News: September 18th 2008
Federal and State Agencies Approve Hydro-Mechanical Obliteration Technology

National Park Service Scientists and other Agencies Review and Approve Hydro-Mechanical Obliteration Technology for Invasive Species Management in Environmentally Sensitive Areas

September 18, 2008
Scientists and department officials for the National Park Service, in addition to a number of other state and federal agencies, have reviewed and approved Hydro-Mechanical Obliteration® for usage in controlling invasive weeds in a number of environmentally sensitive projects within Marin County, California. Hydro-Mechanical Obliteration (HMO) uses small quantities of highly-pressurized water to cut down and then mulch invasive pest plants.

The most recent project involved the use of HMO to remove invasive weeds in sensitive riparian area of Redwood Creek for the National Park Service. The Redwood Creek project represents the first phase of an invasive plant pest control project for the National Park Service, and was successful completed this week. HMO was used to obliterate an invasive plant pest (Ehrharta Erecta) from part of the Redwood Creek within the Muir Woods State and National Park.

Redwood Creek is the most recent of a series of invasive species management projects in Marin County requiring the coordination and review of HMO by the National Park Service, the Department of Fish and Game, The Coastal Commission, City of Larkspur, Friends of Corte Madera Creek, and the Marin Municipal Water District. Hydro-Mechanical Technology was chosen for invasive species management by these agencies because:

• It is non-chemical and can be used in sensitive habitats;
• It uses only small quantities of non-potable water;
• It is precise, and therefore does not require the removal of non-target species.
• No biomass is removed. The targeted pest is obliterated and mulched in situ.
• The elimination of the labor involved in biomass removal sharply reduces the foot traffic (and damage) in and around project sites.

“It is very gratifying to have these respected agencies not only review HMO, but also use it in some of the most environmentally sensitive regions of Marin County,” stated HMO inventor Cameron Colson. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with the National Park Service and the other agencies within Marin County.”

Green Away Plant Control is the exclusive provider of Hydro-Mechanical Obliteration services within Northern California. For more information on HMO and HMO services, visit the Company’s website at www.greenawaycontrol.com.