Local volunteers have stepped up their efforts to save the Sand Island Plant Preserve, a colorful collection of vegetation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Morning Call reports residents are working together to remove an invasive colony of Japanese knotweed that has taken over a 300-foot section of the preserve. People have considered various erosion control products to improve the site.
“We’ve followed the logical and correct procedures for reclaiming this site, but nature has thrown us a lot of curveballs in the past 18 months that have been difficult to overcome,” Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor spokesperson Dennis Scholl told the news source. “It’s been a real battle, but we’re confident this time around.”
Managing soil erosion can be time-consuming for people, especially with Japanese knotweed, a fast-growing perennial that facilitates erosion and flooding. However, using a straw wattle gives people the opportunity to eliminate the risk of soil erosion from any region.
Wattles reduce soil erosion by retaining sediments on slopes to keep soil surrounding drain inlets in place. The product’s high-density polyethylene and ethyl vinyl acetate design uses UV inhibitors to prevent sediment blockage. High-quality netting limits the spread of soil erosion and eliminates future soil issues, as well.
