LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP, MI (WHTC AM/FM) – Laketown Township this week are beginning their fight to control a growing invasive species problem at five township parks.
Outdoor Discovery Center staffers will treat Asian bittersweet this Friday, weather permitting, in about three acres total at Huyser Farm Park, Wolters Woods Township Park, Farview Nature Park, Laketown Beach, and Sanctuary Woods.
According to Tanner Bricker, conservation services manager with the Outdoor Discovery Center, Asian bittersweet, also known as Oriental bittersweet, was introduced into the United States in the 1860s as an ornamental for fall decorations because of its colorful red and orange berries. But Bricker says, “If left unmanaged, Asian bittersweet will spread rapidly and overtake entire native plant communities.”
The Outdoor Discovery Center will be applying a foliar spray with 2 percent triclopyr in dense populations and hand pull the small populations of vines at Sanctuary Woods and Laketown Beach.
Bricker said people should not enter the specific natural areas marked with herbicide application signage for 24 hours. The signs will be taken down after that 24 hours.
The Asian bittersweet treatment is part of several applications throughout the township.
All treatments and work are estimated to cost about $2,000.
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