At the recent Dallas County Supervisors meeting, County Weed Commissioner Jim Uthe gave his annual report.

He said not a whole lot has changed from last year to this year, and indicated the County is fairly well-off when it comes to the majority of the plants on the noxious weed list. However, he does have concerns regarding Japanese Knotweed, which is not yet on the list. Knotweed was originally brought to the United States as an ornamental plant, but has started to get out of control, having been put on the noxious weed list for many other states and countries.

Uthe said the weed has specifically started to spread near the County Road P58 bridge over the Raccoon River. Knotweed is known as one of the few plants that can grow in hardened lava, so he’s concerned it could grow into abutments and adversely affect the bridge’s stability. To compound the issue, Knotweed is an invasive species that will spread if it’s mowed, and Uthe is only aware of one chemical that can kill it. However, that chemical has also been known to kill trees, so it’s only considered a last resort.

He emphasized that Japanese Knotweed isn’t yet a big problem in the County, but said it’s definitely something his department will monitor in the coming year.