Buzzy Towne Park Knotweed Management
The Town of Wilmington planned a multi-year effort that is underway to control Japanese knotweed at Buzzy Park, an invasive species that can displace native vegetation, degrade riparian habitat, contribute to streambank erosion, and potentially increase risks to nearby infrastructure. The Town has engaged Ecological Land Management, LLC (ELM), an ecological restoration firm with experience in knotweed management and wetland and riparian projects, to develop and implement a management program.
The current plan uses targeted herbicide treatments as the primary management method, based on the contractor’s assessment that this approach provides the most effective balance of environmental protection, cost, labor, and long-term control at this site. The plan calls for treatments over multiple growing seasons, with the response of the knotweed evaluated each year and future treatments adjusted as appropriate. The Town recognizes that the use of herbicides raises legitimate questions and has provided the contractor’s detailed explanation of the treatment approach, products, alternatives considered, and multi-year work plan on the Town website. Residents are encouraged to review the full letter and plan Knotweed Management