issuu.com/granbydrummer/docs/nov21 |
David Desiderato | 50 | 100 |
| Granby | Granby Invasive Plants website, www.granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com. Houses monthly columns published in the Granby Drummer, often with added photos and resources; provides information on upcoming Invasive Action Days and reports on past actions; and allows members of the public to contact the Invasive Action campaign through a contact form. Regular updates to website and responding to inquiries posted on the welcome page. CIPWG listed as key resource. | David Desiderato | 100 | 250 |
| Granby | Presentation at July “Granby Men’s Breakfast”. Zoom powerpoint. NOT WANTED Presentation Outline: 1. NOT WANTED — Granby Conservation Commission campaign 2. What’s an invasive plant? 3. Some of Granby’s most problematic invasive plants 4. Control Strategies 5. Native Alternatives 6. Questions, discussion. Presentation was taped; link distributed via the group’s town-wide email list and is available on request. (07/09/21) | David Desiderato | 75 | 150 |
| Granby | Monthly Invasive Action Days March-December. March: cleared Bittersweet, MF Rose, Ailanthus, Barberry etc. from a visible area at Holcomb Farm, freeing native cherry, maple and hickory trees. April: same, plus began clearing Bittersweet vines off mature Shagbark Hickory row along Day St. South. May: pulled garlic mustard before it went to seed in same areas. June: cleared mugwort and Knotweed and solarized with clear plastic on the banks of the Salmon Brook at Holcomb Farm entrance to trails. July: continued to clear Shagbark Hickory row. August: seeded 5000+ tough native alternatives — milkweed, Joe pye, goldenrod. Sept: transplanted seedlings to 4″ pots, watered and kept alive through storms. Oct: planted several thousand seedlings, watered and mulched, in areas we have cleared of invasives. Nov: cleared around a majestic and visible Sycamore at Holcomb Farm. Dec: continue in this area to free a row of mature Sycamores toward Simsbury Rd. | David Desiderato | 50 | 300 |
| Greenwich | Barberry Removal – Weekly sessions (weather-permitting) of removing barberry from 5-acre section of 200-acre woodland park. Various volunteers, including Eagle Scouts, participated in the removal of this species from this section of the forest. Native Aronia have been planted along stream through this section to replace barberry. (all season) | Myra Klockenbrink | 20 | 3,638 |
| Greenwich | Pomerance-Pinetum-Tuchman Park Clean Up. Targeted the Winged Euonymus grove that has overtaken the understory of a section of the 200-acre woodland park. Participants joined Town Parks & Recreation staff in the cutting of established shrubs. Gave out handouts from CIPWG website. (11/13/21) | Myra Klockenbrink | 50 | 175 |
| Greenwich | Invasives Workshop – hosted Dept. of Parks & Recreation staff and summer Youth Conservation Corp. Hands-on identification, provided handouts and conducted self-guided tour of 200-acre woodland park to identify and gather clipping from each invasive species to bring back to group. The group then talked about their experience finding the plants, their observation about the density of the plants and we took questions. Willow oaks were brought in as an example of a native tree whose habitat was threatened by these invasive species. Six willow oaks were planted. Handed out worksheets on five invasives – Barberry, Winged Euonymus, Asiatic Bittersweet, Norway Maple and Japanese Knotweed. (7/21/21) | Myra Klockenbrink | 35 | 150 |
| Greenwich | Greenwich Pollinator Pathway ongoing project. Partnered with Greenwich Parks & Rec to clear upwards of 50,000 sq. ft. of knotweed, Artemisia, porcelainberry and wisteria to plant a native pollinator garden. The project began in 2020 and will continue in 2022. Materials from CIPWG were are referenced as we educate volunteers. | Myra Klockenbrink | 12 | 165 |
| Guilford | Invasives walk/Field expedition at Sugarloaf recreation area. Covered the identification and management of Japanese barberry, Japanese stilt grass, winged euonymus, multiflora rose and other invasives found during the 3 hours walk. (05/22/21) | Joshua Tracy | 12 | 40 |
| Hamden | CIPWG table at the Plant Science Day at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Handed out pamphlets/educational materials; spoke with attendees. (08/04/21) | Rose Hiskes | 50 | 75 |
| Hamden | West Rock Park Trail Maintenance. Part of an organized trail clearing and maintenance program by WRPA — trail maintenance leader organized activities Participants ID’d invasives — cut back invasives to the roots and clear trails of invasives. We work to ID ephemerals/natives impacted by invasives. Photographing and documenting the work –identifying impact of invasives by trail — and impact to local ecosystem to create a presentation/educational materials (5/2; 6/1; 6/10; 7/9; 9/10, 2021) | Eli Cleary | 13 | 73 |
| Hampton | Invasive Plant Talk, Walk and Cut at Maurice and Rita Edwards Preserve organized by CIPWG. Viewed barberry, multiflora rose and others for the ‘before management’ picture. Walked in the forest where NRCS programs have managed invasive plants. Non-herbicidal management of Japanese knotweed was discussed. (06/26/21) | Rose Hiskes/ Al Freeman | 20 | 60 |
| Hampton | Trail Wood – control of mugwort, porcelainberry, glossy buckthorn, bittersweet, burning bush, m. rose and barberry (all season) | Andy Rzeznikiewicz | 1 | 5 |
| Hampton | Walking tour of adjacent private woodlot under invasive management and cutting and bagging Japanese Knotweed on town owned Edward’s Preserve (06/26/21) | Alan Freeman | 8 | 20 |
| Hartford | Invasives Clean Up at Environmental Sciences Magnet School. Discussed knotweed and mugwort; gave out invasive plant list from CIPWG website. (7/22/21) | Molly Deegan | 25 | 100 |
| Ledyard | Assess locations and severity of infestation of wisteria, barberry, and others along trails to prepare for planned invasives removal with Avalonia Land Trust. | Jessica Cobb | 2 | 20 |
| Ledyard | Invasive Plant Management on private property – bittersweet, multiflora rose, Japanese honeysuckle and others. (all season) | Alyssa Siegel-Miles | 2 | 100 |
| Lyme | Water Chestnut (Trapa) invasive plant mgmt. Friends of Whalebone Cove organized scouting and pulling events to remove Trapa from Selden Cove/Creek and Whalebone Cove. Three separate events at Selden Cove, and 5 at Whalebone Cove over the summer months (July – Sept). At each pull, educated the volunteers about the plant, how it grows, and how to effectively control its spread. Developed and provided flyers to identify the plants in the water. (07-09/21) | Diana Fiske | 48 | 110 |
| Lyme | Lyme Land Trust Preserves. Launch of Town of Lyme/Lyme Land Trust cutting parties with Sue Cope & LLT (5/15/21) | Suzanne Thompson | 5 | 15 |
| Lyme | Whalebone Creek – 4 Nix the Knotweed events. Started each “cut and bag” with a primer on invasive Japanese Knotweed, where it came from, how it propagates, and how to best control its spread. Followed the Nix the Knotweed formula of 3 cuts over the growing season. Bagged all plant material; solarized in black contractor bags on sunny driveway over the summer. Disposed of the bags through garbage contractor (with their ok). (Summer 2021) | Diana Fiske | 17 | 35 |
| Lyme | Whalebone Cove/Silvio O Conte Preserve. Friends of Whalebone Cove – train the trainers cutting with Diana Fiske & Humphrey Tyler (05/05/21) | Suzanne Thompson | 3 | 9 |
| Lyme/Online | Nix the Knotweed 2021 brochure, Lyme Land Trust website www.lymelandtrust.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/NixtheKnotweedflyer-5-15-21.pdf | Sue Cope | 120 | 20 |
| Lyme | Vets Memorial Field & Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve. Launch site & crews, hillside next to Vets Memorial Field & town nature preserve with East Lyme Pollinator Pathway leaders. (4 events – 5/28/21; 6/10/21; 7/27/21; 8/18/21) | Suzanne Thompson/ Michelle Royce Williams | 14 | 28 |
| Mansfield | Invasive Plant Talk and Walk organized by CIPWG. Mechanical control of Japanese Barberry, Bittersweet, and Autumn-olive in a 40 acre tract (08/21/21) | Charlotte Pyle and Ken Feathers | 5 | 10 |
| Mansfield | Eagleville Lake Guided Paddle along the Willimantic River to Eagleville Lake. Environmental Scientist and Certified Lake Manager of Northeast Aquatic Research taught attendees how to identify aquatic invasive plants and how to prevent their spread. (09/12/21) | Hillary Kenyon Garovoy | 10 | 30 |
| Meriden | Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) Invasive Plant Mgmt/Removal Events (6/23/21, 6/30/21, 7/7/21, 8/9/21) | Haley Jordan | 7 | 16 |
| Middlefield | Invasive Plant Walk and Talk – Training/ Workshop, Invasive Plant Management Activity & Field Expedition. Provided handouts: invasive plant list, About CIPWG, 5 fact sheets. (April 2021) | Rose Hiskes & Charlotte Pyle | 11 | 27 |
| Middletown | CT River Conservancy Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) Invasive Plant Mgmt/Removal Events. Partnered with The Jonah Center, which organized and recruited for 4 of the work parties. (all season) | John C. Hall/ Kelsey Wentling | 50 | 200 |
| Mystic | Gardening Revelations for 2022 and Beyond – PPT presentation on native plants & ecosystems, Nix the Knotweed & other invasive plants, Mystic Garden Club (11/16/21) | Suzanne Thompson | 50 | 60 |
| New London | Service Learning Invasive Species Removal for an Ecology class, removed Japanese stilt grass from the Connecticut College Arboretum (9/2 and 9/3/21) | Taegan McMahon | 29 | 78 |
| New Hartford | New Hartford Land Trust Weekly Volunteer Work Parties. 1) cut and painted Autumn olive 2) pulled/mowed mugwort 3) maintained large silage covers over three hillsides of mugwort (placed in 2019) 4) cut Japanese knotweed on a town property along the Farmington River on which NHLT holds a CE 5) pulled/cut Japanese stilt grass along the Farmington River 6) pulled spotted knapweed 7) organized and helped with the release of 2,000 Lady beetles on a town preserve to address Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (done under the advice and supervision of Carole Cheah, CT Ag Exp Station, who lives in New Hartford). (all season) | Madeline McClave | 8 | 128 |
| New Haven | Virtual Webinar, Save the Sound Healthy Lawns Webinar, Here Comes the Sun – Sustainable lawns & Nix the Knotweed (05/25/21) www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h9eWhDTpG8 | Suzanne Thompson | 100 | 10 |
| New Milford | Invasive Plant Management on own property. (20 hours per week from February-April) | Donna Naser | 1 | 320 |
| New Milford | Save the Lake Day, Friends of the Lake invasive plant removal event. Water Chestnut was the focus species. Participants were shown samples of live plants to assist with identification. Methods to improve the percentage of nut removal were provided too. (06/26/21) | Kendra Kilson | 23 | 92 |
| New Milford | Field walk re invasive plants | Kathleen Nelson | 10 | 15 |
| New Milford | Field walk re ID invasive for Public Works crews | Kathleen Nelson | 16 | 25 |
| New Milford | Mile-a-Minute pulls – Northwest CT Land Conservancy multiple visits | Kathleen Nelson | 9 | 25 |
| New Milford | Prepared invasive ID sheets for DPW crews | Kathleen Nelson | 1 | 40 |
| New Milford | Worked w DPW to plan timed mugwort mowing in 3 acre infestation | Kathleen Nelson | 4 | 10 |
| New Milford | Prepared invasive info for Town website, as part of Sustainable CT, and invasives portion of Sustainable CT submission for town. | Kathleen Nelson | 1 | 170 |
| New Milford | Water chestnut removal on small watercourse | Kathleen Nelson | 2 | 4 |
| Newtown | Wrote newspaper article; created and distributed mugwort factsheet. (Sept/October 2021) | Holly Kocet | 50 | 200 |
| North Haven | Consultation – on site with major invasive management challenges (Lesser celandine & mile-a-minute). Fieldwork/travel to site and reporting/project coordination/specimen preparation, including invasive education in consulting report. | Sigrun Nicodemus | 1 | 5 |
| North Stonington, Griswold, Preston | Tri-Town Forest Preserve Invasive Plant Mgmt. Barberry is now under control as final large area in wetland was eliminated. Japanese stilt grass is also now under control after 2 years of active management. Winged Euonymus on northern property is now under control – a 2 year project. Japanese knotweed, spread up the northern forested slope by JK plants with fertile seeds, has been largely controlled with the last 40 plants to be treated this Fall. Multiflora rose on ridgetops has been cut and painted as have flowering plants in sunny areas. (01/01- 09/30/21) | Sue Sutherland | 6 | 200 |
| Norwich | Preparation of educational materials, invasive plant control and ID fact sheets. (throughout year) | Victoria Wallace, Alyssa Siegel-Miles | 4 | 200 |
| Norwich | Provided information to professionals and homeowners on identification and control of invasives. (throughout year) | Victoria Wallace, Alyssa Siegel-Miles | 2 | 50 |
| Old Lyme | Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center. Removed Japanese Knotweed along the riverbank property that belongs to the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (August 2021) | Joan Lazar | 6 | 174 |
| Old Lyme | Virtual Webinar, Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library. Nix the Knotweed, Zoom talk hosted by Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library (April 21, 2021) | Suzanne Thompson | 60 | 40 |
| Old Lyme | Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center – Launch Nix the Knotweed site & crews on grounds of CT Audubon Society’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, cutting parties/crews included Master Gardener Interns. (8 events – 17-Jul; 19-May; 6/28/2021; 7/12/2021; 7/19/2021; 7/26/2021; 8/2/2021; 8/16/2021) | Suzanne Thompson | 38 | 59 |
| Old Lyme | Lyme Art Association grounds. Year 2 of cutting campaign on demonstration site, non-profit organization’s property. Cutting parties/crews included Duck River Garden Club & Master Gardener Interns. (11 events – 5/26/21; 6/1/21; 6/8/21; 6/15/21; 6/22/21; 6/29/21; 7/13/2021; 7/20/21; 8/10/21; 8/17/21; 8/24/2021) | Suzanne Thompson | 49 | 100 |
| Old Lyme | Town Hall – back parking lot. Year 2 of cutting campaign on demonstration site, the marsh bank behind Town Hall. Cutting parties/crews included Master Gardener Interns. (3 events – 5/27/21; 7/7/21; 8/3/21) | Suzanne Thompson | 12 | 24 |
| Old Lyme/Online | Nix the Knotweed 2021 brochure, Town of Old Lyme website | Suzanne Thompson | 120 | 20 |
| Old Saybrook | Barberry Management at The Preserve State Forest (07/17/21) | Kathy Connolly | 18 | 36 |
| Old Saybrook | Barberry Management at The Preserve State Forest (12/19/21) | Kathy Connolly | 11 | 22 |
| Pomfret | Center at Pomfret, Audubon – Uprooting invasive bushes and trees with tractor bucket; Cutting bittersweet vines from trees; mowing invasive plants. Control of mugwort, tansy, spotted knapweed, bittersweet, m. rose, buckthorn, porcelainberry, privet, burning bush, Autumn olive and barberry. (throughout year) | Andy Rzeznikiewicz | 1 | 60 |
| Redding | Invasive Plant Control on personal property – Removal of burning bush, oriental bittersweet, multiflora rose and barberry (May – Nov. 2021) | Danielle DiBella | 1 | 25 |
| Redding | Invasives Walk & Talk. Educated about: 1. Proper ID of invasive plants – encouraged use of iNaturalist and/or SEEK 2. Discussed the invasives present along with removal techniques & proper time of year to do so 3. Methods of recruiting folks to participate 4. Removal tools: flame weeders, manual extractors & the proper gear needed to be safe. Provided CIPWG history sheet prepared by co-leader, Dr. Charlotte Pyle, selected links to information on invasive plants at cipwg.uconn.edu & the Connecticut Invasive Plant Management Calendar. (9/11/21) | Lisa Brodlie | 60 | 944 |
| Roxbury | Mile-a-Minute pulls – Roxbury Land Trust property; multiple visits | Kathleen Nelson | 8 | 20 |
| Shelton | Invasive species, Mile-a-Minute Tour lead by Lydia Pan and Charlotte Pyle who organized, led and conducted the program. Provided attendees with Invasive plant calendar and guidelines for disposal of invasive plants. (10/13/21) | Nancy Steiner | 30 | 150 |
| Shelton | Mile-a-Minute invasive vine viewing, management and monitoring on woodsy slope. Mgmt. Consultation and site visit. (11/21) | Nancy Steiner | 2 | 4 |
| Sherman | Connecticut Audubon Society’s Deer Pond Farm Public education – 70 programs. 1-2 hour in-person walks/hikes or online webinars, each with a specific conservation or natural history theme. Invasive plants mentioned in each program, since they are such a conspicuous feature of the site. Major emphasis of management of the sanctuary by CAS. (all year) | Jim Arrigoni | 731 | 2000 |
| Sherman | Connecticut Audubon Society’s Deer Pond Farm – Groups of volunteers assisted with invasive plant removal. Volunteer trail monitors patrolled 7.5 miles of walking trails (plus another 7.5 in NY) on a monthly basis, including invasive pulling (e.g., small patches of Garlic Mustard, Mugwort, etc.). (all season) | Jim Arrigoni | 30 | 150 |
| Sherman | Connecticut Audubon Society’s Deer Pond Farm – contracted with licensed service providers to assist with invasive species removal and herbicide application. Primary species targeted: Japanese stilt grass, Japanese Barberry, Burning Bush, Multiflora Rose, Canada Thistle, Oriental Bittersweet and Black Locust. (all season) | Jim Arrigoni | 10 | 245 |
| Sherman | Connecticut Audubon Society’s Deer Pond Farm – Invasive plant management activities by CAS DPF staff. Targeted Black Swallow-wort, Japanese Hops, Tree-of-Heaven, and others. (all season) | Jim Arrigoni | 4 | 425 |
| Simsbury | ‘Invasives Plants: What, Why & How’ Public Symposium for Granby-Simsbury Rotary Club. Explained what invasives were, showed photos and named the most common invasives in CT according to CIPWG, explained why everyone should remove them from their properties and be diligent about continuously removing them, and how to safely remove them without spreading the problem. Also showed examples of native alternatives to invasive plants and provided info about CIPWG’s website where they could learn more. (3/18/21) | Theresa Sullivan-Barger | 30 | 32 |
| Simsbury | Consultation – on site with major invasive management challenges (Tree Lilac and Asiatic bittersweet). Fieldwork/travel to site and reporting/project coordination/specimen preparation, including invasive education in consulting report. | Sigrun Nicodemus | 1 | 5 |
| Southington | Invasive of the Month Reports (multiple). Presented brief “invasive of the month” report at the Orchard Valley Garden Club of Southington monthly meetings. Plants covered were: barberry, bittersweet, multiflora rose, garlic mustard, autumn olive, knotweed, mugwort, stilt grass and Euonymus. Each report talked about identifying characteristics, why the plant should not be on your property or in our town, timing and methods to eradicate. For first 5 months reports were done virtually with photos and narrative. For last 4 months reports were done in person and plant material brought to reinforce identification. | Kathryn Hanlon | 40 | 50 |
| Southington | Invasive Plants 101 Presentation at Southington Public Library. Included intro with plant samples, then a walk through the area to identify the many invasives on the site. For each one talked about identifying characteristics and best practices for management including timing as on the CIPWG calendar handout, which was provided to attendees. (8/16/21) | Kathryn Hanlon | 16 | 35 |
| South Windsor | Community Farmers Market – Invasive plant booth and discussion with interested individuals; enrollment of residents interested in participating in the South Windsor Invasive Plant Working Group. Distributed CIPWG “Connecticut Invasive Plant Management Calendar” and “Invasive Plants in Your Backyard” booklet published by CT River Coastal Conservation District (8/28/21) | Bill Marshall | 130 | 20 |
| South Windsor | SWIPWG is a partnership between the Town (Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department, and Environmental Planning) and Town residents to manage invasive plants in a 5-acre Town owned wooded Open Space, educate volunteers in identification and control of invasive plants, and construct an Invasive Plant educational trail. Removed/managed invasive plants, cleared a trail corridor (Eagle Scout project) and planted native blueberry and winterberry bushes (Girl Scouts) (April-December, monthly work events) | Bill Marshall | 58 | 160 |
| Stamford | Invasive Plant maintenance by Corporate volunteers, staff and summer interns. Invasive plant training and management along the final 3 miles of the Rippowam river. “We also taught the interns about native species and planted a “native food forest” on 1/4 acre with edible and medicinal plants.” | Vincent Puselli | 15 | 1,000 |
| Stonington | Removal of invasives for Native Meadow Expansion at Coogan Farm, Mystic. Preparation (manual clearing and solarization) and planting of an area approximately 650 sq ft. The invasive plants removed were chiefly mugwort, black swallow-wort, porcelainberry, multiflora rose, and Ailanthus saplings. (7 weekly work sessions between 4/28/21 and 10/13/21) | Lydia Pan | 8 | 84 |
| Stonington | Invasive Plant Management and Guided Tour at Coogan Farm, Mystic. Provided handouts: Top 10 Invasive Plant Species Management Calendar (2018); UCONN Guidelines for the Disposal of Terrestrial Invasive Plants. (2014); produced a handout/booklet “Invasive Plant Facts” that drew heavily on information from the CIPWG website – including information on the identification and control of 10 invasive plant species found at Coogan Farm (mugwort, porcelainberry and black swallow-wort, Chinese tree-of-heaven, autumn olive, multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, Oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed and Phragmites australis. The need for follow-up to prevent re-infestation due to high weed pressure was discussed. Finally, attendees were invited to learn how to dig young swallowwort and mugwort and clear these species from an area near the Giving Garden (community vegetable garden). (09/18/21) | Charlotte Pyle and Lydia Pan | 30 | 100 |
| Torrington | Invasive Plant Presentation about bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, mugwort, multiflora rose covered in detail. Mention of emerald ash borer and spotted lantern fly. Gave out CIPWG’s invasive plant list. | Michelle Winkler | 12 | 36 |
| Torrington | Invasive plants management at Torrington Historical Society Garden. Black swallow-wort, Asiatic dayflower. (08/21) | Darci Alves | 1 | 10 |
| Wallingford | Consultation along Padens Brook – on site with major invasive management challenges (Japanese knotweed and mugwort). Fieldwork/travel to site and reporting/project coordination/specimen preparation, including invasive education in consulting report. | Sigrun Nicodemus | 1 | 5 |
| Waterford | Grimsey Beach – Year 2,campaign of cutting on small Town of Waterford beach on Niantic River (3 events – 7/10/21; 8/9/21; 8/23/21) | Suzanne Thompson | 6 | 12 |
| Weston | Invasives and their removal training and Invasive Plant mgmt. for a high school “Green Team” combined learning & work session. Covered the importance of why invasives need be addressed, proper ID of invasives using iNaturalist and/or SEEK, & identification of invasives on school property followed by 2 hours of manual removal of invasives. Provided CIPWG history & links/website address for attendees to learn more. (10/6/21) | Lisa Brodlie | 18 | 38 |
| Weston | ID & removal of invasives workshop. Covered 1. Proper ID of invasive plants 2. Time of year most effective to remove each different invasive plant 3. Methods to use for removal of invasives present on property. Provided Connecticut Invasive Plant Management Calendar, also gave handout with CIPWG site as a primary reference. (10/2/21) | Lisa Brodlie | 8 | 18 |
| Wilton | Allen’s Meadow Pollinator Pathway. Current effort is focused on eradicating 3/4 acre of Mugwort. (all year) | Joe Bear | 1 | 200 |
| Windsor | Invasive viewing along the CT river; Guided tour and site visit. ID invasives in Windsor Meadows State Park – Most of the “dirty dozen” were there. (6/5/21) | Brad Robinson | 7 | 16 |
| Vernon | The Town of Vernon sponsored an Aquatic Invasive Species public outreach event at Tankerhoosen Pond. Residents learned how to identify and hand-remove invasive water chestnut. The on-land portion included a description of water chestnut and other aquatic invasive species and how to identify. Handouts were provided. The on-water portion of the event included actively searching for and hand-removing any water chestnut plants found, as part of the early detection and rapid response management at the pond. | Kendra Kilson | 5 | 10 |
| Virtual (Zoom) | Public Symposium and presentation/webinar on how to identify the “top 10” terrestrial invasive plant species in CT (Polygonum cuspidatum, Celastrum orbicularis, Berberis thunbergii, Rosa multiflora, Artimesia vulgaris, Alliaria petiolata, Eleagnus umbellata, Phragmites australis; Persicaria perfoliatum, Cynanthum louiseae) plus porcelainberry (Ampelopis brevipedunculata). Included history of introduction, specific harms caused to environment, how to distinguish from their native counterparts, how it spreads, invades (vegetative, flower/seed/berry, etc), and discussed control methods (chiefly non-chemical methods) recommended for homeowners and how to achieve long-term control. The case study of solarizing and smothering for meadow creation at Coogan Farm was presented. (06/03/21) | Lydia Pan | 100 | 160 |
| Virtual (Zoom) | CIPWG Steering Committee meetings. Presented activity and financial reports. Education and Outreach Committee began a new Outdoor Educator program to educate Land Trusts, Conservation Commissions, Garden Clubs and the public about invasive plant identification and management. Reports from Invasive Plant Council. | Rose Hiskes | 20 | 100 |
| Virtual (Email) | Notified members of National Invasive Species Awareness Week and sent educational information. | Rose Hiskes/ Emmett Varricchio | 2 | 2 |
Media: |
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| Rockfall (online blog) | Rockfall Foundation Blog, Nix Your Knotweed – Patience & Persistence Pay Off (08/21) https://rockfallfoundation.org/nix-your-knotweed-patience-persistence-pay-off | Suzanne Thompson | 120 | 100 |
| Middletown (statewide) | WESU 88.1FM Wesleyan University Radio Station/Podcast. Guest on Thomas Christopher’s Growing Greener show (June 2, 21) www.thomaschristophergardens.com/podcasts/an-organic-control-for-japanese-knotweed | Suzanne Thompson | 5000+ | 200 |
| Southeast CT | Article for The Day/Zip06: “A Weed by Any Other Name”. East Haven to Pawcatuck readers. | Kathy Connolly | 500+ | 250 |
| Statewide | Connecticut Gardener magazine: “Invasive in Connecticut” articles. Articles in print & digital versions of magazine distributed to subscribers and libraries. March/April 21 issue: Purple Loosestrife May/June 21 issue: Wineberry July/August 21 issue: Hydrilla Sept/Oct 21 issue: Water chestnut Winter ’21-’22 issue (in production): Russian Olive & Autumn Olive | Will Rowlands | 2500 per issue | 1000 |
| Statewide | Connecticut Gardener magazine: Updated Nix Your Knotweed in print/online gardening magazine, Winter 21-22 Edition | Suzanne Thompson | 1000+ | 100 |
| Statewide | Distributed guide, Invasive Plants in Your Backyard! A Guide to Their Identification and Control, which was developed with input from CIPWG. It includes 22 invasive plants of concern in CT and was expanded for the second time in 2020 and 12,500 copies of this new version were printed for statewide distribution. Distributed 3840 copies of the new 2020 version of the guide, which we had printed in spring 2021. | Jane Brawerman | 3000 | 500 |
| Statewide/ Nationwide | Nix the Knotweed FB page, facebook.com/NixtheKnotweed. Primary social media vehicle for campaign, information posts throughout the year, most frequent posts throughout May-Sept, primary Knotweed cutting season. 1,438 Likes; 1,641 Followers, posts shared to FB Groups have Reached 100K+ | Suzanne Thompson | 100,000 | 1,500 |
| Statewide/ Nationwide | Nix the Knotweed YouTube Channel, based in Old Lyme, has 6 short videos: how to chop/control knotweed, updates at pilot sites, 1 cooking w/knotweed video. More videos to be added in 2022 season. 10K views in 2021 | Suzanne Thompson | 10,000 | 1,500 |
| TOTAL (direct): | 3,277 | 16,879 | ||
| TOTAL (indirect): | 122,120 | 5,150 |
Submitted by Victoria Wallace (UConn Extension), with contributions from Rose Hiskes (CIPWG Co-chair) and many other CIPWG members included above.
December 2021