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Crews are actively combating invasive Ludwigia Hexapetala at Oxbow Slough, employing herbicide treatments to manage the aggressive aquatic plant. The blue-green dye mixed with the herbicide will serve as a visual indicator of treated areas, potentially remaining visible for up to two weeks post-application.
A subsequent round of treatments is scheduled for late August or September. This initiative follows Salem’s completion of a four-year treatment program for the Willamette Slough in 2023. The current efforts at Oxbow Slough commenced in 2024 and are slated to continue through the summer of 2028.
ludwigia Hexapetala, also identified as Uruguayan water primrose, poses a significant ecological threat by forming dense mats in sluggish watercourses, which can obstruct waterways. According to a city news release, this yellow-flowered plant has the capacity to “choke entire waterways, severely restricting recreational access, degrading water quality and