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December 2, 2024

December Weed of the Month: Going Above and Beyond Using Drones for Conservation Efforts

By giving a bird's-eye view of hard-to-reach areas, drones are providing access to valuable data

Julia Dellick, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

The growing use of drone technology in conservation is transforming how we monitor and protect our natural resources and ecosystems. By giving a bird's-eye view of hard-to-reach areas, drones are providing access to valuable data. Sam Seybold, Buffer Specialist at the Aitkin County Soil Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been incorporating drones into his work efforts over the past four years.

One key application of drones that Sam and Aitkin SWCD have used is invasive species monitoring. Drones can be flown over areas with known weed infestations to assess their extent, providing valuable imagery that informs management strategies. This preliminary data can then be compared with follow-up images taken after treatment to evaluate management effectiveness.

In addition to assessing known infestations, drones can be used to find new ones. For example, Sam and his team used their knowledge of non-native Phragmites, an extremely tall wetland grass, to fly over areas while it was blooming. By analyzing the images, they can distinguish non-native Phragmites from native species. Non-native Phragmites can be spotted because of darker seed heads. These images are paired with GPS coordinates, enabling the team to pinpoint and target the new infestations more efficiently.

Advancement in drone technology is opening doors to new weed management techniques. 

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Drones not only assist in invasive species management, but also play a role in reintroducing native plants. This year, the Aitkin SWCD acquired a seeding drone. After treating an area of buckthorn, the drone disperses seed of native, fast-growing plants that compete with buckthorn seedlings emerging from the seedbank. This promotes the restoration of native plant communities.

In addition to weed management, the Aitkin SWCD also used drones to map the entire shoreline of Lake Mille Lacs, spanning over 80 miles. This has allowed for plans to restore many areas of shoreline to improve lake health. These efforts will focus on reducing runoff, stabilizing the shoreline, enhancing plant diversity, and expanding wildlife habitat. With the continued success of this project, Aitkin SWCD hopes to carry out similar efforts on other surrounding lakes.

Drones are rapidly transforming the way we approach land management, offering new possibilities for efficiency, accuracy, and data collection. Whether it’s tracking invasive species, restoring shorelines, or supporting habitat restoration projects, drones are proving to be an indispensable tool on the path to healthier ecosystems. As technology advances and drone capabilities expand, the potential for drones in natural resource work will only continue to grow, making the future of conservation brighter and more accessible than ever before.

For more information on noxious weeds and invasive insects listen and subscribe to Smarty Plants a Minnesota Department of Agriculture podcast. 

MEDIA: Contact Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications, at [email protected] or 651-201-6131 for more information on Weed of the Month