Whether you stroll along Riverwalk, picnic waterside at Wildwood Park, or simply cross the North River bridge, one thing will be apparently clear: milfoil has taken over the river once again.

Eurasian milfoil is an invasive aquatic plant. Not only is it unsightly, but it also negatively impacts the health of the river and interferes with recreational use. You may remember that we tried to address the overgrown milfoil issue two years ago. We contracted with a company to use specialized boats to cut and remove the majority of the growth. This immediately improved the situation and kept the milfoil from being as noticeable an issue last summer. But the problem remained there lurking and growing under the surface and is again having an impact this summer. While cutting it back again is an option, it is more expensive and temporary than we would like.

Earlier this summer, we began exploring other options. One such method is diver-assisted suction harvesting (DASH) in which a diver pulls the plants from the riverbed and using a suction system to remove the whole plant from the river. It is like the difference between mowing grass and pulling weeds. Our staff have been in conversation with companies in the Midwest that are familiar with the challenges of milfoil removal and have identified one that is willing to travel here. We are hopeful that the DASH method may be a more effective, longer-term way of controlling the milfoil and are planning a trial run on a portion of the river for next summer.

While we will still have to live with the milfoil this summer, rest assured that we are committed to finding a solution that will be cost-effective and ensure that folks can enjoy the river in coming years.