Stakeholders hear students' report

Columbia Estuary Environmental Education Program (CEEEP) students presented their summer project on destroying the Japanese Knotweed that has taken over much of the Birnie Creek area.

The presentation came last Thursday at the first meeting after summer break of the Wahkiakum Stakeholders.

For 16 days at three hours per day, the students used guns to inject Glyphosate, a chemical used to destroy the weed and which has no risk to humans and is one of the most common herbicides, the students said.

Other projects the students were involved in were working on assessments of fish habitat and water quality.

“Almost a million dollars has been put into Birnie Creek in past years by the Department of Fish and Wildlife in partnership with John Doumit, a former FFA teacher at the high school,” said Karen Bertroch, Director of the Wahkiakum Community Foundation.

Students on the project earn high school and college credit through Pacific University, in Forest Grove, Ore.

For personal use, the guns the students used to destroy the Japanese Knotweed are available for a $100 deposit and $25 per day, which includes an extra needle; however, the herbicide is not supplied. Round-Up will work and is available at most home and garden supply stores. For more information, contact Wahkiakum Noxious Weed Control .

Summer projects are accomplished every year through grants. This project was a grant through the Community Salmon Fund. Donations for future CEEEP projects may be made by contacting Bertroch.