Invasive Phragmites control around Thurston Pond

[Colin Brooks]

Hi Thurston Nature Center Committee members & friends,

I finally talked with someone today who does Phragmites control as part of their business because I was really curious about costs.  I ended up talking with Mike Appel of Appel Environmental Design here in Ann Arbor.  We talked for quite a while, including about local invasive Phragmites control in a place like Thurston Pond, and much larger projects like the 300-acre area of Phragmites at the mouth of the Huron River that I talked about at our TNCC meeting last Thursday. Mike's specialty is in smaller projects.

Basically, to control the area of Phragmites around Thurston Pond, we are looking at a project which would cost less than $1,000.  I did an estimate of areas of Phragmites invasion in the pond and we have only about 1/3 acre. If we did some advance work like cutting the Phrag back some, that would help with costs.  Because of this, I don't think it's worth putting in a pre-proposal to the Sustain our Great Lakes opportunity where funding starts at $25,000 and they're looking to do "tens of acres" for invasives control. We're really not in that area of funding & doing Phrag control in other parts of the Huron River Watershed is a longer-term project.  

So currently I'm pursuing this idea of Phrag control with the local Natural Areas Program and Appel Environmental Design (I'm happy to talk with other companies as well). I would like to report back to the e-mail list as soon as next week on where we might go next with this.

Everyone's thoughts appreciated, as always!

- Colin

--
Colin Brooks
Research Scientist
Manager of Environmental Science Laboratory
Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI)
3600 Green Court, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Office Phone: 734-913-6858
Cell Phone: 734-604-4196
Fax: 734-913-6880
colin....@mtu.edu
www.mtri.org
www.glosaocmapping.org
www.mtti.mtu.edu/bridgecondition 

www.mtri.org/unpaved
--

[vcb...@aol.com]

Colin,

Thanks for doing this research. I'd be happy to help with the cutting if I am able. Just a thought, could Thurston be considered as part of a larger river/waterway project already planned, or would it a) not be valid or b) take too long?

By the way, I meant to ask before about the black fabric staked low down on the landside (as opposed to pondside) of the berm. What is its purpose and is it serving its purpose? If not, are there plans for removal?

Thanks.

Vicki Botek

[Cd...@aol.com]

It does not seem worth the effort to apply for the Sustain our Great Lakes grant.

 

For phragmites control at Thurston pond, will this be cutting the growth and applying weed killer?  If it involves a chemical application, we need discussion with the various groups at Ann Arbor Public Schools about doing this.

 

(I was out of town and that is why I missed the last TNCC meeting)

 

Barry Johnson