Want to learn more about how to reduce the spread of certain quick-growing plants without using chemicals that pose risks to pollinators and to soil health, or just come help prevent the spread of bittersweet to the shores of Chocorua Lake?
On Thursday, July 18, from 8:30-10:30 AM, join Chocorua Lake Conservancy for a morning of camaraderie, exercise, and invasive plant control at the Brown Lot across from Chocorua Lake. Our volunteer stewards will be learning to identify some common invasive plants and how to remove and control those that might otherwise out-compete native trees and shrubs.
Bittersweet, glossy buckthorn, Japanese barberry, and knotweed are all considered invasive plants in New England: plants brought to the US as ornamentals that in some environments can grow abundantly, disburse large quantities of fruits or seeds, and often grow from underground root systems. Invasive plants can grow so thick in some places that they take over habitats normally available to native shrubs that provide cover and food for wildlife.
Our work at the Brown Lot will focus on non-native bittersweet. We’ll be cutting vines and the low growth in an attempt to keep the vines at bay. Young leaves are just emerging, which makes identification and finding them easier. Japanese barberry is also present and we’ll tackle that as we come across it in the understory. Herbalists looking for a non-endangered source of berberine are welcome to come join us in our efforts and take some barberry root home! This is an ongoing project after receiving Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share funding to help with efforts.
CLC owns the Brown Lot, an undeveloped property located across Rt. 16 from the lake. Working to limit the spread of invasive plants there helps to reduce the chances these species will spread to the lakeshore. Bring work gloves and your favorite clippers if you have them. We will have some tools available if needed. Wear sturdy close-toed shoes or boots and bring water and a snack, if you like, as well as bug or sun protection as needed, and a bathing suit if you’d like to go for a dip after! Meet at The Island public access area on the lake, right off of Route 16. Feel free to come for all or some of the morning. Please register in advance above so that we can let you know of any changes to the schedule.
CLC Stewardship Director Debra Marnich holds a BS in Zoology and an MS in Forestry. Her major interests and professional focus areas include combining wildlife and forestry practices to manage for both sound silvicultural and optimum wildlife habitat, creating early successional and bird nesting habitat, pollinator habitat creation, promoting small diverse farms local food production/agriculture, promoting land conservation and protection, environmental education, and integrating all resources concerns to create a balanced conservation system.
Banner image: One of our amazing, longtime stewardship volunteers with…bittersweet! Photo: Alex Moot