08-17-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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c � leaf cattail and purple loostrite. By producing these large monoculture areas, the biological diversity is then essentially homogeruizing to thai of one liabitat structure. Reed canary grass grows from seed, stem fragments, and rhizomes. Within one growing season, the rhizomes in the soil produce a dense mass which will out compete the native plants already rooted in the soil. Reed canary grass is a facultative wetland species meaning that it can grow under a variety of hydrologic conditions. The grass tends to be faund in moist or wet soiis and can tolerate water conditions ranging finm high water levels to drought like conditions. Reed canary grass is a persistent and tenacious Eurasian plant species that has been planted throughout the U.S since the 1800's. At the time, the grass was known for its large forage yields and emsion control abilities but as time went on other characteristics of the plant were recognized. Some of those characteristics include its prolific seed dispersal, robust vegetative growth, and dense network of underground rhizomes with thousands of dormant buds (Wisconsin Reed Canary Grass Management Working Group, 2009). Similar to buckthoin, the seed bank can last for up to 6 years meaning that fallow up management will need to take place following the eradication of tlie invasive plant species. Reed canary grass is one of the fust wetland plants to emerge in the spring and therefore is capable o£ shading out other native plants that emerge later. To eliminate reed canary grass, it is necessary to replant immediately with plant species that can out compete any residual plants or seeds, and retard erosion (Rhodes and Block, 2002). A list of the seed mixture for wetland buffer A can be found in Attachmen# C. The recommended way to eradicate the reed caziary grass for this lacation is by using gtyphosate. The best sequence for eradicating severe infestations of reed canary grass is to apply the glyphosate in the faIl followed by a prescribed burn during the winter or eariy spring to burn off the dead thatch. Then spray agai.n in the spring to kill the seedlings germinating from the seed-bank (3acobson, 2006). The timing of these activities is exttemely important for #his method work effeetively. Another control method is to mow the reed canary grass in late June and follow up with a late August or early September treatment with glyphosate by promoting active leaf growth. .Also if a fa11 application of glyphosate is chosen, then no mowing should be conducted after Ju1y 15. Tt is important that these time periods are followed for a successful eradication of the reed canary grass. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR REED CANARY GRASS Year I Fall App�ication of Glyphosste (Rodeo, Roandup): A fall application of glyphosate will kill off nearly 100% of the e�usting reed canary grass. Make sure fhat the plant is still physiologically aetive befare spraying. Year 2 Late Wenter/Early Spring Burn: This burn should take place 30+ da,ys after the fall appiication of the glyphosate. Svoboda Ecological Resources 10 185-225 Old Crystal Bay Road Project Na.:2015-013 Homestead Partners