Goats get to work clearing Natrona riverfront

A donkey named Hobo and 12 hungry goats set up shop Monday along the Natrona riverfront in Harrison, munching their way through the overgrown shoreline.

Hard at work is a herd of Nubian, Nigerian dwarf and Alpine goats, eating the invasive knotweed and honeysuckle that has overtaken the stretch.

They are scheduled to work in the Harrison community through Friday, improving access to the Allegheny River where the Three Rivers Water Trailhead is situated.

“There is a slope at that particular point that can be unsafe for volunteers, and the goats can manage a lot better in those spaces,” said Alex Toner, director of trail stewardship for Friends of the Riverfront.

The nonprofit manages the 33-mile Three Rivers Heritage Trail that stretches from Pittsburgh to the Alle-Kiski Valley.

On Wednesday, people will have a chance to get up close with the goats through a “bleat and greet” from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. It is sponsored in partnership with advocacy group Natrona Comes Together. No registration is required.

“Everyone in Natrona, especially the kids, is excited about the goats,” group President Bill Godfrey said.

“The Allegheny River view is very obstructed by thick overgrown weeds so we’re hoping the goats open up this beautiful vista for the community.”

The work is in preparation for a trailhead project that will double as an improved entrance into Natrona. It includes designated parking and safer access to the kayak launch off River Avenue, along with landscaping and signs.

The cost is expected to be about $141,000, part of which was awarded to the township last year through the state Department of Community and Natural Resources and its Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Katie Craig, trail development coordinator, said bids are expected to go out shortly.

“This project includes transforming the old ATI lot into parking for the Heritage Trail and Water Trail networks,” Craig said.

In 2019, ATI donated the property at the corner of River Avenue and Sycamore Street for public use.

“On top of the much-needed parking improvements, the Water Trail launch is also getting some upgrades to improve user experience and safety,” she said.

Erosion remediation and a redesign will increase functionality. Sidewalks and crossings will be improved for enhanced safety, she said.

Gavin Deming, executive director of Allegheny GoatScape, said 12 goats will live on the riverfront this week, penned in by an electric fence.

They’ll be guarded by Hobo, he said, who has an innate dislike of canines and coyotes that might want to get inside the area.

“He protects them,” Deming said. “Usually, the fence is enough, but he’s extra insurance.”

Passersby are welcome to watch the herd in action but are asked to remain outside the pen.

“We trust the public,” he said. “There typically are no issues.”

Allegheny Goatscape has five working herds. Team Hobo is fresh off a job at Baldwin Riverfront Park along the Monongahela. Others are working in Hays Woods and South Side Park.

Deming believes this is among the few times the goats have graced the Alle-Kiski Valley. He said they worked last spring near Harmar.

At the kayak launch in Natrona, the animals will be chomping away at the knotweed, vines and honeysuckle that grow on the hillside — all of which are invasive. They work 24/7.

“They’ll be able to get that area clear in a week and then it will be followed up on by Friends of the Riverfront,” Deming said. “It’s nice because it’s part of a broader plan.”

Established in 2013, the kayak launch sits along Veterans Way and is part of the Water Trail. Until now, the space has been without amenities.

When complete, the area will include a tree canopy and public art, making it more of a destination.

Partnering with Friends of the Riverfront will highlight the space and lead to special events, officials said.

Toner said the goats are an effective way to get a clean look at the space. It’s a unique way to stir interest in the project, he said.

“It’s a different tool in the box,” he said. “They’re eco-friendly, and it doesn’t put people in tricky positions. Not to mention, they’re fun.”