HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY TO TACKLE INVASIVE CATTAILS
The Yellow River winds through northwestern Wisconsin, its waters feeding vibrant ecosystems, supporting wildlife, and nurturing wild rice beds cherished by the St. Croix Ojibwe community. But like many natural places, it faces threats that require both urgency and ingenuity. One of those threats comes in the form of invasive cattails—fast-spreading hybrids that crowd out native vegetation and disrupt the river’s delicate balance.
We recently had the privilege of collaborating with the Yellow River Protection Conservancy on an innovative project to address this challenge. The Conservancy, led by a group of dedicated and passionate individuals, is laser-focused on protecting the river’s health. One of those individuals, Paul Thompson, (pictured above during a presentation), embodies this spirit. Paul speaks with the calm authority of someone who has spent years observing the river, mixed with the enthusiasm of someone excited about finding new ways to protect it. As a property owner along the river, he’s watched firsthand as cattails have crept further into the water and overtaken the natural shoreline.
“I’ve seen the dramatic change over the years,” Paul shared. “Five years ago, it was a normal shoreline. Now it’s nothing but cattails.”
The Scope of the Problem
For Paul and the Conservancy, the challenge isn’t just the cattails themselves—it’s helping others see the scale of the problem. While cattails may look harmless to the untrained eye, they have severe consequences for the river’s ecosystem. They choke out native aquatic plants, including the wild rice vital to local tribal communities. They disrupt habitats for waterfowl and fish, and their massive biomass creates sediment buildup, slowly transforming wetlands into stagnant marshes.
But convincing others of the problem requires more than words. That’s where technology became the missing link.
From Air to Ground
To help illustrate the issue, we brought in drones to capture both aerial and ground-level views of the Yellow River. This wasn’t just about taking pictures—it was about creating a high-fidelity visual record. Through multiple drone passes at different altitudes and angles, we imaged a 2.5-mile stretch of the river, providing an unprecedented look at how far cattails have spread.
Paul’s reaction to seeing the footage for the first time was a mix of awe and validation. “It was greater than I thought,” he admitted. “Not just the shoreline, but the depth. You look at it from a boat and think, ‘Oh, it’s 30 feet in,’ but the aerial view shows it’s more like 125 feet in places.”
Our AI-powered platform then took the footage and started doing the heavy lifting—stitching the images together, identifying cattail clusters, and quantifying the affected area. The result was a powerful tool for conservation, providing not just a snapshot of the current problem but a baseline for tracking changes over time.
The Human Side of Conservation
While the technology is exciting, it’s the people like Paul who make projects like this so meaningful. Talking with Paul, you get the sense he’s both serious about the task at hand and deeply accommodating—quick to share a laugh but equally quick to dive into the weeds (sometimes literally). His personal connection to the river and his years of observation make his insights invaluable.
“It’s not just about the cattails,” Paul explained. “It’s about protecting everything they impact—fish, waterfowl, the wild rice. We’re losing too much if we don’t act.”
Moving Forward Together
The Conservancy is now using this data to educate, build awareness, and apply for grants that will fund cattail removal and support long-term management. For IDS, the project was a reminder of why we do what we do. When technology meets passion, the impact can be profound.
This effort on the Yellow River is just beginning, but its potential is vast. With every drone flight and every piece of analyzed data, we’re taking steps toward a healthier ecosystem—one that benefits not only the river but also the communities that rely on it.
For more info: Yellow River Conservancy Programs