Walnutport has not taken action on a proposal from the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards to cut back the Japanese knotweed.

Peggy Shannon from the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards, and Jim Wilson from the Northampton County Park & Recreation Department, discussed the issue with borough council.

Last month, council chose to table the proposal. Shannon asked the borough to keep the knotweed under control at the Walnutport Canal.

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

She 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.

Shannon 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.

Wilson said that while Japanese knotweed is prevalent along waterways, treating and remediating it is fairly simple.

He 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.

Wilson said they’d cut it the end of June, and that about a month later is when to spray.

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

Wentz said at that time they were advised to not spray around water, they never have, nor would he want it.

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

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.

He said his problem is spraying around the canal, adding it’s along the whole canal.

Shannon said at that time they want to repopulate the canal with native plants to beautify it.