Posted on August 29, 2022
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District announced that it will conduct vegetation management activities on Missouri River sandbars between Garrison Dam and Huff, North Dakota, during August and September 2022.
The Bismarck-Mandan river reach (river miles 1325 to 1310) will not be sprayed. This preventative maintenance aims to keep the sandbars free of vegetation and usable by the threatened piping plover for nesting.
Using helicopters, certified applicators will begin spraying the vegetated portions of sandbars at the end of August. Approximately 500 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 occur 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 if the weekday conditions are not suitable.
The Omaha District began current vegetation control and removal activities on selected sandbars in 2012, and will continue each spring, and/or fall, as needed.
