[APWG] purple loosestrife

[Gary Schwetz]

Hi Cynthia,
We have been working with the Delaware Department of Transportation as
part of a consortium on a consulting basis for a number of years on a
project called Enhancing Delaware Highways.  Susan Barton from the
University of Delaware and Rick Darke LLC are the other principals on
our consulting team that we call RLE [Regional Landscape Enhancement.] A
main focus of this project has been counteracting invasive species and
establishing regionally appropriate alternative vegetation. Last year we
ran state-wide workshops for all maintenance personnel from mow
operators to district engineers.   You can get a general idea of the
project from our websites listed below and feel free to give me a call
if you have other questions.

-Gary
Gary Schwetz
Director of Programs
Delaware Center for Horticulture
302-658-6262 x31
www.dehort.org
www.regionalandscape.org 
Cultivating a Greener Community


-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia_Boettner at fws.gov [mailto:Cynthia_Boettner at fws.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 2:23 PM
To: ForestRuss at aol.com
Cc: APWG at lists.plantconservation.org;
APWG-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Re: [APWG] purple loosestrife






Dear Russ,
Thanks for the heads-up on the MA highway maintenance issue.  The
message spurred me to email the landscape architects for MA state
highways who have acted on the findings of the Massachusetts Invasive
Plant Advisory Group by
eliminating invasive plants from their planting plans.   I've asked them
for ideas as to how the maintenance crews can also be brought on board.
If anyone in other states have some words of wisdom, I would be happy
hear them.  This could help us with targeted outreach to all state
departments of transportation New England.

Best,
Cynthia

Cynthia Boettner
Coordinator, New England Invasive Plant Group (NIPGro)  and MA Invasive
Plant Advisory Group (MAIPAG) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Silvio O.
Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge 52 Avenue A Turners Falls, MA
01376

Phone:  413-863-0209  ext. 6
Fax: 413-863-3070
Email:  Cynthia_Boettner at fws.gov



 

                      ForestRuss at aol.com

                      Sent by:                              To:
APWG at lists.plantconservation.org                  
                      APWG-bounces at lists.plantconse         cc:

                      rvation.org                           Subject:
[APWG] purple loosestrife                         
 

 

                      07/14/2004 07:57 AM

 

 





APWG:

I just traveled back to central West Virginia after a couple of weeks
visiting family and vacationing in New England.

In the past couple of years I have become more aware of the identity of
multiple invasive plants that are causing serious ecological damage
throughout the eastern US.

The Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) crosses the Berkshires of southwestern
Massachusetts between Springfield, MA, and Albany, NY.  A 30 mile
stretch of the highway passes over some higher elevations and through a
lot of wetland areas and swamps that have ecological significance.

The road sides of I-90 are very well maintained.  Unfortunately, the
roadside maintenance crews are thinning around, mowing around and
generally promoting patches of purple loosestrife.  Although it does not
appear that purple loosestrife is a general component of the wetlands
along the I-90 corridor in the Berkshires, the way the plant is being
promoted by highway maintenance crews will certainly allow it to thrive
and spread.

Is there any program in place that would alert organizations such as the
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority of the destructive or invasive plants
that may spread along their right of way corridor?

Russ Richardson
Weston, WV  _______________________________________________
APWG mailing list
APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantcons
ervation.org





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