Naval Air Station Patuxent River Kudzu Control
Jacqueline Smith CIV NAVFAC Washington, Environmental [email protected]
NMFWA Invasive Species Working GroupMarch 2014
NAS Patuxent River
The NAS Patuxent River Complex is in St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland.
The Main Base encompasses ~6,690 acres.
The naval air station complex also includes: Webster Field Annex, Naval Recreation Center Solomons, Bloodsworth Island Range, and several theodolite antenna sites.
NAS Patuxent River Invasive Plant Surveys
A comprehensive survey and mapping was begun in 2001-2003 on the Main Base and was completed in 2007-2008 on the Main Base, NRC Solomons, and Webster Field.
Twenty-seven species totaling 527 acres of invasive infestation were mapped.
Sericea lespedeza, phragmites, and kudzu were the most abundant individual species mapped.
Common Name Scientific Name Acres
Mixed Species Autumn oliveJapanese honeysucklePrivetRose, non-nativeWineberry
Elaeagnus umbellata Lonicera japonica Ligustrum spp.Rosa multifloraRubus phoenicolasius
408.65
Sericea lespedeza Lespedeza cuneata 70.00
Phragmites Phragmites australis 31.87
Kudzu Pueraria montana 20.61
Japanese stiltgrass Small carpgrass
Microstegium vimineum Arthraxon hispidus
2.32
Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima 1.22 English ivy Hedera helix 0.53
Japanese knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum 0.33
Bamboo Phyllostachys spp. 0.19 Callery pear Pyrus calleryana 0.02 Miscellaneous Species
Asiatic dayflowerCanadian thistleMile-a-minuteMimosaBush honeysuckle
Commelina communisCirsium arvensePolygonum perfoliatum Albizia julibrissinLonicera spp.
0.45
Total 527.19
BambooBradford PearEnglish IvyJapanese KnotweedJapanese Stiltgrass
KudzuMiscellaneous SpeciesMixed SpeciesPhragmitesSericea LespedezaTree of Heaven
Invasive Species
NAS Patuxent River Kudzu Areas
Airfield Clear Zone Kudzu
Kudzu treatments were conducted in 2000, 2002, and 2004 using a 2% glyphosate solution for foliar treatments and 100% glyphosate for the cut stumps.
Another treatment was conducted in 2007 again using a foliar application of glyphosate.
No treatments were conducted in 2008.
By 2009 kudzu expanded to more than 20 acres.
Early Treatments
07/13/2006
Successful Treatment
A focused approach was adopted, including using two broadleaf-specific herbicides, Garlon and Transline. Treatments consisted of:• Cutting vines from the trees and foliar
spray in the fall of 2009 • An early summer herbicide application
when leaves had fully leafed out in 2010• Follow up late fall spot treatment
targeting any re-growth or missed foliage in 2010
• Annual growing season treatments and mop up conducted from 2011 – 2013.
2009Nearly 100 % cover kudzu No visible native vegetation
2010Less than 25% cover kudzu Native grasses and forbs began to recover
2011Less than 1% cover kudzuNative grasses and forbs on up to 75% of site
Persistence and Knowledge were Key to Success
• Control of invasive species populations can reach 95% within 3 years, but the additional 1-2 years are often needed to ensure complete control.
• Without adequate follow-up treatments, the initial investment and effort are wasted.
• Using selective herbicides that limit damage to non-target species increases native community restoration.
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