Once the weed is in a watershed, rhizomes and pieces of its roots can break off and form new plants, making for dense populations.
The weed is prohibited under the Weed Act of Saskatchewan. It can reduce water availability for drinking water intakes and can cause uneven irrigation distribution.
Flowering rush can also be dangerous to cattle because it has sharp leaves that can cut their mouths.
Given that the invasive weed grows in shallow water and along shorelines, managing it can be a challenge.
“The weed is moving downstream, which is very concerning because it’s a very difficult species to eradicate,” Eric Lamb, an associate professor in the University of Saskatchewan’s plant sciences department, told Farms.com today. “Because it’s in wetlands, there’s many herbicides farmers can’t use to control it so, in many cases, to get rid of it, it’s down to pulling it out by hand.”
Provincial organizations are doing their part to help control flowering rush.
SaskEnergy is funding a survey of the South Saskatchewan River from the Alberta border to Highway 21 near Leader, Sask., to map the severity of the weed’s spread in the province.
rezkrr/iStock/Getty Images Plus