Yellow Flag Iris has recently been discovered in several locations on the Spider Chain of Lakes.

YELLOW FLAG IRIS is an aggressive INVASIVE PLANT that poses a significant threat to our lake system. Your URGENT action is needed!  See picture on the AIS tab of this website.

Iris pseudacorus is a fast-growing and fast-spreading invasive plant that can outcompete other wetland plants, forming almost impenetrable thickets, in much the same way as cat-tails (Typha) do. “Individuals produce from several dozen to several hundred rooted rosettes and flowering shoots connected by durable rhizomes” (Falinska 1986).

This is urgent because Yellow Flag Iris plants produce seed heads at this time of the year. Each capsule releases up to 120 buoyant seeds, with 95% of them able to float for up to two months. We want to remove the plants before the seed heads mature!

What you can do to help protect Spider Chain of Lakes:

• Check your property for any Yellow Flag Iris.
• If you find Yellow Flag Iris, and the plant is accessible, remove the plant as follows:
• Wear gloves; skin irritation can occur with contact with plant roots.
• Clip flower heads and pull or dig out plants and roots.
  
• Place all plant material in garbage bags and take to Town Hall Solid Waste, at no charge.
  
• If you cannot access the roots of the plant, remove the flowers and seed pods (wearing gloves), bag the material, and take it to Town Hall Solid Waste, at no charge.

·      If you are unable to check your property or need help to remove Yellow Flag Iris, let us know by contacting: Spiderchainoflakes@gmail.com

Tell us your property location, and site of Yellow Flag Iris on your property. We will ask volunteers to check your property and remove plants from your shoreline.

Volunteer to help remove Yellow Flag Iris from designated areas by sending your contact info to: Spiderchainoflakes@gmail.com

If you are able and willing, please take photos before and after removal of Yellow Flag Iris, and send them to us (at email address above) so we can document how well our efforts work.

Thank you for helping to protect our beautiful chain of lakes!

The Aquatic Invasive Species Committee of the Spider Chain of Lakes Association