Acadia National Park Purple Loostrife Management Program 2000 Annual Summary

Chase, Geneva; Gregory, Linda; National Park Service, Acadia National Park

FIELD WORK: 2000 'Lythrum salicaria (purple loostrife), a non-native plant species, was actively managed on Mount Desert Island within Acadia National Park in 2000, as it has been since 1988...Additionally, some L. salicaria populations outside the park is known to contain purple loostrife; Isle au Haut, Schoodic Peninsula, and outer islands reamin free of this pest species. Annual monitoring of L. salicaria stems was conducted along one transect in each of seven permanent monitoring grids. No L. salicaria stems were present in grids 1-5; three stems were counted in Grid 6, and 48 in Grid 7. All L. slaicaria plants within the park (except old farm site) recieved 1% glyphosate herbicide solution treatment and post spray mortality evaluation; plants were re-sprayed as necessary. Flowering heads were removed from plants prior to spraying. One non-park site received herbicide treatment after obtaining landowner permission. At another non-park site, only flowering heads were removed; no herbacide was applied. A total of 71.25 personnel hours were spent, and 5.3 gallons of glyphosate were used at nine park and one non-park site. Surveys for L. salicaria were conducted both in areas where it previously grew, and in 10 areas that have never had L. salicaria but contain suitable habitat. No new L. salicaria plants were found within the park boundaries, however, six new sites with L. salicaria plants were documented outside the park.' GPS coordinates are provided for 22 of the 35 sites. There is a table of each site with year, date of survey and spray, follow-up check, personnel hours and gallons of glyphosate solution applied. Also, it is noted that Biological control monitoring was done on one non-park site in cooperation with Maine Department of Agriculture. Galerocella beetles were used as biocontrol and individuals were noted at the site with 10% of leaves eaten. Datasheets for this are available with GPS derived coordinates of the site.' /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/