Residents need to be aware of an invasive species that is capable of causing erosion of foredunes on the beach. John Ervin, Regional Ecologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), recently discovered an invasion of Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst.(= Elymus arenarius L.) on Ogden Dunes' beach.
According to Gerould Wilhelm, Conservation Design Forum, Elmhurst, IL, this plant's clumping nature promotes greater erosion, and it will eventually surplant Marram Grass, which is native to the Indiana Dunes. The Marram grass' root structure supports the establishment of foredunes, which are just important to protecting homes on Shore Drive.
While this ornamental grass is not noted federally as an invasive species, the State of Wisconsin is very concerned about an invasion in that state, where it appears to be spreading quickly and outcompeting native flora. Following is a link to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources information about this grass:http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive_species/leyare01.htm
According to John Ervin, this grass can be distinguished from Marram Grass by its height, which is around 4 feet. If the Town of Ogden Dunes is able to sign an Memo of Understanding with IDNR, he may be able to control the invasion by applying a herbicide treatment to it this fall. (Thanks to Noel Pavlovic from the Indiana Dunes National Lakshore for the photo at the top of this page. He also found Lyme Grass back in 2004 in Miller.)
It is also important that all residents refrain from planting this type of ornamental grass in their yards. In the place of non-native grasses, many of which may be invasive to the Indiana Dunes, consider instead planting native grasses such as Prairie Dropseed (http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=sphe_004_avp.jpg), Big Blue Stem (http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch), Little Blue Stem http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=scsc_003_ahp.tif and Indian Grass (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SONU2&photoID=sonu2_014_ahp.tif).
According to Gerould Wilhelm, Conservation Design Forum, Elmhurst, IL, this plant's clumping nature promotes greater erosion, and it will eventually surplant Marram Grass, which is native to the Indiana Dunes. The Marram grass' root structure supports the establishment of foredunes, which are just important to protecting homes on Shore Drive.
While this ornamental grass is not noted federally as an invasive species, the State of Wisconsin is very concerned about an invasion in that state, where it appears to be spreading quickly and outcompeting native flora. Following is a link to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources information about this grass:http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive_species/leyare01.htm
According to John Ervin, this grass can be distinguished from Marram Grass by its height, which is around 4 feet. If the Town of Ogden Dunes is able to sign an Memo of Understanding with IDNR, he may be able to control the invasion by applying a herbicide treatment to it this fall. (Thanks to Noel Pavlovic from the Indiana Dunes National Lakshore for the photo at the top of this page. He also found Lyme Grass back in 2004 in Miller.)
It is also important that all residents refrain from planting this type of ornamental grass in their yards. In the place of non-native grasses, many of which may be invasive to the Indiana Dunes, consider instead planting native grasses such as Prairie Dropseed (http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=sphe_004_avp.jpg), Big Blue Stem (http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch), Little Blue Stem http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=scsc_003_ahp.tif and Indian Grass (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SONU2&photoID=sonu2_014_ahp.tif).
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