Purple Loosestrife Removal Recon

Purple loosestrife outcompetes native plant species. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Purple loosestrife may be pretty, but don’t be fooled—it’s a big problem for our riverway! This non-native plant forms thick, crowded stands that choke out native species, drastically reducing biodiversity along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. As funny as it might sound, this means FLOW is on a mission to eradicate it from our riverway wherever possible. 

FLOW President Timm Zumm and Finn the River Cat look for purple loosestrife up Mill Creek. Photo by Jenny Huffman.

With that in mind, board members Timm Zumm and Jenny Huffman recently did a river reconnaissance trip to survey for purple loosestrife and identify possible sites for work days to remove the invasive weed. They hit pay dirt almost immediately, at the Highway 14 boat landing between the motor boat and canoe launches. Downriver, at Mill Creek, they found more purple loosestrife on both sides of the river and on the islands in between. 

Want to help FLOW keep our riverway clear of purple loosestrife? Keep your eye out for a work day in 2027, when the plants are in bloom and easier to identify!