Green Goes To Brown, Walk Carefully In Metro Parks

[Paul Schrimpf]

This seems like a pretty clear explanation, which clearly includes use of herbicides as part of the plan.

[url] http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main ... ement.aspx [/url]

[Stephen Eisel]

253307_465797093499950_1118767966_n.jpg (47.98 KiB) Viewed 1220 times

http://althealthworks.com/ posted this pic on their FB page today...

[Terry Robison]

There have been some questions recently regarding our use of herbicide to control lesser celandine in Rocky River Reservation, and we would like to address your concerns. Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction in threatening the existence of native species(http://www.natureserve.org/consIssues/i ... pecies.jsp). The issue is non-partisan: in 1999, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13112, which recognized the need to halt the spread of invasive species and minimize the associated economical, ecological and human health impacts. President Bush’s budget for the 2003 fiscal year proposed an increase of $18 million in funding to the Department of the Interior for invasive species research and management.

Cleveland Metroparks has been managing invasive plants for decades, and we made a conscious decision to intensify management efforts 4 years ago because of an increase in the number of invasive species and their rate of spread. We did not take this decision lightly. We take an integrated pest management approach to invasive plant control by pulling, cutting and spraying herbicides to remove invasive plants. We plant native species and occasionally non-natives that are not invasive (e.g., Austrian pine for landscaping). Lesser celandine has unfortunately spread thickly through the Rocky River valley and elsewhere from its origin as a planted ornamental in neighboring yards. It is an agressive invader that inhibits native plants from growing and reproducing.

The herbicide we are using for lesser celandine control is Rodeo (manufactured by Dow Chemical) and contains the active ingredient glyphosate. Rodeo, unlike Roundup, is specifically labelled for use in and around aquatic areas and wildlife habitat areas. It does not contain the surfactant ingredient found in other glyphosate formulations that has been shown to have toxic effects.

We have received grants to work on invasive plants - it is an expensive undertaking. The US EPA and the Ohio Division of Natural Resources have provided funding to help us and others in the region combat invasive plants. We have received no funding from chemical manufacturers.

For more information on Cleveland Metroparks invasive species program, please see the following documents at:
http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main ... tions.aspx :

Cleveland Metroparks Invasive Plant Management Program
Lesser Celandine Control Workplan
Lesser Celandind Control Efforts Interim Report

[russell dunn]

Just wondering if any of the original photo documentary could be followed up
at the end of the growing season ?

Thanks