Carlton County Cooperative Weed Management Project
Below are pictures about the Projects Demonstration Site
Background:
In 2007 the Minnesota Legislature provided funding for the establishment of a Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA) Grant Program (Chapter 57 Minn. Session Laws 2007). These Cooperative Weed Management Areas are to aid in the restoration of natural lands through invasive species removal and reseeding.
The Carlton Soil & Water
Conservation District (SWCD) in cooperation with Carlton County Extension and
the Carlton County Land
Department applied for and received funding to coordinate
the development of a Cooperative Weed Management Area for Carlton County.
Project Summary:
The
Education portion consists of a series of public meetings
to inform local officials, clubs, and groups of the threat
posed by invasive species. Provide resources to help the public identify
invasive species in Carlton County and review control techniques.
A control demonstration project is being worked on to demonstrate control methods. The targeted species is a buckthorn population along the Soo Line Trail near Moose Lake.
Species Focus:
A team of local professionals and area conservation agencies developed a list of invasive species to focus the public education campaign on. The team consisted of representative from the Soil and Water Conservation District, Carlton County Extension Service, The Carlton County Land Department, Carlton County Highway Department, Carlton County Water Planning Office, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and an area seeding contractor. The focus plant list does not include every invasive plant specie known to exist in Carlton County; however these are the species that are most common and pose the highest threat to native plant communities. To see a listing of these focus plants with information and pictures click here.
For more information or to report an invasive species population contact the Carlton County Weed Inspector, Greg Bernu, at the Carlton County Land Department at 218-384-9179 or by email at greg.bernu@co.carlton.mn.us
Financial and technical help is available through the Carlton SWCD for invasive control. Contact the office at 218-384-3891 for more information.
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is an invasive, non-native shrub that is invading Carlton County woodlands and fields. Once established buckthorn degrades wildlife habitat and lowers the productivity of forests. Common Buckthorn is a Minnesota Department of Agriculture restricted noxious weed. Sale, transportation, or movement is prohibited.
Buckthorn can be controlled via cutting, herbiciding, burning, and pulling. It’s easiest to find them in early November. When most other plants have dropped their leaves, the green buckthorn leaves stand out. Buckthorn control takes the most effort the first time through. Follow up maintenance takes much less time, but is necessary to prevent reinfestation. Its best to control an infestation early, as the problem gets bigger, and more expensive to control, each year. State and federal cost sharing grants, and project planning, may be available. Contact the SWCD for further information. For further information on buckthorn identification, background, and control methods click on following web site: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/buckthorn/index.html
In November of 2009 the SWCD, the Carlton County Land Department, and the Minnesota Conservation Corps began a demonstration project on the East side of the Soo Line Trail, about ¼ mile north of Highway 73. On 2.3 acres of aspen & ash forest larger buckthorn stems were cut and the cut stubs treated with herbicide. A crew of 4 worked 5 days with a chainsaw and a hand sprayer to complete this stage of the demonstration. Follow up control of buckthorn seedlings, using herbicide, pulling, a mulching machine, and/or controlled burning, is being considered for 2010. In addition, 1.4 acres on the West side of the trail is being considered for treatment in 2010.
The work area is on public and private properties. Obtain landowner permission before accessing the area. Use caution on steep, sometimes slippery, slopes and around cut stub areas.
Work Area Before Treatment showing seedling and mature buckthorn.
The work site during and shortly after the 2009 treatment.
Existing native seedlings and saplings are now released to grow.