The before and after photos of the Chadakoin River after the first phase of the Chadakoin Restoration Activation Project show the project has more than justified its cost.

Were it not for trained professionals spending time on the river’s banks this spring, it’s likely no one would have discovered an infestation of the invasive tree of heaven before it was too late for the Chadakoin River and, possibly, for grape farmers in the north county. Early discovery of the tree of heaven could make the $277,000 the City Council and Mayor Eddie Sundquist decided to invest in the Chadakoin River some of the best money the city has spent from its federal stimulus windfall.

Tree of heaven is bad enough by itself. The invasive plant can spread quickly and crowd out all other native vegetation. Even worse than the tree, though, is its draw for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest that is eating its way through Pennsylvania and threatening to find its way to Chautauqua County. It is feared the spotted lanternfly could be disastrous for the fruit and grape industry here.

Twan Leenders of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is confident fast action could eradicate the tree of heaven from the Chadakoin River area. Sundquist and council members should help as much as they can, as should the county, state funding sources, the state DEC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which must approve herbicide permits in short order. The tree of heaven is nothing to trifle with, and one of the region’s most important agricultural and tourist draws is in jeopardy if the tree of heaven attracts spotted lanternfly here. Kudos to Leenders and his team for finding this invasive plant and quickly coming up with a plan to eradicate it.