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Driftless Land Stewardship LLC was back in Woodland Park this past week spraying the Garlic Mustard. the city's contracted invasive species. The adjacent photo shows the area sprayed overlaid on a slightly dated aerial map. They will be back in the next week or so to complete the spraying. 
They also "recommend burning it late-April or even early May. Doing so will allow for many more seeds to germinate prior to the burn (rather than after the burn). We're also seeing much greater impact to second year plants with late season burns (even though we were very thorough, there will be missed plants [under leaf litter, human error], plants that recover form the herbicide, etc.). "
The regular crew of volunteers will do the prescribed burn. Check out Savanna Oak Foundation, Inc. for more information on prescribed or controlled burns.
Driftless also reported that they "expect a few more years of intensive treatment while we deplete the seedbank but there is already a marked reduction since treatment began. Last year's follow-up (Rx burn and/or pulling) to our spraying was very apparent (i.e. I noticed no seed stalks). Nice job."
Driftless also reported that they "expect a few more years of intensive treatment while we deplete the seedbank but there is already a marked reduction since treatment began. Last year's follow-up (Rx burn and/or pulling) to our spraying was very apparent (i.e. I noticed no seed stalks). Nice job."
Volunteers will also be doing our annual garlic mustard pull. It is tentatively scheduled for May 10. Details to follow. There is plenty of garlic mustard to go around.
There's a recipe in the Isthmus this week for spinach garlic mustard pizza.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedailypage.com/eats/article.php?article=22265
Speaking a parks are we going to contend-with goose poop again at levels that would exceed chickens?
ReplyDeleteNO JOKE!
In short, they are a a public problem.
And chickens don't run free in the parks.
ReplyDeleteYes, last fall the city adopted a multi-pronged approach to deter the geese from hanging out at Winnequah Park. I also blogged it at the time: http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2007/08/goosed.html
1.
Install a removable snow fence around the lagoon, or around the portion of the lagoon directly adjacent to the sport fields. The fence will impede access from the water to the grass. Openings can be left in the fence to allow for fishing access to the lagoon. The fence needs to be installed before the spring migration begins.
2.
Simultaneous with the fence installation, allow a 12-foot border of long grasses to grow around the pond. Again, small “paths” can be mowed into this border to allow fishing access to the lagoon. As the long grasses grow higher, the fence could be removed.
3.
Purchase inflatable “scare-eye” balloons to place in the lagoon to frighten geese and discourage them from landing in the water.
4.
Consider allowing kayakers to cruise the lagoon to further discourage the geese from landing in the water. The more random the scare tactics, the more effective they will be.
5.
Apply Methyl Anthranilate to the specific areas where goose droppings cause the most problems (for example, the soccer fields and baseball diamonds during the height of those seasons).
6.
Investigate whether there are any area volunteers who would be willing to run trained border collies, or consider contracting a service to run trained dogs. It’s recommended that we stick to highly-trained herding dogs, to avoid injuring the geese or causing other types of dog issues in the park.
tHow about spraying in some of the other parks? Stonebridge, frostwoods, "unnamed", and three meadows all have bad infestations. The other parks can be managed by hand.
ReplyDeleteI am passing this along to the parks director. No money in this year's budget.
ReplyDeleteWhere is 'unnamed park'? Three Meadows is being addressed by volunteer Dave Wilkens.
ReplyDelete"Unnamed park" is the plot of land between bridge, frost woods and ridgewood behind Dr. Shropshire's house.
ReplyDeleteThe other spot that needs spraying is the "abandoned" lot baldwin owns on winnequah.
How do I get unamed park and is available for rental/ranching?
ReplyDelete