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Vegetation control to begin on Missouri River sandbars

By MDN STAFF 1 min read

RIVERDALE - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct vegetation management activities throughout September on sandbars in the Missouri River between Garrison Dam and Huff. The Bismarck-Mandan river segment will not be sprayed. This work is being done to keep the sandbars free of vegetation to improve nesting habitat for the threatened piping plover.

Certified applicators using helicopters will begin spraying around the beginning of September on the vegetated portions of sandbars. About 1,200 acres have been identified for treatment by a team of federal and state agency representatives. Spraying will be done with glyphosate and imazapyr, both approved for aquatic use by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

Spraying will take place only when environmental conditions allow, such as little to no wind and no rainfall in the immediate forecast. While efforts will be made to conduct spraying during the week, when public use is lower, spraying may occur on weekends since good spraying days can be limited due to wind or rain.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began current vegetation control and removal activities on selected sandbars in 2012. Vegetation management is conducted each fall as needed.

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