Lower Platte Weed Managment Area
The Lower Platte Weed Management Area (LPWMA) is a group of public and private agencies and individuals that are concerned with stopping the spread of noxious and invasive plants located in the Lower Platte River drainage area.
The LPWMA is located in the Platte River drainage corridor and covers 10 counties in eastcentral Nebraska: Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Lancaster, Platte, Sarpy, Saunders, and Seward. The corridor consists of lakes, streams, creeks, ponds, and wetlands that drain into or have an impact on the Platte River in these counties.
Current Activities
Currently the LPWMA is targeting infestations of Purple Loosestrife, Saltcedar (Tamarisk) and Common Reed (Phragmites). These plants are not native to this country and have no natural enemies to keep them in check. Because of this, they become very aggressive and crowd out the beneficial native plants in the areas they infest, forming a monoculture in that area. These plants are prolific seed producers and have highly viable seeds and/or extensive root systems to help them survive drastic climate changes, including drought.
For more information on the LPWMA, visit their website.
Map Site
The LPWMA uses GPS and GIS technology to track infestations and control efforts along the river corridor. This data is available via the NRD MapMaker system here.