Go Tigers!!!!

                                             All I can say in the blog entry today is Go Tigers!!!! 

Lots has been happening with Oakland Phragmites & Invasive Species Task Force which I will note in next weeks posting. Tonight it is rooting on the Tigers!!!! 

2013 Oakland County Trails, Water & Land Alliance

The Oakland County Trails, Water & Land Alliance, TWLA, held it Fall meeting, October 3, 2013 at Toll Gate Farm & Education Center, Michigan State University in Novi Michigan. 

Amy Beyer, Director, Conservation Resource Alliance was the keynote speaker. Beyer spoke on Preserving Northern Michigan's Natural Resources.  It is fascinating what they are doing in northern Michigan to bring back the natural flow of the rivers and streams by removing the Sabin, Boardman and Brown Bridge Dams. In removing these obsolete structures, the rivers are returned to a more natural state as a free-flowing cold water river for fishing and other sports. This removal project also returns the natural flow and lay of the surrounding lands to a more natural setting. 

I was really interested in her aside mention of the Wild Link program. It is a program where private homeowners voluntarily develop or modify their land to keep wild life corridors open for animal movement. I thought, why couldn't we do something like this with removing invasive plants and trees? Everyone will benefit, and everyone is responsible for their land. The burden of removing invasive plants and trees would be on every the property owner and then corridors of restored land would be available for the introduction of native habitats. This includes the privately owned homes, commercial properties, municipalities and roadways. It is a thought..... remember what Margaret Mead said," Never Doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, its the only thing that ever has" . 

The other speakers were all excellent in their topics. Jon Noyes, Oakland County Parks & Recreation spoke about the Oxford Park Project and why it failed. Ken Walters, MDEQ, talked about a statewide management plan for aquatic invasive species.

  Chris Hillier, Long Distance Hiker, hiker of the 2200 mile Appalachian Trail and the 2600 mile Pacific Crest Trail spoke about his adventures and how he is the first person to hike the newly established Pure Michigan Trail, Detroit Belle Isle to Ironwood. 

Visit their website for upcoming events and think about attending one of their meetings.  TWLA is an organization that is worth looking into and volunteering your time if you are interested in preserving Oakland Counties Trails, Water and Land. 

Spraying the Phragmites

Mid September 2013, David Mindell, PlantwiseLLC, the licensed contractor hired by the City of the Village of Clarkston came and sprayed the Phragmite stand on Middle Lake, White Lake Road, Depot Park. The third and final step for 2013 to remove the monoculture of Phragmites on Middle Lake, White Lake Road, Depot Park.

After one week, the phragmites were starting to turn yellow, the plant was beginning to trans locate the chemical to its rhizomes.... the only way to stop its growth.

Three weeks into the spaying:

 I would say the efforts put forth by The City of the Village of Clarkston, Independence Township, DPW, North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, Wild Ones, North Oakland Chapter, Deer Lake private Homeowners and Homeowner Associations and Oakland Phragmites & Invasive Species Task Force have been successful.