Walnutport has decided to take up an offer to cut back the Japanese knotweed.

After a brief executive session, council last week rescinded a motion from 2021 that stated they could cut as long as there were no pesticides.

Council agreed to allow the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley & Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards to treat the areas of knotweed that are accessible by employees and cut and not accessible to employees.

Council’s decision came after Rebecca Hayden, president of the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, told members that knotweed can be extremely detrimental.

“Our best projects are those that have municipal partners,” Hayden said. “Unfortunately, the best way to deal with knotweed is with chemicals.”

Hayden told council there would be no point in taking on the project if the borough’s wouldn’t support it.

Mayor Wayne Weidner asked Hayden if it would do anything to the water system.

“There is no impact,” Hayden said. “No, it is not detrimental if it’s applied according to the labeled directions.”

Last month, council took no action on a proposal from the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards to cut back the Japanese knotweed after it heard from Peggy Shannon from the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards, and Jim Wilson from the Northampton County Park & Recreation Department.

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.

Shannon said 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.

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

The chemical used is glyphosate, which isn’t likely to kill it in the first year, but within about two or three years.

Borough roadmaster Michael Wentz previously said they were advised to not spray around water.

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.