2008 Permission form
The following letter and permission form was sent to shoreline property owners on June 1st, and can be downloaded for easy printing in PDF format here. It must be returned by June 24, 2008.
If you need a copy or copies of this form to complete,
please download and print them from this link.
June 24, 2008 Public Meeting - proposed 2008 Phragmites Eradication Plan
Shoreline owners and interested individuals are asked to attend a public meeting on June 24, 2008 at the Peaine Township Hall at 7.p.m. This meeting is to discuss the proposed 2008 Phragmites Eradication Plan (Save Our Shores Program). A letter will be mailed on June 1st to all shoreline owners outlining this year's process. John Works, Peaine Township Supervisor, Don Vyse, St. James Township Supervisor, Brian Mastenbrook, DNR, and representatives from the Beaver Island Association (BIPOA) will be on hand to answer questions. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank those property owners who reviewed the information on Phragmites and participated in the treatment program.
Winter into Spring 2008 Phragmites update:
Thank you to all who participated in our 1st of many Phragmites control efforts or the Save our Shores Program. We are in the process of putting into place a revised 2008 treatment program which should be smaller in scope than our initial treatment last September. Brian Mastenbrook from the MI DNR has again offered his assistance with obtaining permits and the selection of the treatment company. He hopes to expand treatment to Garden and High Islands where small stands have been detected. The townships are addressing concerns of all Phragmites infected property owners participating in the program. The intention is to make the treatment as effective as possible while protecting the sensitive beaches which support the water quality of the Great Lakes along with wildlife habitat. In addition, property values can be affected which has the potential to erode Beaver Island’s tax base. It is with this in mind that the Beaver Island Association remains committed in their support of the project through all means necessary.
Research indicates that the seed heads may be more viable than previously thought. Seeds are shed in late winter and the seeds remain dormant until April/May in our area. The stalks of Phragmites die yearly. The new growth comes from the root system. All the stalks, which we see along our shoreline, are dormant dead material. It is expected that late May, green plants will not be flourishing in treated areas. A survey of treatment results is already planned with DNR, townships, SEAS, and BIA’s representative.
Bob Williams from Harsen’s Island is also battling Phragmites and offers the suggestion of using a 3.5” carbide circular saw blade on his weed whacker. This devise is similar to a tree or limb trimming saw. Upon property owner’s return, please inspect your shoreline. Remove all dead material. Please take care not to disturb the soil while cutting and removing seed heads. You may bag the seeds heads or place in small pile such as a fire pit and burn. One of the recommendations from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for larger denser stands is a tool called prescribed burn. It is only effective after an herbicide has been applied. If a burn takes place without the Phragmites being treated with an herbicide it will actually stimulate growth. Prescribed burns are to remove dense dead patches of Phragmites that may be a fire hazard next summer. It will remove stems and thatch and allow native species to regenerate. It will also make it easier to spot treat new growth.
If you had a significant stand on your property, it may prove advantageous to contact the fire department and participate in a prescribed burn this winter. Always check with the fire department first. Tim McDonough or Jim Wojan will be happy to discuss the options with you. This plant burns extremely hot and a burn should not be undertaken by untrained people. More information can be viewed at Michigan Prescribed Fire Council at www.firecouncil.org or www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ogl-ais-guide-PhragBook-Email_212418_7.pdf
Again, a wealth of Phragmites information can be found at the BIA produced website: www.agreatlakesjewel.org.
– Pam Grassmick
MUCC Article
Click here to read the Article in PDF format from Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine
November 2007 Update
The entire Beaver Island community can high five each other for pulling together as we battle to save our shoreline from invasive phragmites. As you are all aware, BIPOA has worked years to educate Islanders about this threat. We recognized that Beaver Island had much at stake. Once phragmites is established, it decreases the biodiversity of native plants and animals and impacts the health of the Great Lakes. There was the potential to lose five endangered or threatened species. With the degradation of our beaches come decreased property values and ultimately the erosion of our tax base. Tourism and hunting dollars could have been affected also. John Works, Don Vyse and both township boards are to be commended for working tirelessly on the SOS Project. Today we are 27.2 acres lighter, which is the area that the Superior Environmental And Aquatic Services treated. Property owners will continue to notice their stands dying and turning brown through the fall as the herbicide moves through the root system. Professionals and researchers who work in the area of phragmites control have reviewed photos and the evaluation process will continue through next year. As we all knew going into this as a community, it will be an ongoing fight. Plans are already in the process for the 2008 fall treatment. The coastal shoreline will need to be reassessed and changes based on data and thoughtful review will be put into place. BIPOA will pursue policy changes within the DEQ which will address bottom land issues regarding treatment in areas severely affected by low lake levels. There is much work yet to be accomplished but for now we need to say thank you to our townships, thank you for your faith and funding of this project, thanks to all the various educational opportunities, and Brian Mastenbrook from the Michigan DNR who was an essential member of the team. The SEAS treatment group also deserves recognition for their sensitivity and attention to our fragile coastal wetlands. Please look for opportunities to serve with this project next year as we request help from volunteers this spring.
– Pam Grassmick
PHRAGMITES CONTROL UPDATE
May 20, 2007
Aerial and ground surveys have found increased infestations of the invasive weed, phragmites australis, on both the state and private Lake Michigan shoreline. There are also significant patches on Font Lake and Lake Genesereth. Mature stands are 8 to 10 feet high and extremely dense. In response to this threat, the Beaver Island Property Owners Association is helping coordinate an initial program in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the townships. Brian Mastenbrook of the Gaylord MDNR office is applying for a permit for chemical treatment and state funding of application on state land by contracting with an experienced, insured, and licensed operator. The permit will include private land and offer shoreline landowners an opportunity to participate in a comprehensive program.. However, NO PROPERTY CAN BE CHEMICALLY TREATED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER.
This is expected to be a multi-year program in which the DNR will concentrate first on the Beaver Island shoreline and then move to the outlying islands where phramites are also spreading, primarily by wave action. The townships have budgeted initial amounts to participate in an inclusive program. Peaine Township has used a portion of its allocation to produce an informational DVD that will soon be available free in the library and the township office. BIPOA recommends that all who have property on any shoreline borrow and view this excellent source of information about identification and treatment.
Treatment with a commercial-grade herbicide is done either with ground spraying or individually wiping stalks. A 20 by 20 foot patch will cost at least $100. Burning or cutting stalks without removing the runners will not kill the plants. The runners, up to 20 feet long and often 6 inches under the surface, can be pulled only early in their growth and with great effort. Retail-grade herbicide is not approved for application and unlikely to be effective on mature plants. In short, control is going to require a concerted program over a period of years. The alternative is to lose significant sections o/f beach with consequent loss of natural beauty, recreational use, and property values.
When the permitting process is completed, BIPOA is expecting to coordinate a joint effort with MDNR, the CMU Biological Station, and the townships to contact all shoreline owners by mail and give them an opportunity to participate or reject treatment in this program. In the meantime, early onset of the weed can be dealt with by pulling stalks and runners and burning or bagging smaller plants. Phragmites are most often found in wet areas of plant growth, not on dunes or plant-free sand-and-rock beaches.
Jack Kelly
Alert: Beaver Island Shoreline Property Owners
Dear Friends,
We are writing to express our grave concern about the growth of phragmites australis (Reed Grass) on Beaver Island beaches. As a shoreline property owner, we want you to be aware of this exotic species, the harm it can cause and the possibility of eradication.
"Exotic" or "alien" is the term used for organisms that have been introduced into areas where they are not native. "They are considered to be among the most severe, worldwide agents of habitat alteration and degradation. They are a major cause in the continuing loss of biological diversity throughout the world. They have caused extinction of some native species. Exotic species can be thought of as 'biological pollutants.'" (Shoreline Best Management Practices, University of Minnesota Extension service)
Information about phragmites has been published in both island newspapers and in the BIPOA newsletter and there is currently an exhibit at the library with specimens of the plant and extensive information about its growth and development. If you have walked the beaches of the island, you are aware that there are large areas where phragmites is thriving. One of these areas is Cable Bay. The phragmites in this area is extensive and dense. Please view this site to see how destructive this plant can be.
However, Cable Bay is not the only area where phragmites is abundant. There are hearty patches all around the island: on Sand Bay, at the south end of Donegal, near the boat dock on Lake Geneserath, along Wicklow Beach, on Western Shores, along Iron Ore Bay, Green's Bay, Back Beach and Bonner's Landing. We are not being alarmist when we state that phragmites is invading our beaches.
The Northwest Community Health Department, BIPOA and the DNR are in the process of planning a treatment program for large areas of this invasive beach grass growing on state land on Beaver Island. Effective treatment is dependent upon: proper identification, application of the correct herbicide in the correct application dose and the correct season for application. Small areas of growth are best removed by shovel as soon as they are identified. Care must be taken in destroying the rhizomes; improper discarding of the plant may lead to propagation to another site. The DNR is presently doing a survey to determine the location and size of all of the patches that can be seen from the air. They are doing GPS locations and will determine whether the patches are on public or private land. The DNR also plans to begin a program of eradication on public lands this fall. It is anticipated that this will be a 3-5 year program.
This program of possible eradication on public lands is very positive; however, unless private property owners also work toward eradication, the problem will persist. It is extremely important that owners of shoreline property become educated and active in addressing this problem.
Here's what you can do:
*Educate yourself about phragmites
*Identify the plant
*Inform your neighbors
(If you are part of a neighborhood association, urge the
organization to become active in an eradication program.)
*Ask your neighborhood organization to fund an eradication program
*Contract with a licensed company for treatment
Ideally, neighborhood groups could schedule treatment to coincide with the DNR eradication program, which will begin this fall.
We urge you to consider carefully the importance of addressing this problem. All of us enjoy the wonderful beaches of Beaver Island. Can we protect them for current and future residents?
Resources:
Websites
Island folks who are willing to help with identification
Authorized companies for eradiction
Colliers Pest Control
Traverse City
231-947-3262
Angers Lakefront Service
Cedar, MI
231-228-3023
Procedure
1. Identification
2. Effective Herbicide
3. Correct application
Small Patch
Individuals can take action at any time
Pull or dig up rhizomes, being careful to lift up the entire
root
Dry the root and the rhizome and burn
In the fall, cut off seed pods and burn
Mid-sized patch
Authorized eradication company recommended
Fall treatment, swipe stem with cloth soaked in
Herbicide
Large patch
Authorized eradication company recommended
Fall treatment, spraying with herbicide
