During
the summer of 2008, the Neponset River Watershed Association
began a five-year collaborative wetland restoration project
based in the Fowl
Meadow and at Brookwood Farm
(Milton and Canton), within the Blue Hills Reservation. NepRWA's
project partner is the MA Department of Conservation and
Recreation - South Region, and our project advisor is the
Wetlands Restoration Program of the MA Office of Coastal Zone
Management. Supported by funding from the Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership,
the Department of Conservation and Recreation Partnerships
Matching Funds program, the NLT Foundation, the William
P. Wharton Trust, and The Norcross Wildlife Foundation,
Inc., and with the assistance of a strong corps of volunteers,
we are applying a biological control method to reduce the
Purple loosestrife infestation in the targeted wetlands. In
this way, we will improve the ecological value of the
wetlands,
encouraging the growth of native wetland plants and
improving native wildlife habitat.
This
is NepRWA's
first wetland restoration project under our Pilot
Wetland Restoration Program, and it focuses on reducing infestations of
Purple loosestrife
(Lythrum salicaria) because of the rapidity with which the plant spreads and simultaneously degrades wildlife habitat in the Neponset River Watershed. Once Purple loosestrife establishes a foothold in a
local wetland, it spreads until it dominates and essentially crowds out the native wetland vegetation relied upon by
native wildlife. A wetland dominated by Purple loosestrife does not provide
the array of ecological benefits of a wetland full of native wetland plants. This
issue is of particular concern at Fowl Meadow, where there
are known state-listed endangered, threatened, and special
concern species.
"Biological control," or using a living organism
to control a species, has proven effective at reducing Purple loosestrife infestations and improving wetland wildlife habitat. The two
Galerucella beetle species
(G. pusilla and G. calmariensis) that we are using feed primarily on Purple loosestrife plants, and feed very little if at all on other plant species.
Their appropriateness for use as biological control beetles
here in the USA has been tested since 1986. Since 2000, they
have been incorporated into a Purple loosestrife biocontrol
program by the Wetland Restoration Program of the MA Office
of Coastal Zone Management. These beetles are currently
being used throughout New England for similar Purple
loosestrife biocontrol projects.
Over five consecutive
summers of beetle releases, we will establish a
self-sustaining population of Galerucella beetles in the project treatment
areas. These beetles will continually control the populations of Purple
loosestrife, even after the end of the 5-year project. The
beetle
populations will rise and fall on-site, depending on the
availability of Purple loosestrife, the weather, the
reproduction and mortality rates of Galerucella, the
influx of Galerucella from other areas, the migration
of Galerucella away from the sites, and the presence of
beetle-eating predators.
During
the first year of this project, we purchased all of the
biocontrol beetles. However, during the 2nd through 5th
project years, volunteers will help to raise the majority of
the beetles.
Over
five years, through review of data from site-monitoring
sessions both prior to and after each year's beetle
releases, we will assess whether this biocontrol method is an effective means for controlling and reducing Purple loosestrife populations at the treatment sites.
The project work will strengthen the organizational capacity of the project partners to implement future
wetland restoration projects, as well as inform the wetland restoration efforts of other land managers.
PROPOSED
PROJECT OUTCOMES
-
Restoration of 26.5 acres of wetlands offering high-quality habitat for endangered animal and plant species
-
Restoration of wetland sites significant for their ecological function, their service as educational tools for children and adults, and the recreational opportunities they offer to Metro Boston residents
-
Protection of an additional 200+ acres of wetlands by reducing the probability of their infestation with Purple loosestrife seed
-
Increased biodiversity
-
Public education and involvement in local ecological restoration efforts, including hands-on learning opportunities for youth and adult volunteers
-
Increased capacity of project partners to tackle wetland restoration projects
View
pictures of the project
sites. View native
plants that will flourish once the Purple loosestrife
infestation is reduced and wildlife we have witnessed at
the treatment sites!
This is a great project to get involved in! We
highly recommend participating. All are welcome - individuals, families,
groups of adults, students and/or kids. Learn
more. For more information, contact Carly rocklen@neponset.org,
781-575-0354 x303.
Oct.
2009
