SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS...2920 Mt. Carmel Ave., Glenside PA 19038 | 215-886-9740 ! [email protected] SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FLOODPLAIN WOODLANDS

2920Mt.CarmelAve.,GlensidePA19038|215-886-9740! [email protected]

SHORT-TERMMANAGEMENTRECOMMENDATIONS

FLOODPLAINWOODLANDSLakeRolandNatureCenter

LakeRolandPark|Baltimore,MD

June12,2018

I. ExistingConditionsSummary....................................................................2

II. Short-TermManagementObjectives........................................................6

III. Short-TermManagementStrategiesOverview........................................7

IV. GlossaryofShort-TermManagementTasks.............................................9

AppendixA: ObservedVegetation

AppendixB: BrushPileGuidelines

NOTE:

• THISMANUALPROVIDESRECOMMENDATIONSFORSHORT-TERMWOODLANDMANAGEMENTEXCLUSIVEOFNEWPLANTINGS.WHILECOMPREHENSIVE,THISDOCUMENTCANNOTADDRESSALLSCENARIOSTHATMAYBEENCOUNTEREDINTHEFIELDORREPLACEASSESSMENTBYNATIVEHABITATEXPERTS.PLEASECONSULTLWLAWITHANYMANAGEMENTQUESTIONS.

• WORKALONGWATERWAYSANDWITHINWETLANDSCANBESUBJECTTOSTATEANDFEDERALREGULATIONS.WORKSHOULDNOTBECOMMENCEDUNTILPERMITREQUIREMENTSHAVEBEENIDENTIFIEDANDOBTAINEDIFNECESSARY.

• ANYHERBICIDEAPPLICATIONSSHOULDOCCURINCOMPLIANCEWITHALLREGULATIONSANDTHEHERBICIDELABEL.

LAKEROLANDNATURECENTER|Short-TermManagementRecommendationsforFloodplainWoods_2018-0612|page2of17

I.EXISTINGCONDITIONSSUMMARY

ThefloodplainwoodswestoftheLakeRolandNatureCenter—approximatelysixacresoutlinedinorangeabove—exhibitcharacteristicstypicalofdisturbedearly-successionalwoodlandhabitat.TheareaoutlinedaboveextendswestwardfromtheNatureCentertothelargeJapaneseKnotweedcolonynearthelightrailstation.

Theoldestpubliclyavailableaerialphotographyfromthe1930sshowsthisareatobelargelytreeless,possiblyusedforcrops,pasture,orotherhumanactivities.Iftheareahadbeenplowedforcropsorthesoilotherwisesignificantlydisturbed,thishistoryaffectsherbaceousgroundlayervegetationthatmightnaturallyemergetoday.Morespecializednativespeciesarelesslikelytooccurnaturallyiftheareawasintensivelyusedforagricultureorotheractivities.

Bythe1960s,aerialphotographyshowstheareatobeinsomeformofwoodygrowth,likelyearly-successionalshrubsandtrees.Artificialpitandmoundtopographyaswellasdebrispilesindicatesignificantsoildisturbanceoccurredatsomepointintime.Suchdisturbancelikelyalterednaturalwaterflow,soilarchitecture,andmayhaveencouragedweedygrowthbyprovidingopportunitiesforweedseedstogerminate.Soilruttingfrommechanizedequipmentisalsoevident.

JONESFALLS

LIGHT

RAIL


Today,acombinationofnativeandexoticvegetationispresentinthesefloodplainwoods,withexoticvegetationoccurringprimarilyintheunderstory.Invasiveexoticvegetationisparticularlyabundantalongwoodlandedgesandinsunnygaps.Shadierinteriorwoodlandsectionsarelessinvaded,anoftencommonscenario.Invasiveexoticsthatarepresentininteriorsectionsoccurprimarilyintheunderstoryattheherb,vine,andshrublevels.

Nativevegetationwithinthesefloodplainwoodsappearstoconsistpredominantlyofgeneralistspecies,asiscommoninareaswithahistoryofanthropogenicdisturbancetosoilsandvegetation.Analysisduringthegrowingseason(LWLAassessedthesiteinNovember2016andDecember2017)couldconfirmwhethermorespecializedspeciesarepresent,althoughgiventhesite’shistorythisseemsunlikely.

ForalistofspeciesobservedduringLWLAsitewalks,seeAppendixA.Notethatmappingofvegetationlocationswithintheprojectareawasoutsideprojectscope.

Thefloodplainwoodsassessedfeaturesthreemaintypologies:

Typology1:Edgesdominatedbyexoticvinesandshrubswithscatterednativeandexoticherbs

WoodlandedgesexistalongJonesFalls,theboardwalk,nearthelightrailstation,andbehindtheNatureCenterbuilding.South-facingedges—likethosealongJonesFalls—experiencegreaterlightexposurethannorth-facingedges(suchasalongtheboardwalk)oreast-facingedges(behindtheNatureCenter).Woodlandedgeswithgreaterlightexposureareoftenmorepronetoinvasion.

Thewoodlandedgesaredominatedbyexoticvines—suchasSweetAutumnClematis(Clematisterniflora)—aswellasexoticshrubssuchasShrubHoneysuckle(Loniceraspp.)andtheexoticannualJapaneseStiltgrass(Microstegiumvimineum).NativegeneralistspeciessuchasCanadaGoldenrod(Solidagocanadensis),CreekSedge(Carexamphibola),andFrostAster(Symphyotrichumpilosum)areoccasionallypresent.

Giventhesite’shistoryandtherelativelylimitedpresenceofnativespecies,widespreadnaturalregenerationofdesirablenativegroundlayerspeciesisunlikely.Inlargerareaswhereinvasiveexoticspeciesareremoved,atemporarycovercroporpermanentplantingwillbenecessarytostabilizesoilsandcompeteagainstweedreemergenceandfurtherinvasion.


Typology2:SunnyinteriorgapsdominatedbyexoticvinesandJapaneseStiltgrass

Sunnygapsexistwheretreefallhasoccurredwithinthewoodlandinteriorornearwoodlandedges.JapaneseStiltgrass(Microstegiumvimineum)andSweetAutumnClematis(Clematisterniflora)dominatemanyofthesegaps.

Giventhesite’shistoryandtherelativelylimitedpresenceofdesirablenativegroundlayerspecies,widespreadnaturalregenerationofdesirablenativegroundlayerspeciesisunlikely.Thus,inlargerareaswhereinvasiveexoticspeciesareremoved,atemporarycovercroporpermanentplantingwillbenecessarytostabilizesoilsandcompeteagainstweedreemergenceandfurtherinvasion.

Typology3:Shadedwoodlandinteriorwithnativedominatedcanopyandmixednative-exoticunderstory

Muchoftheassessedareaconsistsofmoreinterior-typewoodlandconditionscomparedtothesunnierwoodlandedgesandgaps.Asignificantpercentageofthisareaisclassifiedaswetland;remainingportionsexhibitmesicsoilconditions.

Sedgesappeartomakeupmostofthenativegroundlayervegetationininteriorareas,andoccurinsomeinstancesinfairlydensepatches.Suchpatchesshouldbeprotectedfromdisturbanceandencouragedtoexpandthroughspotcontrolofanyintermingledproblemweedsand,wherepossible,aidedseeddistribution.

Thepresenceofsomedesirablenativegroundlayervegetationmeanspotentialexistsforsomenaturalregenerationofdesirablenativeherbaceousspeciesasproblemweeds


arecontrolled.Inlargerareaswhereinvasiveexoticspeciesareremoved,atemporarycovercroporpermanentplantingmaybenecessarytostabilizesoilsandcompeteagainstweedreemergenceandfurtherinvasion.

AdditionalObservations

1. Wormcastingsandlackofaforestdufflayerindicatethepresenceofinvasiveexoticearthworms,asevidentinthephotoatright.Invasiveexoticearthwormsalternutrientcycling,soilconditions,andadverselyaffectplantregenerationbyeliminatingthedufflayer,whichnormallyprovidesconditionsforseedlingdevelopment,particularlyofnativeherbaceousspecies.

Artificiallyaddingleafduff,usingpineneedlemulch,andplantinggeneralistwoodlandspeciesrepresentwaystorespondtoinvasiveearthwormpresence.WhileloweringsoilpHthroughsulphurapplicationshasbeenshowntodiscourageearthwormsinsomeinstances,itisnotrecommendedheregiventhatitsimpactonnativewoodlandvegetation(particularlycanopy-leveltrees)isunclear.

Sincetherearepresentlynoeconomicallyfeasiblemethodsoferadicatinginvasiveexoticearthworms,preventingagainstintroductionofadditionalornewspeciesisimportant.Parkvisitorscouldbeeducatedtonotdumpworms(includingcompostingworms)withintheparkandtoproperlydisposeofunwantedwormbaitinthetrash.Anynewcontainer-grownplantingsorrootballsshouldalsobecarefullyinspectedforwormsandanyfoundwormsdestroyed.

2. Asevidencedbybrowseonbrowse-preferredplants(example:Privet),deerbrowseappearstobesignificantwithintheprojectarea,asislikelywithinthelargerParkitself.Treeandshrubregenerationappearslimitedwithintheprojectarea,possiblydueinparttodeerbrowse.Deerbrowselikelyaffectsherbaceousspeciespresentaswell,limitingherbaceouscompositiontomorebrowse-resistantspecieslikesedgesandferns.

Methodsforreducingdeerbrowsewillneedtobeconsideredforanynewplantings.Commonmethodsofpreventingagainstdeerbrowseinclude:1)sprays,2)deerexclusions,3)useofbrowseresistantspecies,4)companionplantingsofbrowse-resistantspecieswithbrowse-sensitivespeciesand5)cagesforshrubsandtrees.


II.SHORT-TERMMANAGEMENTOBJECTIVES

Managementproceduresrecommendedinthisdocumentaredesignedto:

• Enhancetheecologicalhealth,aesthetics,andhabitatvalueoffloodplainwoodsbehindtheLakeRolandNatureCenter.

• Addressexistingproblemweedsandpreventtheirexpansion.

• Minimizeinvasionbynewproblemweeds.

• Enablenaturalrecruitmentandregenerationwherepossible.

• Setthestageforsubsequentrestorationworkasbudgetallows.

• Providemanagementstrategiesthatcanbeimplementedbyvolunteers,wherepossible.

• Educatevolunteers,Parkvisitors,andothersinsite-specific,bestmanagementpractices.


III.MANAGEMENTSTRATEGIESOVERVIEW

STRATEGY

SeeSectionIVfortaskdescriptions.

TASKSFORPROFESSIONALS

POSSIBLEVOLUNTEERTASKS

TIMING

KEY

"Plantingplanshouldbeinplacewherenaturalregenerationcannotadequatelyrecolonizelargetreatedareas.Plantingcouldconsistofatemporarycovercroporlong-termvegetation.

✪Taskmayrequirevolunteersbeapprovedforuseofbladesand/orpowerequipment

†PossibletestplotstocomparecontroltechniquesofLesserCelandine

WEEDCONTR

OL

Dormant-seasonweedcontrolofevergreenweedsandlargeshrub/brambleinfestations

HerbicidetreatmentofevergreenweedslikeJapaneseHoneysuckleandGarlicMustardNote:Usebroadleaf-specificherbicidetoavoiddamagingexistingnativesedges.Avoidfernfrondswhereevident.

OversightofforestrymowinginareasdominatedbyBushHoneysuckle,MultifloraRose,Privet,Wineberry"

CuttingofEnglishIvyvinesgrowingverticallyontrees✪

ForestrymowinggapsandedgesdominatedbyBushHoneysuckle,Multiflora,Privet,Wineberry✪ "

HandpullingsmallinfestationsofGarlicMustard(priortoseedset)Note:Donotpull/cutJapaneseHoneysuckleasitrespondswithrampantresprouting.

Nov.–March

EarlyspringcontrolofLesserCelandine

HerbicidetreatmentofLesserCelandine†

MonitoringoftestplotscomparingLesserCelandinecontroltechniques,applicationrates,andtiming

March–April

Mustbetreatedwheninflower

Springpre-emergenttreatmentforJapaneseStiltgrass

Pre-emergentherbicideapplicationtopreventgerminationofJapaneseStiltgrass

Monitoringfollowingpre-emergenttreatmentsandhandpullingofisolatedinstancesofemergentJapaneseStiltgrass

Spring(2-3weeksbeforeseedgermination)

Growing-seasonweedcontrolofdeciduousweedsandscatteredshrubs,brambles,andvines

Herbicideapplications,including:

− Broadcast/spottreatments,includingtoanyareassubjecttoforestrymowing"

− Cutandpainttreatments(cuttingcouldbedonebyvolunteersimmediatelyinadvanceofherbicidetreatment)

Cuttingwoodygrowthjustpriortostumpherbicidetreatment✪

Handpullingsmall,localizedinfestationsofJapaneseStiltgrass

HandremovalofexoticherbaceousvinessmotheringnativeshrubsNote:Donotpull/cutJapaneseHoneysuckleasitrespondswithrampantresprouting.

Stringtrimmingvegetationtreatedwithherbicide(wheredesired)twoweeksafterapplication ✪

Throughoutgrowingseasonasnecessary


STRATEGY

SeeSectionIVfortaskdescriptions.

TASKSFORPROFESSIONALS

POSSIBLEVOLUNTEERTASKS

TIMING

KEY

"Plantingplanshouldbeinplacewherenaturalregenerationcannotadequatelyrecolonizelargetreatedareas.Plantingcouldconsistofatemporarycovercroporlong-termvegetation.

✪Taskmayrequirevolunteersbeapprovedforuseofbladesand/orpowerequipment

†PossibletestplotstocomparecontroltechniquesofLesserCelandine

MaintainamanagementbufferaroundthelargeweedJapaneseKnotweedcolonythatcannotbefeasiblycontrolledintheshortterm

Delineatingmanagementbuffer

SpotherbicideapplicationstoJapaneseKnotweedextendingbeyondthemanagementline.

Goal:PreventexpansionofJapaneseKnotweed(aclonalspecies)intowoodlandinterior/woodlandgaps.

MonitoringforJapaneseKnotweedoutsidemanagementbuffer

Anytimeduringgrowingseasonfordelineatingmanagementbuffer

Latesummerforherbicideapplications

MONITORING

Monitorprojectarea,particularlyedgesandwhereverweedcontrol/disturbanceoccurs

MonitoringNote:AtrainedVolunteerMonitoringCorpscouldbeestablishedtomonitorprojectareas.SuchagroupcouldalsointerfacewithParkvisitorsinterestedinwoodlandmanagementactivities.

Winter/earlyspring

Latespring

Mid/latesummer

VISU

ALENHAN

CEMEN

T Cutfallenbranches/deadwoodtothegroundtoenhanceaestheticsandpromotedecomposition

Oversightofpathlayout Cuttingofbranches/deadwood(mayrequireuseofachainsaw) ✪

Layingbranchesalongpathwaysasdesired

Creatingbrushpilesforwildlifeasdesired

Anytime

Note:Workwillbeeasiestinfall/winterwhenvegetationisdormant.

NOTES

1. Adjusttimingoftaskslistedaboveasnecessaryinaccordancewithweedemergenceandseasonalvariations.

2. Thetaskslistedabovevaryinscopeandamountofworkrequired.Nextstepswilldependuponbudgetandresourcesavailable.Prioritiesinclude:

− Weedswithminimalpresencethatcouldexpandifnotcontrolled(example:GarlicMustard,)− Areasofhigherqualitynativegrowth(example:interiorwoodlandsectionswithsedgesandferns)− Highvisibilityareas(example:aroundtheNatureCenterorareasvisiblefromtheboardwalk)


IV.GLOSSARYOFSHORT-TERMWOODLANDMANAGEMENTTASKS

TASK TASKDESCRIPTIONS

KEY

"Aplantingplanshouldbeinplacewherenaturalregenerationcannotadequatelyrecolonizelargetreatedareas.Plantingscouldconsistoftemporarycovercropormorepermanent,long-termvegetation.

★ Taskrecommendedforqualifiedprofessional.✪ Taskmayrequirevolunteersbeapprovedforuseofbladesand/orpowerequipment.

✪ Cutdeadwood/fallenbranchestothegroundtoenhanceaestheticsandpromotedecomposition

Timing:Nov.–Marchorwhenpossible.

Cutdeadwoodandfallenbranchestothegroundusinghandtoolsandpowerequipmentasnecessary.Workisideallyscheduledforlatefall/winterwhenherbaceousvegetationisdormant,deadwoodismostvisible,anddamagetoexistinggrowthwillbeminimized.

Prioritizevisuallyprominentlocations,includingalongpaths.Cutwoodcanbeleftonthegroundtodecomposenaturally,usedtolinepathsifdesired,and/orusedtoconstructbrushpilesforwildlifeinlessvisuallyprominentlocations.(SeeAppendixBforguidelinesonbuildingbrushpiles.)

RATIONALE:Cuttingdeadwoodandfallenbranchestothegroundenhancesaesthetics,allowsforviewsthroughoutthewoodland,andpromotesdeadwooddecomposition.Deadwoodatthegroundlevelalsoserveas“nurselogs”fornaturalregenerationduetotheabsenceofcompetitionandmoistureretainedbytherootingwood.Conductingworkduringthedormantseasonavoidsdamagingdesirableherbaceousgrowthdormantduringthisperiod.

✪ CutEnglishIvyVinesgrowingverticallyontrees

Timing:Nov.–Marchorwhenpossible

WalkprojectareatoidentifyforthepresenceofEnglishIvy(Hederahibernica)ontrees(observedbyLWLAascendingtreeslocatednorthwestoftheNatureCenterbuilding,neartheboardwalk).CuttingcanoccuratanypointinthegrowingseasonbutisrecommendedforthedormantseasonforeaseofobservingtheEnglishIvyandtominimizetramplingofdesirableherbaceousgrowth.

UsehandtoolstocutEnglishIvyvinesfromthetreestopreventthevinesfromascendingintothecanopy.Cutandremoveallvinesfromthebottomcircumferenceofeachtree,takingcaretoavoiddamagingthetree’sbark.Ifneeded,useatrowelorlargescrewdrivertogentlypryorloosen(butnotdig)thevinesfromthetrunktoenablecuttingofthevineswithoutharmingthetree.Maketheclearedmarginaroundthebaseapproximatelytwotothreefeethigh.ClearvinesatleastafootawayfromthetrunkbaseandmonitorthisareaforIvyreemergence.Donotleavecutvinesonthegroundascuttingsincontactwiththesoilcanresprout.

Larger,thickervinesrootedintothetrunkwillneedtobeseveredwithaprunerorsmallsaw(withoutcuttingthetreebark)andthecutsurfaceimmediatelytreatedwith

TasksreferencedinSectionIIIaredetailedbelowinalphabeticalorder.Color-codingbelowcorrespondstocodingusedinthechartinSectionIII.Therationaleforeachtaskisasnoted.ContactLWLAwithanyquestionsregardingtaskdescriptions.



KEY



herbicide.

Toavoiddamagingthetree,donotattempttopullvinesoutofthetrees.

Notes:

• EnglishIvyvinesontreesatLakeRolandwerecutpreviously.Vinesarebeginningtoregenerate,however,andarere-ascendingtreetrunks.

• SapofEnglishIvycancausedermatitisinsomeindividuals.Cautionshouldbeusedwhenhandlingcutvines.

• PoisonIvy(Toxicodendronradicans)sometimesco-occurswithEnglishIvy.Whiletoxictohumans,thisplantisbeneficialtowildlifeandisnotrecommendedforremovalunlessinaheavilytraffickedarea.PoisonIvycanbedistinguishedbyitsfine,reddishclingingroots.

RATIONALE:CuttingEnglishIvyvinesfromtreetrunksandpreventingthevinesfromascendingintothecanopyreducesstressontreesandminimizesIvy’sabilitytoformfruit.Timingthecuttingforthedormantseasonminimizestramplingdamagetodesirablegroundlayervegetation.

✪ "Forestrymowlargeareasofinvasiveshrubs,brambles,andwoodyvines

Timing:Nov–March

Flaganydesirablevegetation(bestdoneunderoversightofaprofessional).Forestrymowunflaggedvegetationwithinthetargetarea.Timemowingforthedormantseasontominimizedamagetodesirableherbaceousgrowth.

Oncethegrowingseasonresumes,flaganydesirablegrowththathasemergedinthemownarea.Treatanyemergentundesirablevegetationusingappropriateherbicidemethods(cutandpaintorspotfoliarapplication).

RATIONALE:Forestrymowingisanefficientwaytotargetlargeareasofinvasiveshrubs,brambles,andwoodyvines.Thebladesontheforestrymowerpulverizestems,reducingresprouting.Cuttingdownmaturegrowthratherthansprayingitreducesneedforherbicideapplicationsandherbicidedrift.

HandpullGarlicMustard

Timing:Latewinter/earlyspring

Hand-pullbasalrosettesofGarlicMustard(Allariapetiolata).Pullgentlyandsteadilytoensurethattheentirerootisremovedasremainingrootfragmentscanresprout.Tofacilitateremoval,removalwillneedtobetimedforwhenthegroundismoistandnotfrozen.Removaloftimingisrecommendedforlatewinterorearlyspringinordertominimizetramplingdamagetodesirableherbaceousgrowth.

Firmlytampthegroundwhereplantshavebeenremoved.Compostorotherwisedisposeofpulledgrowthasindividualsleftlyingonthegroundcanre-root.Second



KEY



yearplantscanstillproduceseedafterbeingremovedandshoulddisposedofsuchthatthedisposedplantsdonotcontaminatethedisposalorcompostingsite.

RATIONALE:Duetoitsrootmorphology,GarlicMustardcangenerallybepulledwithoutdisturbinganyneighboringdesirablegrowth.Duetoitsdistinctgarlicsmell,GarlicMustardcanbereadilyidentifiedbyvolunteers.Timingpullingforlatewinter/earlyspringisintendedtominimizetramplingdamageandavoidconfusionwithanyintermingleddesirableherbaceousspecies.

Handpullsmall,localizedinfestationsofJapaneseStiltgrass

Timing:Mid/latesummerpriortoseedset

Handpullingcanbeusedtocontrolisolated,smalloccurrencesofJapaneseStiltgrass(Microstegiumvimineum),suchasundertheNatureCenterbuildingorelsewhereinthewoodland.Handpullingismosteffectivelateinthegrowingseasonpriortoflowering(pullingsmallplantsearlierintheseasonistimeconsumingandseedscancontinuegerminatingwellintothegrowingseasonfollowingpullingefforts).Firmlytampthegroundwhereplantshavebeenremoved.Pulledplantsshouldbebaggedandremovedtopreventseedsfrommaturinganddispersingafterplantsarepulled.

RATIONALE:Handpullingsmall,localizedinfestationsofJapaneseStiltgrasscanpreventsatellitepopulationsandreducespreadofthisproblemweedtootherareas.Duetotheplant’srootmorphology,theplantcanbepulledwithoutdisturbingintermingledvegetation.Attemptingtohandpulllarge-scaleinfestationsisinmostcasesnotfeasible.

✪ Handremoveexoticherbaceousvinessmotheringnativeshrubs

Timing:Duringgrowingseasonasneeded(priortofruitproductionontargetvegetation)

Identifytargetvines—suchasSweetAutumnClematis(Clematisterniflora)—growingondesirablenativeshrubs,suchasSpicebush(Linderabenzoin).Timeremovalforpriortofruitproduction.Removevinegrowthcarefullytoavoiddamagingthedesirableshrub.Bagorcompostpulledvines.Monitorforandremoveanyregrowth.

DonotpullJapaneseHoneysuckle(Lonicerajaponica),whichrespondstodisturbancewithrampantresprouting.

Removinginvasiveexoticvinesfrominvasiveexoticshrubsisnotrecommendedforhandpullingastheseinstancesaremoreefficientlytargetedthroughforestrymowing.

RATIONALE:Removingexoticherbaceousvinessmotheringnativeshrubsisdoablebyvolunteers,avoidsherbicideapplicationthatriskcollateraldamagetotheshrub,releasestheshrubfromcompetitiontoallowforfullphotosynthesis.Removingthevinesalsoremovesplantscontributingtotheweedseedbank.



KEY



★ Herbicidecutandpainttreatmentsofscatteredinvasiveshrubs,brambles,andwoodyvines

Timing:Duringgrowingseasonasneeded

Flagalltargetvegetation.Cuttargetvegetationasclosetothegroundaspossible(cuttingcanbedonebyvolunteersaslongascuttingoccursimmediatelypriortoherbicideapplication–✪ ).Immediatelypaintorlightlysprayherbicideontothefreshcutstumppertheherbicidelabel.

RATIONALE:Cutandpainttreatmentsareappropriatewhereforestrymowingisnotfeasibleduetothescatteredoccurrencesoftargetvegetationorthepresenceofdesirablenativespecies.Cutandpainttreatmentsalsorepresenthighlylocalizedherbicideapplicationsminimizingenvironmentalimpact.

★ "Herbicidepre-emergenttreatmenttargetingJapaneseStiltgrass

Timing:Spring(2-3weekspriortoseedgermination)

IdentifytargetareasbasedonresidualJapaneseStiltgrass(Microstegiumvimineum)growthfromtheprioryear.Applypre-emergentherbicidetotargetareas.Applicationmustoccurinspring2-3weekspriortoanticipatedseedgermination.Areasreceivingbroadcastapplicationsthatcannotbecolonizedbysurroundingvegetationinatimelymannermayrequireplanting(consultLWLAforguidance).

Monitortreatedareasforemergedplantsandspottreatwithherbicideorhandpull.

RATIONALE:Pre-emergentapplicationsaredesignedtopreventgerminationofthisannualproblemweed.TheapplicationmustbetimedappropriatelypriortothegerminationperiodforJapaneseStiltgrass.

★ "Herbicidetreatmentstodeciduousweedsduringthegrowingseason

Timing:Duringgrowingseasonasneeded

Flagoffanyareasofdesirablebroadleafvegetation.Useabroadleaf-specificherbicidetoavoidcollateraldamagetoexistingnativesedges.Broadcast/spottreatnon-flaggedvegetation.Fernsshouldbeavoidedwherepossible.Wherebroadleaf-specificherbicidecannotbeused,coloniesofnativesedgesshouldbeflaggedandavoided.

Spotherbicideapplicationsarepreferabletobroadcastapplicationsbutwidespreadinfestationsmayrequirebroadcasttreatment.Areasreceivingbroadcastapplicationsthatcannotbecolonizedbysurroundingvegetationinatimelymannermayrequireplanting(consultLWLAforguidance).

RATIONALE:Abroadleafspecificherbicideisrecommendedtoavoidcollateraldamagetoexistingnativesedges.



KEY



★ Herbicidetreatmentstoevergreenweedsduringthedormantseason

Timing:Nov–March

Flaganyareasofdesirablegrowth,ifpresent.Broadcast/spottreatnon-flaggedevergreenvegetation,suchasJapaneseHoneysuckle(Lonicerajaponica)andLesserCelandine(Ficariavaria).Note:LesserCelandinemustbetreatedwheninflower(March-April).

Useabroadleaf-specificherbicidetoavoiddamagingexistingnativesedges.Wherebroadleaf-specificherbicidecannotbeused,coloniesofnativesedgesshouldbeflaggedandavoided.Fernfronds,whichcanbeaffectedbydormant-seasonapplications,shouldbeavoidedwherepossible.Spotapplicationsarepreferabletobroadcastapplicationsbutwidespreadinfestationmayrequirebroadcasttreatment.Areasreceivingbroadcastapplicationsthatcannotbecolonizedbysurroundingvegetationinatimelymannerwillrequireatemporarycovercroporpermanentplantingtostabilizesoilsandcompetewithanyweedreemergence(consultLWLAforguidance).

RATIONALE:Treatingevergreenproblemweedsduringthedormantseasonavoidsdamagingdormantdesirableherbaceousgrowth.

★ HerbicidetreatmentstoLesserCelandine

Timing:March–April

Flaganyareasofdesirablegrowth,ifpresent/evident.Broadcast/spottreatnon-flaggedLesserCelandine(Ficariavaria).TreatmentmustbetimetooccurwhenLesserCelandineisinflower.Useabroadleaf-specificherbicidetoavoiddamagingexistingnativesedges.Wherebroadleaf-specificherbicidecannotbeused,coloniesofnativesedgesshouldbeflaggedandavoided.Fernfronds,whichcanbeaffectedbydormant-seasonapplications,shouldbeavoidedwherepossible.

Spotapplicationsarepreferabletobroadcastapplicationsbutwidespreadinfestationmayrequirebroadcasttreatment.

★ MaintainamanagementbufferaroundlargeweedJapaneseKnotweedcolonythatcannotbefeasiblycontrolledinshortterm.

IdentifytheouterextentofareasofmonotypicJapaneseKnotweed(Fallopiajaponica).SpottreatanysatelliteoccurrencesofKnotweedoutsidethismanagementbuffer.HerbicideapplicationsmustbetimedforlatesummerwhenKnotweedisactivelytranslocatingtotherootsystem.

RATIONALE:MaintainingamanagementbufferaroundtheJapaneseKnotweedcolonyisintendedtoreducespreadofsatellitepopulations,particularlyinsunnygapscreatedbytreefall,andkeepthecolonycontainedtoitscurrentsize.DuetothelifecycleandcompetitivenessofJapaneseKnotweed,thisspeciesisbestcontainedthroughherbicidetreatments.



KEY



Monitorprojectarea,particularlyedges,sunnygaps,andwhereverweedcontrolorotherdisturbanceoccurs

Monitorprojectarea,particularlyedges,sunnygaps,andwhereverweedcontrolorothertypeofdisturbanceoccurs.Ifconductedbyvolunteers,thesevolunteersmustbeabletopositivelyidentifyproblemweeds.Monitoringisrecommendedduringthedormantseason(toassessforthepresenceofproblemevergreenweeds),duringthespring(toassessforcoolseasonproblemweeds)andduringmidtolatesummer(toassessforwarmseasonproblemweeds).Thatsaid,ifvolunteertimeisavailable,monitoringisbeneficialatanytime.

RATIONALE:Monitoringiscriticaltoidentifyingearly-stageinvasionsandensuringthatproblemweedsdonotrecolonizetreatedareasoncetargetgrowthisremoved.

✪ Stringtrimtreatedvegetationtwo(2)weeksafterherbicideapplication

Timing:Duringgrowingseasonnosoonerthan2weeksafterherbicideapplication,asdesired

Stringtrimorcuttreatedtopgrowthtoimproveappearanceofthetreatedareaasdesired.Cuttingtreatedtopgrowthshouldnotoccursoonerthantwo(2)weeksafterapplicationtoensureherbicidehasadequatetimetotranslocatetotherootsoftargetvegetation.

RATIONALE:Cuttingdowndeadtreatedgrowthimprovesaestheticsbyremovingbrownedoutgrowthamidstotherwisegreenvegetation.Thiscuttingisentirelyoptional,however,andifconducted,prioritycanbeplacedonvisuallyprominentlocations.

APPENDIXA:Thelistbelowrepresentsapartiallistofobservedvegetationbasedonfallsitewalks.ThelistdoesnotrepresentanexhaustiveinventoryoftheprojectareaandisintendedtosupplementothervegetationinventoriesofLakeRolandPark.



AppendixA(continued)


APPENDIXB:BrushPileGuidelines

Inlessvisuallyprominentlocations,createbrushpilesfrombranchesandlimbsoffelledtrees.Brushpilesprovideimportantnestingsites,forageopportunities,andcoverforamphibians,invertebrates,birds,andsmallmammals.Birdwatchersoftenappreciatebrushpilesbecausetheytypicallyincreasethenumberofbirdsattractedtoandusingasite.Asbrushpilesdecompose,theyallowfornaturalnutrientcycling.

Tipsformakingwildlife-friendlybrushpiles:

• Looselystackthelargestlogsandbrancheslog-cabinstyle.Donotusepressure-treatedwood,whichcanleechtoxicchemicalsintothesoilandgroundwater.

• Ifpossible,incorporatestonesintothebasetoprovideadditionalhidingspacesforwildlife.

• Buildupthepilewithsmallerbranchesuntilthepileresemblesanigloo.Weavethewoodtogethertomakethepilestable.Anirregularmatrixofbranchesprovidesmorediverseinternalspaces.Looselyplacedbranchesattheoutsideallowbirdstoenterandexiteasilyandquickly.

• Evergreenbranchesonthetopcanhelpconcealtheinteriorandkeeptheinteriordry.

• Asthepiledecomposesandshrinks,newmaterialcanbeaddedtothetopifdesired.

Documents

SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS...2920 Mt. Carmel Ave., Glenside PA 19038 | 215-886-9740 ! [email protected] SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FLOODPLAIN WOODLANDS