Tom Mangan has a very imformative article on Trailspace.com regarding the threats of invasive species and how to limit their spread. He discusses in detail threats posed by Mountain pine beetles, wooly adelgids and the Emerald Ash Borer, but also mentions that trees aren't the only species at risk.
Especially in the west, the Mountain pine beetle is decimating thousands of acres of pine forests in the Rockies. Not mentioned in the article is the threat of massive wildfires in the areas that are now ghost forests.
Mr. Mangan also posted tips that were issued by the National Parks Service for fighting the spread of invasive species:
• Wash your vehicle to get plant materials out of your tires and undercarriage.
• Rinse gear, pressure-wash boats, skis, and other vehicles on site; organisms can get into any place water can get into. Use hot water if available.
• Clean your shoes or boots by knocking dirt and plant materials out of the treads. Carry a boot brush in your car or pack. Rinse soles.
• Wear short gaiters to keep sticky seeds out of your socks.
• Shake out your tent and other gear at the campsite to remove any plant or seed materials.
• Brush off or wash your pets if they have been out romping in the parks. Sticky seeds can hitchhike on their fur.
You can read the full article by clicking here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Showing posts with label invasive species. Show all posts
Showing posts with label invasive species. Show all posts
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Whitney State Forest Saga
There has been some interest on the blog as to what the future of the Whitney State Forest holds and more specifically what may be done concerning some of the invasive species found there. Here is a short synopsis of planned activities:
approximately 1 acre of kudzu control
approximately 15 acres of understory herbicide application in a Yellow Poplar stand to control invasives (Multiflora Rose, Wineberry, Bittersweet)
Approximately 11 acres of bittersweet control in the thinned area (cut and spray vines running up trees)
Burn the field (winter)
Plant shortleaf in the clearcut
Herbcide release of shortleaf seedlings over the next several years
Gravel for the parking lot
New kiosk
Replace stream crossing with engineered ford crossing
Also it is worth noting that we do know about the trail becoming overgrown for about 1/2 mile where it crosses one of the fields. Currently our tractor with the bush hog is down for repairs but as soon as that is back in service this portion of the trail will be tended to.
If you have interest in helping state forest staff with invasive control or trail work at the Whitney please contact Terry Lasher or Joe Rossetti at the Faquier County office at (540) 347-6358. We are more than happy to have volunteers on board and you can even earn a free forest use permit good for one year from the completion of the necessary hours.
Regardless of the content of the comments, I am very happy to see that so many people are concerned about the Whitney State Forest. Concern equals care, if no one cared then no one would be concerned. Thank you for the love and devotion to this wonderful resource!
PS...If you would like to know more about identifying and controlling invasive plant species consider attending the Good Green, Bad Green Invasive Plant Control for Habitat Restoration Conference in Front Royal on September 16th and 17th. The website for more information is: http://www.forestryforthebay.org/ggbg/. This should be a very information workshop and well worth your time.
approximately 1 acre of kudzu control
approximately 15 acres of understory herbicide application in a Yellow Poplar stand to control invasives (Multiflora Rose, Wineberry, Bittersweet)
Approximately 11 acres of bittersweet control in the thinned area (cut and spray vines running up trees)
Burn the field (winter)
Plant shortleaf in the clearcut
Herbcide release of shortleaf seedlings over the next several years
Gravel for the parking lot
New kiosk
Replace stream crossing with engineered ford crossing
Also it is worth noting that we do know about the trail becoming overgrown for about 1/2 mile where it crosses one of the fields. Currently our tractor with the bush hog is down for repairs but as soon as that is back in service this portion of the trail will be tended to.
If you have interest in helping state forest staff with invasive control or trail work at the Whitney please contact Terry Lasher or Joe Rossetti at the Faquier County office at (540) 347-6358. We are more than happy to have volunteers on board and you can even earn a free forest use permit good for one year from the completion of the necessary hours.
Regardless of the content of the comments, I am very happy to see that so many people are concerned about the Whitney State Forest. Concern equals care, if no one cared then no one would be concerned. Thank you for the love and devotion to this wonderful resource!
PS...If you would like to know more about identifying and controlling invasive plant species consider attending the Good Green, Bad Green Invasive Plant Control for Habitat Restoration Conference in Front Royal on September 16th and 17th. The website for more information is: http://www.forestryforthebay.org/ggbg/. This should be a very information workshop and well worth your time.
The Whitney State Forest Saga
There has been some interest on the blog as to what the future of the Whitney State Forest holds and more specifically what may be done concerning some of the invasive species found there. Here is a short synopsis of planned activities:
approximately 1 acre of kudzu control
approximately 15 acres of understory herbicide application in a Yellow Poplar stand to control invasives (Multiflora Rose, Wineberry, Bittersweet)
Approximately 11 acres of bittersweet control in the thinned area (cut and spray vines running up trees)
Burn the field (winter)
Plant shortleaf in the clearcut
Herbcide release of shortleaf seedlings over the next several years
Gravel for the parking lot
New kiosk
Replace stream crossing with engineered ford crossing
Also it is worth noting that we do know about the trail becoming overgrown for about 1/2 mile where it crosses one of the fields. Currently our tractor with the bush hog is down for repairs but as soon as that is back in service this portion of the trail will be tended to.
If you have interest in helping state forest staff with invasive control or trail work at the Whitney please contact Terry Lasher or Joe Rossetti at the Faquier County office at (540) 347-6358. We are more than happy to have volunteers on board and you can even earn a free forest use permit good for one year from the completion of the necessary hours.
Regardless of the content of the comments, I am very happy to see that so many people are concerned about the Whitney State Forest. Concern equals care, if no one cared then no one would be concerned. Thank you for the love and devotion to this wonderful resource!
PS...If you would like to know more about identifying and controlling invasive plant species consider attending the Good Green, Bad Green Invasive Plant Control for Habitat Restoration Conference in Front Royal on September 16th and 17th. The website for more information is: http://www.forestryforthebay.org/ggbg/. This should be a very information workshop and well worth your time.
approximately 1 acre of kudzu control
approximately 15 acres of understory herbicide application in a Yellow Poplar stand to control invasives (Multiflora Rose, Wineberry, Bittersweet)
Approximately 11 acres of bittersweet control in the thinned area (cut and spray vines running up trees)
Burn the field (winter)
Plant shortleaf in the clearcut
Herbcide release of shortleaf seedlings over the next several years
Gravel for the parking lot
New kiosk
Replace stream crossing with engineered ford crossing
Also it is worth noting that we do know about the trail becoming overgrown for about 1/2 mile where it crosses one of the fields. Currently our tractor with the bush hog is down for repairs but as soon as that is back in service this portion of the trail will be tended to.
If you have interest in helping state forest staff with invasive control or trail work at the Whitney please contact Terry Lasher or Joe Rossetti at the Faquier County office at (540) 347-6358. We are more than happy to have volunteers on board and you can even earn a free forest use permit good for one year from the completion of the necessary hours.
Regardless of the content of the comments, I am very happy to see that so many people are concerned about the Whitney State Forest. Concern equals care, if no one cared then no one would be concerned. Thank you for the love and devotion to this wonderful resource!
PS...If you would like to know more about identifying and controlling invasive plant species consider attending the Good Green, Bad Green Invasive Plant Control for Habitat Restoration Conference in Front Royal on September 16th and 17th. The website for more information is: http://www.forestryforthebay.org/ggbg/. This should be a very information workshop and well worth your time.
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