SC task force on beach vitex ends work

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Members of a South Carolina task force formed to fight an ornamental beach planting that carpeted dunes like kudzu are holding their last meeting.

The Post & Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/orj4cb) that the Beach Vitex Task Force is holding its last annual symposium Tuesday in Georgetown because money has run out.

Beach vitex erodes dunes, kills sea turtle hatchlings and native plants. Less than a decade ago, it had infested 200 spots along the length of the South Carolina coast. It’s now under control but not eradicated.

The task force members hope property owners, working with the local turtle watch groups, will take up the tedious eradication effort and plant native dune species. A core group of trained task force members will continue to work as consultants.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com