{"id":458443,"date":"2025-09-28T18:00:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T18:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/458443\/"},"modified":"2025-09-28T18:00:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T18:00:30","slug":"resident-issues-urgent-psa-after-hauling-1100-pounds-of-invasive-plants-from-lake-in-single-day-were-fighting-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/458443\/","title":{"rendered":"Resident issues urgent PSA after hauling 1,100 pounds of invasive plants from lake in single day: &#8216;We&#8217;re fighting back&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Water lilies, while pleasing to the eye, are extremely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/green-home\/invasive-plant-species-calla-lilies-sell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">invasive<\/a> in North America, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/potomac.org\/blog\/2016\/6\/1\/invasive-plants-potomac-river\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Potomac Conservancy<\/a>. The common daylily, particularly, is invasive in the Northern United States and parts of Canada.<\/p>\n<p>One TikTok photographer and fighter against invasive lilies, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@reillyki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reillyki<\/a> (@reillyki), has become a champion of lily removal. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@reillyki\/video\/7546627621463788830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shared<\/a> his journey on TikTok.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@reillyki\/video\/7546627621463788830\" data-video-id=\"7546627621463788830\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;\"><p>  <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@reillyki\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@reillyki?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">@reillyki<\/a> The lilies have taken over, so we&#8217;re fighting back. The lilies are invasive and have exploded in growth over the last couple of years, displacing the local critters that make this place feel like home. Bugs are on the rise and oxygen content in the water is dropping, so something has to be done.  A small group of volunteers are fighting back to help this little lake in Bellingham. If you want to join in on the fun, or know someone that might be interested, comment below, DM me, or tag a friend. Many hands make light work, and there&#8217;s a lot to accomplish.  <a title=\"bellingham\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/bellingham?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#Bellingham<\/a> <a title=\"conservation\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/conservation?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#Conservation<\/a> <a title=\"invasivelilies\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/invasivelilies?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#InvasiveLilies<\/a> <a title=\"nature\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nature?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#Nature<\/a> <a title=\"volunteerwork\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/volunteerwork?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#VolunteerWork<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c Walking Around - Instrumental Version - Eldar Kedem\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/Walking-Around-Instrumental-Version-6982541212746008578?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c Walking Around &#8211; Instrumental Version &#8211; Eldar Kedem<\/a>  <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The TikToker opened his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@reillyki\/video\/7546627621463788830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video<\/a> talking to the lilies in the lake he lives near: &#8220;Come on!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He pulled up several lilies from the lake, which was overrun with the invasive plant species.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The lilies are taking over,&#8221; he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@reillyki\/video\/7546627621463788830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> in the caption, &#8220;so we&#8217;re fighting back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He filled 50 baskets with lilies and estimated the total weight of the removed plants was 1,100 pounds. He and other volunteers have a group goal to remove 50,000 pounds of lilies from the lake in a year. So far, they have removed 20,000 pounds.<\/p>\n<td class=\"container-cell\" align=\"center\" style=\"padding:0;border-spacing:0;padding:10px;\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n\t                         &#13;<\/p>\n<tr style=\"padding:0;border-spacing:0;border: 1px solid #e1e1e1\">&#13;<\/p>\n<td class=\"section-inner\" style=\"padding:0;border-spacing:0;background:#fff;border-radius:6px;margin:0;padding:10px 20px 20px;\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n                      &#13;<br \/>\n                      &#13;<br \/>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/green-home\/homeowners-choose-heat-pumps-over-gas-furnaces\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759082430_411_FX-Deluxe_Lifestyle_1326191354-copy.jpg\" width=\"560\" height=\"400\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:auto;\"\/><\/a>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Mitsubishi Electric\u2019s <a style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#360499\" href=\"https:\/\/links.thecooldown.com\/mitsubishi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">efficient heating and cooling HVAC solutions<\/a> can help you stay comfortable no matter the weather or region. You can even regulate temperatures in each room with individually controlled all-electric heat pump systems.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<p>With an energy-efficient, all-climate system from Mitsubishi, you can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home, receive up to <a style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#360499\" href=\"https:\/\/links.thecooldown.com\/mitsubishi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$2,000 in tax credits<\/a>, and get peace of mind knowing you\u2019re choosing rigorously tested, high-quality products.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                      &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;\n\t\t\t\t\t  <\/td>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                  <\/tr>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;\n<\/td>\n<p>According to Reillyki, many animals in the lake depend on clean oxygen for survival, and the lilies are disrupting this ecosystem by making the water in many areas stagnant, decreasing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/outdoors\/marmara-sea-shark-migration-oxygen-levels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">oxygen content<\/a>, and compromising the lives of these animals.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/healthyponds.com\/understanding-water-lilies\/?srsltid=AfmBOooIodaERB4RiyIfVLZa0g1SnQZK7cXCJaxC97IXfLjo9sT18leE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Healthy Ponds<\/a>, invasive lilies outcompete other plants, clog waterways, and block marine life from swimming.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.mo.gov\/discover-nature\/field-guide\/water-lilies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Missouri Department of Conservation<\/a> says lilies grow up from the water from woody rhizomes, which is a plant stem that sends out roots from its nodes. Plants with rhizomes spread easily, as their root systems can grow new plants.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, rhizome-having plants, when nonnative, can invade a space easily.<\/p>\n<p>TCD Picks \u00bb Upway Spotlight<\/p>\n<p class=\"description-text\" style=\"color:#0E0E0E\">\ud83d\udca1Upway makes it easy to find discounts of up to 60% on premium e-bike brands<\/p>\n<p>The invasion of these lilies in the lake can ruin the ecosystem&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/outdoors\/key-largo-tree-cactus-florida-extinction-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biodiversity<\/a>, which is necessary to balance out not only individual ecosystems but all creatures on the planet, humans included.<\/p>\n<p>While conservation efforts against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/outdoors\/invasive-species\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"What are invasive species? How a foreign nuisance can wreak havoc on a local ecosystem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">invasive species<\/a> are in place, the general public has the means to play a role in encouraging biodiversity by planting native <a href=\"http:\/\/guide.thecooldown.com\/actions\/rewild-your-yard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wildflowers<\/a> in their yards. Wild lawns can also save consumers time and money on water and maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>Those with the privilege to volunteer can help out with invasive plant removal <a href=\"https:\/\/guide.thecooldown.com\/actions\/take-local-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">locally<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Commenters on the TikTok commended Reillyki for his work, and many offered to help.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is amazing work. I can make some time to drive up there and help out,&#8221; one commenter offered.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d love to help,&#8221; another said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Join our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/future-newsletter\/?recTzDV3LVDYqlE17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free newsletter<\/a> for <strong>good news<\/strong> and <strong>useful tips<\/strong>, and don&#8217;t miss <a href=\"https:\/\/rb.gy\/ivhzmj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this cool list<\/a> of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"36\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg\" alt=\"Cool Divider\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Water lilies, while pleasing to the eye, are extremely invasive in North America, according to the Potomac Conservancy.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":458444,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3843],"tags":[28943,153659,728,1444,28945,9394,21483,70,449,16,15,13170],"class_list":{"0":"post-458443","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-change-the-way-you-take-care-of-your-yard","9":"tag-control-weeds-without-chemicals","10":"tag-environment","11":"tag-home","12":"tag-native-lawn-gem","13":"tag-outdoors","14":"tag-reddit-gem","15":"tag-science","16":"tag-tiktok","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom","19":"tag-yahoo-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115283232685626389","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=458443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/458444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=458443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=458443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=458443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}