Exotic Plant Management Teams set

WASHINGTON, D.C. - America's national parks are being invaded by hoards of exotic plants and the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing to do battle. The invaders are plants imported from Europe and Asia that arrived in this country without the natural predators and conditions that traditionally keep them in check in their native habitats. Frequently referred to as noxious weeds, exotic species, invasive species or non-indigenous species, the invaders often take over entire ecosystems and destroy the habitat for local species of both plants and animals.

According to Mike Soukup, the NPS's Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, "The National Park Service has increased its annual funding for weed control by 2.3 million dollars, and we hope for additional increases in the future. We think that Exotic Plant Management Teams will enable us to deal with some of the most pressing exotic plant concerns in the National Park Service." Soukup describes exotic plants as a form of biological pollution. "Evidence indicates at least 40 percent of federally-listed native plants are endangered in part because of competition from exotic plants."

In order to combat and control exotic plants as early as possible in their invasion of a national park, the NPS recently established four Exotic Plant Management Teams. These teams are designed for early intervention to control the infestation before it becomes impossible or prohibitively expensive. A four-person team located at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico will treat infestations of saltcedar and other weeds at 11 parks in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Saltcedar trees choke the streamsides in the parched Southwest, sucking up moisture and turning flowing streams into dry washes. A team located at Rock Creek Park in the Washington D.C. area will serve 13 parks in that area, while a third team in Hawaii will work to control exotic plants in six parks.

In addition, the NPS is stretching its limited budget by developing a team that operates under a cooperative partnership with the state of Florida on a fourth project. Due to the favorable year-round climate, national park units in Florida are especially vulnerable to exotic plants. The NPS and Florida will work together to fund contracts for plant control. Under the agreement, every dollar invested by the NPS will be matched by the state of Florida.

Concerning the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, Superintendent Calvin Hite notes that two species of concern in this unit of the National Park System are Japanese Knotweed and Purple Loosestrife. "Although we will seek support from the Service's Exotic Plant Management Team, we know that conservation agencies in both New York and Pennsylvania share our concern for the invasion of these two exotic plant species on the Upper Delaware River, and throughout the Delaware River watershed. We will continue to work in cooperation with them to increase our understanding about the level of impact these invasive species may be having to the watershed's native plants and animals, while exploring alternatives for possible control."

For more information about Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, visit www.nps.gov/upde.

LIVINGSTON MANOR - On January 1, 2001 the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum will open its new living exhibit "Fly Tackle, Equipment and Accessories 2001" (FTE&A2001) with a reception from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The exhibit joins "Flies of the Year 2000," sponsored by idvsports.com, for a full year of display until both exhibits are interred into a time capsule on January 1, 2002 to remain undisturbed until the year 2100.

These two exhibits will be the most comprehensive contemporary collection of flies and fly tackle ever assembled in the world and result in a historical display for the next century of fly fishers.

All fly equipment, tackle and accessories received by the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum will be displayed in a categorized showcase style making it a "hands on" interactive exhibit.

Frank Amato Publications will publish a series of books which will include every fly and pattern submitted. Release is scheduled for Fall 2001.

Companies interested in including their 2001 fly tackle in this exhibit should call 845/439-4810, fax 845/439-3387, or email flyfish@catskill.net. Equipment will be categorized and displayed by rods, reels, lines, terminal tackle, fly boxes, etc. in order of receipt.

Joan Salvato Wulff continues to support the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum by donating an additional supply of personal fly tying materials, books, and outdoor-related clothing of her late husband, Lee Wulff. All proceeds from the sale of the fly tying materials and of Lee's hunting and fishing attire will benefit the center.

Wulff, who died in 1991, is one of the most recognized and respected outdoorsman, fly fisherman and conservationists of the 20th Century. At the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, Lee's accomplishments live on in an exhibit that features his travels, contributions to conservation, fly fishing memorabilia and fly tying desk, in addition to the last fly he tied which is included posthumously in the living exhibit "Flies of the Year 2000."

A live auction will be held at The Anglers' Club of New York at a special fund raising event on November 16, 2000. Those unable to attend but interested in bidding on Lee Wulff's personal sporting gear, can get further information and submit a secure sealed bid at idvsports.com.

For more information on activities at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum and to purchase other Lee Wulff memorabilia, contact Paul Dahlie at 845/439-4810.

HAWLEY - Marcia Bonta, resident of Pennsylvania and author of numerous books and hundreds of articles on natural and cultural history in the state, will be the guest speaker at a special evening program sponsored by the Pike County Conservation District on Tuesday, September 12. The evening slide presentation entitled "Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania" will highlight one of Bonta's first books published in 1987, "Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania, A Guide to Natural Places." The program will provide a pictorial guide to outstanding natural places in PA including old-growth forests, wildflower sanctuaries, outstanding bird watching localities and geological formations.

Bonta, raised in the wooded fringes of Woodbury, New Jersey, attended Bucknell University in PA and since 1971 has lived on an isolated, forest-covered mountaintop near Tyrone, PA. She began her writing career based on her daily explorations of the natural world. Bonta wrote weekly columns for local papers for ten years before changing the direction of her writing to books and magazine articles. She has seven books in print and has over 300 magazine articles to her credit. She has been a regular contributor to PA Game News.

"Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania" will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the conservation district education building on Route 402 just 1/4 mile north of Exit #8 of Interstate 84. The program is open free of charge to any interested families, groups or individuals.

For more information contact the Pike County Conservation District at HC 6 Box 6770, Hawley, PA, 570/226-8220 or pikecd@ptd.net.

MILFORD - Have you ever asked yourself who is responsible for the street trees in my community? What control does the Shade Tree Commission have over shade trees? If a hazardous tree should fall and damage property or injure someone, is the municipality responsible? Who is responsible for removing vegetation that obscures vision at highway or street intersections? Does an arborist have a responsibility to inspect trees for unsafe conditions and correct them? When can a property owner legally remove limbs or roots from a neighbor's tree? Does a public utility have a right to prune my trees? What can a community do to reduce its liability relating to trees?

If these are questions you've asked yourself, or if you are a mayor, elected official, municipal solicitor, attorney, landscape architect, arborist or a shade tree commission member, plan to attend "Do Trees Affect Community Liability?," a dinner meeting on Friday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing in Matamoras. Keynote speaker will be Attorney Gilbert P. High Jr. of High, Swartz, Roberts & Seidel in Norristown. High specializes in municipal and tree-related law and represents the Townships of Cheltenham, Lower Merion and Upper Dublin. He has been involved in many tree-related cases in Pennsylvania and has presented previously at International Society of Arboriculture conferences and at Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry conferences throughout the state on the subjects of tree hazards and community liability.

Penn State Cooperative Extension's Urban & Community Forestry Program in cooperation with the Milford Borough Shade Tree Commission developed this meeting. The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board has approved this program for 1.50 substantive credits that attorneys acquire.

For more information or for a flyer to register for the dinner, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office at 570/825-1701.

LAKE ARIEL - On Saturday, September 16 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Dr. Dave Byman, Penn State University professor and researcher, will be leading a hike to the forest exclosures. Byman has been studying the effects of deer browse on small mammal populations and will explain the methods used and the results to date.

This hike is not recommended for young children. A $2 donation is requested.

Lacawac Sanctuary is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1966 to preserve Lake Lacawac, its watershed and surrounding forest; provide a venue for ecological research, scholarly interaction and the training of scientists; provide public education on environmental and conservation issues; and conserve open space of special biological value in northeastern Pennsylvania. Privately located l/2 miles off a township road in Wayne County, on the southwest corner of Lake Wallenpaupack (4.5 miles north of exit 6 ors Interstate; 84) an interpretive nature trail is open daylight hours. The last tour of the historic Adirondack style Lodge and glacial lake will be offered Sunday, September 10. Visitors are asked to call the office at 570/689-9494 for directions and a schedule of events.