Town of Summerville Planning Area - BCD Council of Governments

English IvyCogongrassJapanese SiltgrassChinese SilvergrassCommon ReedWart Removing HerbName of SpeciesSource: Clemson Cooperative Extension, USDA Invasive Species Information CenterPlant SpeciesInvasive Because?Amasses on infested trees, decreasing vigor andincreasing chance of windthrow. Serves as areservoir for bacterial leaf scorch that infects oaks,elms, and maples. Inhibits regeneration of nativewildflowers, trees, and shrubs forming amonoculture.Cogongrass can spread by rhizomes and standsbecome extremely dense, excluding native plants.Can withstand drought. Leaves that die out in thewinter create a substantial fire hazard.Will overtake and dominate sites on floodplains,streamsides, forest edges, roadsides, ditchbanks,trails, damp fields, swamps and lawns.Forms extensive infestations by escaping olderornamental plantings to roadsides, forest margins,and disturbed sites, especially after burning. Shadetolerant, highly flammable and a fire hazardMay threaten wildlife because they alter thestructure and function of relatively diverse SpartinamarshesHas an aggressive ability to establish and take overwetlands and marshes at the exclusion of nativeplants.Enhancement ProjectsSince the passage of the Comprehensive Plan in 1999, Summerville and its residents have undertaken anumber of projects to enhance open spaces and corridor areas. One such project was the Trolley RoadEnhancement Effort, or TREE, resulting in the creation of a Master Plan for Trolley Road in 2001 that hasbeen implemented along the right of way of Trolley Road and has encouraged numerous propertyowners to upgrade the existing landscaping or to take the effort to landscape their property. Theseproperty owners have also been encouraged by the local Rotary Club, who has presented beautificationawards to property owners who have updated the landscaping on their properties. This landscaping hasimproved the appearance of properties along the corridor; attracting customers to local businesseswhile improving the property values along the corridor. This provides a template for additionalenhancement projects that would be undertaken as part of the redevelopment of Priority InvestmentAreas identified elsewhere in the Comprehensive Plan.Farm and ForestryBecause of the largely built out nature of much of the Summerville Planning Area, there are few largescalefarms or forest areas remaining in or near Summerville. There are two key areas that may beNatural Resources Element Page 9