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dh A haa Lh a NY 20 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, July 30, 1991 ( "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Purple loosestrife a menace to wetlands By Gillian Barfoot Purple loosestrife is taking over the wetlands at an incredi- ble rate, but nobody seems to know how to get rid of it. Pulling it up usually doesn't work because the root system is thickly matted, explains Bar- ry Snider, an environmental bi- ologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources. And cutting or burning the weed is difficult because of the location of the plant. It's a problem for wildlife, he explains, because a good habi- tat requires a variety of species of plants. Purple loosestrife takes over and crowds out the other plants, but it's not a good food source or nesting shelter for wildlife. Ducks Unlimited has con- ducted experiments to see if flooding would destroy it, but the plants just'grew new root- lets from their tips, which then broke off and floated around, waiting for some place to root. Herbicides have also been tested on the plant, says Mr. Snider. However, no herbicides have been licensed in Canada to kill the weed because purple loosestrife usually grows in en- vironmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands. "Education is one way to sfop the spread of purple looses- trife," says Val Anne Gloos- chenko, the province's wetland habitat biologist and member of a working committee cur- rently studying the problem of purple loosestrife. The committee's strategy is to alert people of the danger of the weed. It is not only found in wetlands, but also can survive on agricultural land, she warns. If it is discovered when there are just a few plants, they are easier to uproot and destroy than when they have spread farther afield, she says. "Within two or three years a Ferguson family held 54th reunion, Sunday at Nestleton Hall Blackstock News | by Joyce Kelly Congratulations to Joy Werry and Ian Rudkin who were mar- ried at Blackstock United Church on Saturday. The happy couple were surprised when a John Deere tractor and manure spreader were waiting outside the church to transport the wedding party to the Werry farm where pictures were taken. The recep- tion and dance were held at the Blackstock Recreational Centre. Contratulations Joy and Ian. Blackstock United Church com- bined with Nestleton United Church at Blackstock where the service was taken by Betty Tur- cotte of Bowmanville. Donna Kyte assisted Betty while Glenn Larmer was the soloist. Richard Marzec of Edinburgh, Scotland has been a visitor of Neil and Noreen Malcolm. There were 13 tables at the weekly card party held on Tues- day evening in the Town Hall. Winners this week include Clara Warren, Carl Ferguson, Verna Robinson, Norman Rohrer, Ella Venning, Mary Poots and Albert Watts. A goodly number of the Ferguson family gathered at Nestleton Hall on Sunday for their 54th reunion. President Grant Ferguson welcomed all to a potluck dinner at 1 p.m. Nancy Dickson and Janis McCoy handl- ed registration and Joan and Harvey Graham were social con- venors. Clarence Ferguson of In- nisfail, Alberta brought greetings from the Western Canada Reu- nion and Ken Ferguson of Guelph spoke for the Western Ontario Branch. Dalton and Kathleen Dorrell gave out interesting adult prizes while Heather and Grant McLaughlin kept the children entertained with outdoor ac- tivities. The annual cherry pit spitting contest was won by Derek Hamilton. Hot dogs and ice cream cones finished off an enjoyable afternoon of visiting with relatives, some of whom had not seen each other for some time. Jorden, Jeana and Jason Malcolm of Vancouver Island have been enjoying a visit with their grandparents, Neil and Noreen Malcolm. On July 20 and 21, the 11th An- nual Devitt's Dungeon horseshoe tournament was held at claudet- ter and Phil Archer's farm with Wilma and Tom Wotten as hosts also. With about 75 participants en- joying the hot weather all weekend, the winners were Ladies Singles - Danielle Millson, Mens Singles - Steve Hawes, Doubles - Danielle and Steve, Horse's Behind - Kelly Sweetman. Saturday evening was spent tak- ing part in Karaoke. Creative arts camp | The first week of Arts Camp was a complete success. The campers' stomachs were full on food day, when shish kebabs were dipped in chocolate. They were a real treat. All the campers par- ticipated in Indian Day as we came dressed original indian out- fits. The week was enjoyed bv campers and staff. We are now in- to our second week of Arts Camp. Many crafts are being done this week at Camp. Just to name a few: fuzzy pencils, styrofoam men, a giant chocolate chip cookie and Air Band Videos. The main themes this week are Euro- pean Day, and Music Day. Each day promises to ? be ° entertaining. small clump will spread to a whole field." The committee members have just printed a brochure containing information about pple loosestrife, which will distributed throughout the province. The brochure includes a re- sponse card so the public can describe the locations of new communities of the weed, which will help the committee to keep track of its growth. "We're concentrating on re- ducing purple loosestrife to controllable levels by trying to prevent new invasions," Ms. Glooschenko explains. A herbicide called Garlon is being tested in Smith's Falls this summer, she says, but the use of chemicals is just a short- term solution. Two beetles and a weevil, which were imported from Eu- rope, are currently being test- ed in the U.S. to see if they are effective against the plant. The committee members hope to have the plant declared a noxious weed and have the seeds and plant banned from being sold at a retail level. The committee includes rep- resentatives of the provincial departments of Natural Re- sources, Agriculture and Envi- ronment, as well as Ducks Un- limited, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Ontario Feder- ation of Anglers and Hunters. Ed Reid, a biologist with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, says that purple loosestrife has become more widespread in Ontario in the last couple of years. "You don't have to drive far to find wetlands that have been severely changed by the presence of loosestrife," he says. Although there are a num- ber of different techniques to stop the spread of the weed, "none are perfect," he says. "Unless the whole plant is removed, it will grow back." "Purple loosestrife seems to be very resilient," agrees Caro- lyn Howden, Weed Inspector for the Region of Durham. "It overcomes rising water and changes in pH, that's why it's growing so much. It's such a hardy and aggressive plant." The region's works commit- tee is currently considering whether the region should de- clare the weed a noxious plant. But she says it won't make any difference until a herbicide is developed which is effective on loosestrife and safe for wet- lands. However, once the weed is declared noxious --either by the province or by the region -- they will be "obligated to get rid of it," says Scugog regional councillor Yvonne Christie. "But to declare it a noxious weed is not a good enough thing to do," she says. "Tne tricky part is finding an environmentally sensitive way of getting rid of it." She believes it's a federal re- sponsibility to find what can eradicate or neutralize the weed by testing herbicides and other treatments. "It's a creeping problem. There seems to be no effective way of controlling it, and it's spreading like wildfire. "And it's affecting the food chain." s LENI HELLER UPCOMING SEMINARS: Wed. Aug. 7/91. Sun. Aug. 11/91 Harmony Rd.) REGISTRATION: At hotel from 6:30-7pm. 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