Subject: Re: PERSONAL>SH Re:Purple Loosestrife
Date: Jun 7 07:41:16 1995
From: Steve Hallstrom - steveh at u.washington.edu
> From: Ellen Blackstone <vaccine at u.washington.edu>
> To: Steve Hallstrom <steveh at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: PERSONAL>SH Re:Purple Loosestrife
> Steve--This strikes me as a great opportunity for both education--AND use
> of human resources. //As I recall, 'Celia has a huge amount of background
> and credentials on this stuff. Could she pop in on your email and explain
> in detail (concise, precise, action-oriented, etc.) all that's involved?
Ellen, I asked Cecelia if she would and she was less than enthusiasistic.
As I mentioned she is currently working with the State Dept. of Agriculture
who is threatening King County with a legal action and/or state enforcement
with charges to the County to enact Noxious Weed control. (For others,
Cecelia Boulais is the Chair of the King County Noxious Weed Control Board,
a Board appointed by the County with authority under the RCWs to effect
control and eradication of noxious weeds such as Purple Loosestrife, Spartina,
Knapp Weed (brought back in the sock and pants of birders going east of the
mountains as one means of spreading), etc.
The County was forced to establish the Noxious Weed Control Board, NWCB, due
to petitions from citizens. That was three years ago. It has failed to fund
the Board, rendering the NWCB ineffective. If Tweeters in the area want to see
a program on education and control of the weeds, now is an excellent time to
contact the County Council and ask fof funding.
> When we chopped PL in the marsh a couple of years ago, I got the idea
> that you should NEVER pull it, and that it should be hauled away by the
> County/State/Whatever. Was that the "only" way it should be done, or just
> the "best" way, at that moment? If people's efforts are just going to
> make it worse, they shouldn't be doing it. (Not that I want to send any
> "should" messages about this nasty beast--PL.)
> ***********************************************************************
Control, as noted before, is best done by removal of the seed portion of
the plant. As Stuart mentioned this is best done before seeds mature. A
single plant will produce hundreds of thousands of seeds. Purple Loosestrife
is not limited to acquatic areas, ponds and lakeshores. It got introduced
as a plant for flower gardens and if you take a trip back east you will find
it along roads, in fields, most anywhere. Field studies (probably done by
scientists :) report no habitat value of PL for native animals, either
birds or mammal. The seed does not provide a food source and the plant
destroys the native vegetation that the water birds use for nesting and
cover while not being suitable itself.
Transportation of Purple Loosestrife is illegal without license or permit from
the Dept. of Ag or its designee. For obvious reasons. Disposal, and I think
the SWM folks do this, is best in a landfill where it is buried deep. Also
Cecelia thinks the SWM people now, while calling there actions "pulls", are
actually advocating cutting.
> Can you get 'Celia to introduce herself and offer herself as a resource,
> and then tell us the BEST thing that we can do when we are at the M.
> Fill, --or at some other location where there is not already a
> compost-heap in the making? What do you think? //It always drives me
> crazy to go down there, see it growing, and believe that I shouldn't
> touch it. Thx--EB (Like... when we go birding, should we take pruning
> shears?)
As noted, Cecelia declined. She and the NWCB would be a great resource to
habiatat in King County (for those in other County's in Washington most have
active funded NWCBs, call them) With funding they will work to control through
education and biological and mechanical, not chemical, methods the noxious
weeds that are destroying the bird habiatats in ponds and lakes. Take a few
minutes and tell the County Council to fund the NWCB.
> Ellen Blackstone \HIV vaccine research by trade
> 8203 - 38th NE \Nature-lover for fun
> Seattle, WA 98115
> Day:206/621-4179 \\Aldo Leopold said: The first rule of tinkering
> Eve:206/522-8099 is to save all the parts.
Thanks,
Steve Hallstrom
ps. If you find Giant Hog Weed, don't pull it - it bites back.