The ACT Government will replace thousands of willows cut down from the banks of local waterways with more than 7800 native plants.
The $1.5million waterways restoration project is set to be completed by the middle of the year with more than 500 truckloads of pest species already taken away.
Project manager of restorations of waterways and surrounds, Rebecca Dawson, said willows were self-seeding pests that decreased water quality by reduced oxygenation.
''They also use huge amounts of water - a CSIRO report found water savings of 5.5 megalitres per hectare of willow canopy removed,'' Ms Dawson said.
''They use a lot more water than the native species so by removing willows you're making all that water available for other uses.''
Elms and plane trees have also been removed as part of the waterways project.
''We're seven months into the project but mature invasive trees require contractors with specialist machinery and you have to poison them to stop regrowth,'' Ms Dawson said.
The manager of national parks, reserves and rural lands, Stephen Hughes said the willows would be replaced with endemic species of local provenance.
''Planting will include trees, shrubs and understorey plant species to ensure a healthy ecosystem develops over time,'' Mr Hughes said.
Willows were one of the most harmful weeds in Australia because of their invasiveness, potential for spread and economic impacts.
Most species were ''weeds of national significance''.
About 2300 natives will be replanted near Oaks Estate on the Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers and another 5500 on the Molonglo River below Scrivener Dam.
This reporter is on Twitter: @ewakretowicz
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