Recent monitoring of Dense-flowered cordgrass Spartina densiflora, the invasive marine grass from South America, demonstrated that the manual removal from Denman shores continues to be successful. While there were new seedlings regenerating, the numbers have declined by 100’s to 1000’s in many sites where two full growing seasons post-removal can be compared.
New seedlings were expected following last spring’s removal of all the mature plants and the disruption of the old seedbed, possibly putting 1000’s of old seeds into the water column. But numbers of new plants were low.
Report: Dense-floweredCordgrass Spartina densiflora, Regeneration Removal, Denman & Hornby Islands, Winter 2015-2016
is available here (pdf)
As the seedlings are tiny and can easily be removed, a voluntary beach monitoring program – “Dig It Denman – Spartina Non-herbicide Removal Project” will be organized in late July. Thanks to everyone who has helped with this project.
