| Scarborough, Maine (July 19, 2010)
An intruder is invading and wreaking havoc upon 3,100-acre Scarborough Marsh, the largest salt marsh in Maine. State officials, regional experts and local marsh supporters are now poised to fight back.
View video (WMTW-Ch8)
Beginning next month, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, in conjunction with partners Friends of Scarborough Marsh, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Gulf of Maine Program, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, & Maine Audubon will begin efforts to remove an invasive weed called Phragmites australis from certain areas of Scarborough Marsh. The effort is expected to take approximately 3 years to complete.
C.D. Armstrong, president and co-founder of the Friends group, is thrilled to see the plan moving forward. "Many people have been working for years to assess the threat and formulate a plan to address it. This Phragmites-control effort is critically important to the long-term health of the marsh environment," he said.
Phragmites is a perennial and aggressive wetland grass that grows over 10 feet tall and is easily recognized by its height and fluffy seed heads. They are especially noticeable along the Route 1 corridor within the marsh, especially on the upland side of the roadway.
Phragmites have very little value to the diverse populations of wildlife in the marsh. Their thick growth and rapid spread choke out valuable plants and reduce the biodiversity of the marsh's delicate and highly- valued ecosystem.
This type of Phragmites is not native to this area, and it has significantly compromised wetlands up and down the east coast. The weeds aggressively spread and colonize new areas every year and are very difficult to eradicate.
Work will begin in August on Phragmites control, which will involve a variety of actions utilizing highly specialized equipment, licensed and trained contractors and application of a specially formulated herbicide that affects only plants. All work will take place under the watchful eyes of the partners and other natural resource management agencies. Officials are hoping to achieve a 95% or greater elimination rate in the target areas.
For more information, please contact Katie Fellows of the Friends of Scarborough Marsh at 883-3837.
|
