Help Plant Wildflowers, Grasses and Sedges Around Long Lake

Learn about flowers, sedges and grasses with strange names like Monkeyflower, Prairie Dropseed, Foxglove Beardtongue, Steeplebush and Hoary Puccoon at a planting event at Long Lake Marsh Saturday, June 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Participants of all ages will have an opportunity to:
• Help improve biodiversity, ecosystem functions and water quality of the marsh.
• Help serve their community.
• Help beautify the area.

Bring a trowel and gloves; and wear sunscreen and bug spray — and stay as long as you can. Meet where Diana Rd. intersects with Diana Ct. Organizers of the event include Susan MiHalo from the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board and Gerry Lehmann from the Beautification Committee.

An RSVP would be appreciated, but is not required. Contact Susan MiHalo at 763-4871 or via e-mail at smihal763@verizon.net.

Following is a list of some of the plants that will be planted as small plugs ordered through JF New, Spence Restoration Nursery and the greenhouse of Save the Dunes. Different species have been selected that are adaptable to wet, moist as well as dry conditions.

• Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei):
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/blueflag.htm
• Bluejoint Grass (Calamagrostis canadensis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CACA4
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOCA2
• False Aster (Boltonia asteroides recognita): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/false_aster.htm
• Field Oval Sedge (Carex molesta):
http://eol.org/pages/1123889
• Foxglove Beard Tongue (Penstemon digitalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEDI
• Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYER
• Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/hry_puccoonx.htm
• Marsh Blazingstar (Liatris spicata):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LISP
• Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/monkeyflower.htm
• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliaeh): http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYNO2
• Prairie Alum Root (Heuchera richardsonii):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HERI
• Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPHE
• Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ERSP
• Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eupatoriadelphus maculates): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sp_joepye.htm
• Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa rosea):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPTO2
• Stiff Goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/stf_goldenrodx.htm
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_milkweed.htm
• Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_rsmallow.htm
• Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/tl_coreopsisx.htm
• Wild Bergomot (Monarda fistulosa): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wld_bergamotx.htm
• Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RAPI

Native seeds were planted around the marsh on Wednesday, May 26. Included in the mix was a cover crop of Annual Rye that will sprout first. The full benefit of the seeding and planting will not be realized until Summer 2011; however some species should bloom this year. The native plants will not only beautify the area, they will also help filter stormwater run-off before it enters the marsh, improving ecosystem functions and biodiversity.

The long roots of some of the plants are also much more effective at holding soil in place, and the plants are more resistent to climate change than traditional grasses and plants. Finally, the height of some of the plantings will help discourage geese from populating the area.

This project is being undertaken with a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Additional funding has been provided by the Ogden Dunes Community Fund and the Indiana American Water Co. Save the Dunes and the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department are also partners in this project.

Marsh Restoration Activities to Take Place

Residents should see restoration activities take place on Long Lake Marsh in the next week as part of a federally funded grant project underway.

The Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department (ODVFD), a partner in the project, will burn the cattails and Phragmites in the marsh this fall, depending on weather conditions and personnel availability.

Also dependent on weather conditions, work will begin soon on a vegetated filter strip to be planted around the marsh late next spring. In preparation for that project, a delineated area of turf grass will be herbicided. Signs will be posted as soon as the herbiciding is underway. Residents are urged to keep away from the grass for at least two days after the spraying is completed.

The purpose of burning the cattails and Phragmites, which are taking over the marsh and driving out native species, is to remove the dead matter and discourage re-growth next spring. A more diverse habitat is better suited for wildlife, such as birds, turtles and fish. These invasive plants are also inhibiting recreation, such as fishing, canoeing and kayaking, on the wetland.

A burn was also conducted last April. That burn's purpose was to make the cattails grow lower and thicker this past summer, allowing for more surface area for application of the aquatic plant herbicide completed in August by Aquatic Weed Technologies.

Also as a result of the April burn, the ODVFD was able to provide the value of its equipment and personnel time to the grant project as in-kind match totaling $6,438.28. This is a significant development in the grant project because that value has helped the Town achieve its one-to-one match of $15,700 on this $31,400 grant funded by the Coastal Zone Management Act by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program.

The purpose of the vegetated filter strip is to purify water as it runs off Diana Road and Diana Court into the marsh. Certain native plants, such as grasses, sedges and shrubs, can help filter water and prevent sedimentation in the marsh. Native Connections, a restoration and native seed company out of Three Rivers, MI, has been selected to develop and implement the vegetated filter strip, which is also known as a "stormwater best management practice."

Long Lake Marsh Restoration Project Moves Forward

Control of Cattails and Phragmites on Long Lake Marsh moved forward several weeks ago with the application of an aquatic plant herbicide by Aquatic Weed Technologies and the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund. The herbicide adheres to the leaves and is absorbed into the roots of the plants, which is from where these kinds of plants grow and spread.

If left unchecked, the Cattails and Phragmites would turn the entire marsh into what is called a “monoculture,” where there is little biodiversity that is necessary to support a healthy ecosystem. A healthy, balanced ecosystem includes all plant and animal species, including frogs, fish and macroinvertebrates such as dragonfly larvae.

The next phase of the project will include the development and implementation of a planting plan for the banks and the area around the wetland that is currently grassy. Native Connections, a restoration and native seed company out of Three Rivers, MI, has been selected to develop and implement the planting plan.

The objective of the planting plan is to plant more than 100 native plants and shrubs, and more than 27 million native seeds. We will be seeking volunteers next spring to assist with that effort. The goal is to use the native plants to help filter stormwater as it runs off Diana Road and Diana Court, helping to reduce pollution in the marsh. This is called a "stormwater best management practice." Water quality tests were run several weeks ago to establish benchmarks for improvement.

The project is part of a $31,700 federal grant being implemented by the Town of Ogden Dunes. The project start date was August 28, 2007, and it is expected to be completed in 2009.

One-half of this project’s funding is from the Coastal Zone Management Act by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program ($15,700). The other ½ is being funded by the Ogden Dunes Community Fund ($3,500), the Indiana American Water Co. Environmental Grant Program ($6,699.11); and through “in-kind” match. In kind match will be mainly garnered through equipment value and time provided by the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department (ODVFD) during a prescribed burn. Volunteer time spent on the project also can be counted as match.

Project Partners include the ODVFD, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund and the Indiana American Water Co.

Spraying to Officially Begin August 20

Just got the word from John Olsen from Aquatic Weed Technology that the spraying of the cattails on Long Lake Marsh will officially begin on Wednesday, August 20.

Please stay away from the area, and especially keep kids and dogs out of the marsh, until the weekend.

Contact Susan MiHalo if you have any questions or concerns.

Cattail Herbiciding to Begin Aug. 14

As part of the Long Lake Marsh Restoration grant, we are tentatively scheduled to begin herbiciding the cattails in Long Lake Marsh on Thursday, August 14, depending on the weather forecast. Please keep kids and dogs out of the area within a day or two after the herbiciding. The most critical time is within two hours of application.

Aquatic Weed Technology plans to post signage warning people to stay out after they spray. Phone calls will be made to neighbors in the area, and to parents of kids known to play there.

The Glyphosate spray that will be used is specially formatted for use in wetlands and, with the help of what is called a “surfactant” will adhere to the leaves of the cattails. It then is absorbed down to the root of the plant, which is where the cattail is storing a lot of energy this time of year. Because cattails spread mainly through roots, getting the plant dead at the root is very important.

John Olsen, who works for Aquatic Weed Technology and is an O.D. resident, is coordinating with Matt Vesh at Save the Dunes Conservation Fund to make sure more desirable plants, such as Button Bush, are not targeted. Fortunately, all of the birds have fledged this time of the year.

It can’t said that the substance is not harmful. Unfortunately, it is, but not as harmful as others, and for that reason we are using a certified applicator. Remember: our goal here is to increase biodiversity in the marsh. In the short run, we may have some impacts. In the long-run, though, the benefit will be a more biodiverse wetland, which will benefit all species. When creating this grant all of the control options were carefully researched. Everyone agrees that this is the only effective, and least expensive, option.

Please let Susan MiHalo, grant administrator, know if you have any questions or concerns.

This action is part of the restoration work being conducted on Long Lake Marsh in Ogden Dunes between 2008 and 2009 through a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

A Busy Day at Long Lake Marsh

Some interesting activities took place around Long Lake Marsh today. First, we drew water quality samples that will be analyzed by ALS Labs in Chesterton, IN. A whole slew of parameters are being tested, including:

• Chloramines
• Copper
• Fluoride
• Lead
• Mercury
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• PCBs
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Ammonia
• Dissolved Oxygen
• pH
• Salinity
• and more

The lab fees will be covered by our Lake Michigan Coastal Grant for Long Lake Marsh. This provides us baseline quality information for the grant; and conveniently provides more information for our Long Lake flooding problem. The information will also be used to let us know what kinds of native species the marsh will support in the long run.

We also had 6 kids and 4 adults participate in a water quality demonstration program, based on Hoosier Riverwatch, where everyone got to do their own water quality tests, i.e., pH and dissolved oxygen. They about learned about and saw all kinds of macroinvertebrates that live in the marsh. Everyone really enjoyed this program, which was conducted by Erin Crofton and Matt Vesh of Save the Dunes Conservation Fund.

It was interesting to note that the dissolved oxygen is very low in the marsh; and that they found very few dragonfly larvae; although there were a number of dragonflies out there.

John Olsen, O.D. resident and our contact for Aquatic Weed Technologies, the company that will be herbiciding the cattails and other invasives starting August 15, also met with Matt Vesh to start preparing for that project. Matt was also out there today flagging Button Bush and other desirable species so that they will not be sprayed with herbicide. So, if anyone asks what the flags are all about, they are there to indicate a good native species for the marsh.

Some Purple Loosestrife, which is an invasive species, does exist in the marsh, but may be under control through the assistance of Galerucella Beetles, a biological control method. The Galerucella Beetles may be have been deposited in West Beach several years ago and are migrating into Ogden Dunes. Matt Vesh spotted a number of the beetles today, which is a tremendous thing for this area.

More information about the August 15 herbiciding project will be provided as we get closer to that date.

This outreach event brings attention to the restoration work being conducted on Long Lake Marsh in Ogden Dunes between 2008 and 2009 through a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

This project is also tied to the town's desire to improve the quality of the Lake Michigan Watershed as part of Ogden Dunes' participation in the Clean Community Challenge.

Marsh Burn Conducted

Conditions were finally right yesterday for the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department to try to burn Long Lake Marsh. Fire Chief Eric Kurtz indicated that they started out doing the burn as a test, and then decided to continue since the conditions seemed to be right.

While the result may not be as dramatic as a burn of a prairie or forested area, this is a significant first step in our restoration project. The burn helped eliminate a lot of the dead cattail material, which will allow us to more effectively apply herbicide this summer. Burning the marsh will certainly not prevent the cattails from coming back, however. They may come back even denser, providing even more surface area for the herbicide to cling to.

Another advantage of the burn is that we can utilize the value of the equipment and volunteer time as in-kind match, bringing us that much closer to meeting our $15,700, 1:1 match on the project. As of the end of the last quarter, we were $4,985.63 away from meeting our grant match.

This project is funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

Herbiciding Contract Approved for Marsh

Last night the Town Council approved, pending approval from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program, a contract with Aquatic Weed Technology to herbicide the invasive species on Long Lake Marsh, including cattails and Phragmites.

Control of the invasives will most likely occur some time between July and September of 2008. The herbicide to be used, called Glyphosate, adheres to the leaves and travels down the roots to destroy the plant and root system. Destroying the root system is important because that is the primary way these kinds of plants spread. That is why simply cutting down invasive plants will not work.

Glysophate is specially formatted for aquatic systems and its effects dissapate within several hours of application. This is the product that was used to successfuly control Phragmites on Pollywog Pond.

Afterwards I was asked by someone whether or not we can get started earlier so that people can take their kayaks onto Long Lake. While I have a desire to kayak there as well, timing is crucial for herbiciding and it should be completed when the plants are storing starch in their root systems.

We will try to give neighbors advance notice of the herbiciding so that they can keep their pets out of the marsh for a few days. In addition, signage will be posted before and afterwards warning of any hazards.

It's important to note too, for those of you who love the cattails, that we will probably never be able to eradicate all of them.