Japanese knotweed spreads rapidly, shades out native vegetation, and can impact wildlife habitat.

Peggy Shannon from the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards, and Jim Wilson from the Northampton County Park & Recreation Department, discussed the issue with Walnutport Borough Council on Thursday.

“I’ve lived here for 15 years, love living on the (Walnutport) Canal; it’s just such a gem,” Shannon said. “So, I’m sure that’s something you want to do; keep your gem in good shape.”

Shannon said Japanese knotweed is invasive because it spreads fast by underground roots, reduces biodiversity, degrades water quality, and causes damage to infrastructure like roads and bridges.

She said the Watershed would cut back the Japanese knotweed, and that it would be a win-win proposition because they would not only provide the manpower, but also cover the cost.

“It’s in our budget,” Shannon said. “We will do the work.”

Wilson said Japanese knotweed is very prevalent along waterways.

“It’s actually pretty easy to control,” Wilson said. “Treating it, remediating it, is pretty easy.”

Wilson said the chemical they would spray is glyphosate, which isn’t likely to kill it in the first year, but within about two or three years.

“We’d cut it the end of June,” he said. “(About) four weeks later, you would spray.”

However, borough roadmaster Michael Wentz said he wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.

“We were advised to (not spray) around water,” Wentz said. “We’ve never sprayed around the water, nor would I want it.”

Wentz said that while it isn’t his decision to make, “I just don’t see it.”

“I just don’t think spraying around it is safe,” he said. “This is around the canal; this is a whole different ballgame.”

Wilson assured there is no danger to the process they have proposed.

“We haven’t seen any adverse effects,” Wilson said. “You got to kind of base this stuff on the science and the research.”

Wentz said the borough crew cuts it twice a year, sometimes more, and that knotweed has been present in the 33 years he’s worked for the borough.

“The problem I have is spraying around the canal; that’s my only problem,” Wentz said. “It’s along the whole canal.”

Shannon asked if the borough wants the canal to be taken over by knotweed.

“We want to repopulate it with native plants,” Shannon said. “Something that would beautify the canal.”

Ultimately, council chose to table any action on the proposal until next month’s meeting at 7 p.m. April 14.