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Saltcedar steals South Dakota water
ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP)--A thirsty weed that pigs out on water is spreading in eastern South Dakota.
Saltcedar has been confirmed in all but Gregory County in western South Dakota, said Greg Buntrock of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
And those attending the state Weed and Pest Conference in Aberdeen Feb. 18 were told it now has been found in eight eastern South Dakota counties: Brown, Brule, Day, Davison, Hughes, Potter, Sully and Union.
Saltcedar, a shrub or small tree, has a taproot that can descend up to 50 feet. It can grow to be 2 to 25 feet tall and can live 50 to 100 years. It soaks up as much as 200 gallons of water a day.
The weed rarely is found on crop land, except along the edge of fields. But it can show up on grazing land and suck moisture from the soil. An infestation can dry up creeks and even small lakes.
The weed withstands cutting and burning and spreads easily. About the only way to control it is to cover it completely, experts say.
Beetles that attack the weed show promise as a control method, but the method has yet to be approved in South Dakota.
Date: 2/23/05
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