Invasive Weed and Vegetation Control
According to the latest data from the US Fish and Wildlife, invasive species will cost the United States nearly $120 billion in damage to ecosystems each year. The negative consequences of invasive species are far-reaching. Compounding the problem, these harmful invaders spread at astonishing rates. Infestations of invasive plants can negatively affect property values, agricultural productivity, public utility operations, native fisheries, tourism, outdoor recreation, and the overall health of an ecosystem.
Experience & Capabilities
Since the inception of our Invasive/Exotic plant control division in 2003, Opterra Solutions has treated over two million acres of infested state, private, and federal land.
Whether you are a developer responsible for maintaining a mitigation bank, a land manager of private, state, or federal lands, we have the knowledge, experience, equipment, and personnel to tackle small and large projects. Islands, wetlands, hardwood hammocks, and pine plantations are just some of the ecosystems we have successfully serviced. Our capabilities include tractor-applied broadcast applications, hand crews utilizing targeted cut-stump, hack-and-squirt, and low volume foliar applications.
Where mechanical removal is desired, our fleet of excavators with mulching heads, Gyro-Tracs, and skid-steers with mulching heads can reduce large infestations to mulch in a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing manner.
Control Methods
Depending on the terrain and specific species being targeted, the following applications are commonly used to battle invasive invaders:
Hand Crews: Our hand crews consist of an experienced, licensed supervisor and a crew of 5 to 8 applicators. These crews will typically carry a squirt bottle or backpack sprayer, machete, and at times, a chainsaw. The hand crew approach is most effective where equipment can’t access an area and infestations are lower than 50% of the treatment area. With the recent introduction of herbicides that have extremely low use-rates, our crews can control large invasive trees with two small hacks into the bark, then squirting 2 ml of product into the pocket formed by the cut. This allows Opterra to provide excellent control while putting very little chemical into the environment.
In more open areas, where monocultures of species like kudzu or cogon grass exists, broadcast applications by tractor, UTV, or ATV are typically the most cost-effective. Multiple boom sections, GPS guidance, and precision rate-control allow for accurate, targeted applications.
In situations where biomass of woody invasive species such as Australian Pine and Brazilian Pepper needs to be reduced, Opterra offers mechanical mulching services. This work is performed by either a Gyro-Trac, excavator with mulching head, or skid steer based mulching head.
Common Invasive Species
Hundreds of Invasive species are found throughout the Southeast. Our temperate, climate, and lack of competition against insects and diseases have allowed these plants to spread unchecked. Below is a link excellent resource that provides information about the identification and geographic distribution of these plants.
Resource:
https://www.invasive.org/south/seweeds.cfm