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<br />As a member of the NCDA&CS Beneficial Insects Lab Biological Control team, I have coordinated our <br />state’s biological control program that targets invasive, ecologically-destructive Knotweeds in North <br />Carolina. These non-native plants frequently colonize stream and river banks, rights of way, disturbed <br />areas, and parklands. Knotweed control can be expensive and tedious, but if left uncontrolled, <br />knotweed spreads far and wide, wreaking ecological and economic damage. <br />Our team is collaborating in a national effort to initiate biological control of these invasive weeds. Our <br />work involves the careful release of a biological control agent, a small, host-specific plant-hopper, the <br />federally-permitted Knotweed Psyllid. The psyllids are not known to disperse far from their host plants, <br />nor to create any kind of harm or nuisance to other plants, people, or pets. They were exhaustively <br />tested, subjected to environmental assessment and public comment before being approved for release <br />in the United States. <br />Introduction of Knotweed Psyllids is generally unobtrusive in nature. Our work does not entail ground <br />disturbance beyond the careful removal (with permission) of small knotweed rhizomes to provide <br />rearing material for knotweed psyllids at our lab, and possible re-planting of psyllid-infested knotweeds <br />to introduce the biocontrol agent into a field site. Release is done by hand, and followup surveys are <br />simple, rapid, and similarly unobtrusive. All incurred costs and responsibilities have been, and will <br />continue to be covered by NCDA&CS for these activities. We feel that biocontrol should mesh well <br />within a park maintenance plan. <br />We understand that management of invasive plants on county property requires review and approval <br />by you and your staff. Where existing plans are being considered or developed, we would be interested <br />in discussing the addition of a biological component. If this sounds like something feasible, we would <br />like to discuss it with you at your earliest convenience. <br />Thank you for your time, and for your consideration of this important work. <br /> <br />Nancy Cohen Oderkirk, Ph.D., MESH <br />Research Specialist <br />NCDA&CS Beneficial Insects Lab <br />Plant Industry Division <br />Office: 984-477-8033 <br />Docusign Envelope ID: B325FF84-A529-46AD-9CB8-5F40B6BB50F3