Representative Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, announced a $50,000 grant to McKean County Conservation District to target invasive plant species.

The funding will come from the state Department of Agriculture and will assist with two projects that are designed to control and eliminate infestations of invasive plant species within the region.

The conservation district sought funding through the Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account, established earlier this year and funded by the 2019-2020 state budget.

“Non-native, invasive plants can cause serious problems for reforestation efforts and other environmental concerns,” Causer said.

The funding is set to be split equally between the two projects.

The first project will target a non-native, noxious and invasive weed, goats rue. This weed initially appeared in McKean County 20 years ago and is poisonous to livestock.

In recent years the plant has spread to Cameron, Elk, and Warren counties. The infestations have been smaller than the amount found in McKean County and officials hope to stop the spread and get rid of the plant before it causes further damage.

The project would be conducted on public and private lands in Cameron, Elk, McKean, and Warren counties.

The second project will target non-native and invasive Japanese knotweed.

Clearing this plant will increase the effectiveness of reforestation efforts on commercial timberlands as well as improve recreational opportunities in the Tionesta Creek watershed. This includes improving watercraft and swimming access as well as fishing.

The knotweed infestation is classified as a small, satellite population of the plant.

According to conservation district officials, the Tionesta Watershed is one of few watersheds in the state that could be devoid of Japanese knotweed with the successful implementation of the eradication plan funded in part by the grant funding.

The project will be conducted on public and private lands in Warren, Forest, Elk, and McKean counties.

“I commend conservation district officials for their proactive efforts to eradicate these problems before they grow any worse,” said Causer.