End of Year Report on Lake Marion 2024
A crew of six men worked three eight-hour days, Oct 2, Nov 2 and 3 rd . We cut in all wetland areas surrounding the lake. The low water level in the lake facilitated a thorough cut, we had access to areas that we usually cannot reach however, there were a few small areas that we could not get to. It was our first time to manage to cut practically all areas in three days.
All major areas surrounding the large and small part of the lake were cut. We got to the two ‘corner’ areas of the small lake. We hadn’t cut here for two years. In that space of time the Phrags had grown to a height of about 15’ however, the stands were not that dense due to previous cuts and the establishment of native species such as swamp mallow and sensitive fern. I am hoping in the future that we will not miss a cut here again, and judging by this cut we should be able to achieve our objective; cutting all the Phragmites in three days.
Two new native plant species were spotted during this cut; Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) and Bitter panic grass (Panicum amarum). Neither of these plants are wetland plants, they were found growing on the drier banks of the lake. Every year since I started the cutting (ca. 2013), we have observed the appearance of new native species. I will be revising the list soon for the website along with photos and descriptions for each species, of which there must be around 30. As the Phragmites diminish, the native plants return. When the native plants are established, it will be very difficult for the Phragmites to regain a foothold. We must remember that twenty years ago the entire wetland area of the lake was a monoculture of giant Phragmites.
So many native species are returning, either from seeds in the seedbank that are now getting a chance to germinate (as the Phrags are thinning light reaches the soil and dormant seeds germinate), or from windblown seeds, seeds carried by birds, mammals, or insects etc. We could also augment the species list by buying and planting some suitable native species, for example; Rosa palustris, Cephalanthus occidentalis and Salix nigra (Swamp rose, Buttonbush, and Black willow). These are species that are native to long island, but may find it hard to spread to new areas due to various factors such habitat fragmentation, urban development, etc. Native plants are the base for the local food chain, and are the backbone of our ecosystems. Loose our native plants and we lose all the ecological services and functions that they directly and indirectly provide. Without an abundance of native plants to eat and live in, insect populations plummet; without enough insects, birds and animals disappear.
The health of the lake (as measured by biodiversity) is constantly improving year by year. Because of your support and interest, we are actively reversing biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat.
- Peter Meleady (Landscape ecology consultant)
P.S. A quick note on the Cattails (Typha spp.).
An invasive species is one that has the potential to rapidly spread and replace native species. However, some apparently native species have the capacity to dominate wetlands, eg cattails. We now have some fine stands of cattails around the lake. Scattered shoreline patches provide excellent habitat to both resident and migratory birds, as well as some aquatic species and semi-aquatic organisms. They also prevent erosion and minimize nutrient input into the lake. They will spread to many areas that the Phrags once dominated, and this is good. However, they will and are also spreading to areas where they might be problematic, such as the bridge area on Bay Avenue, here, they will have to be monitored and adaptively managed.