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July, 2004
Sea of Strife
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For the most part our little river can withstand our urban impacts and can even recover - with a little help.
This project is an example of SOS's efforts to stop perhaps the biggest threat to the delicate habitat along the riverbank.
Purple Loosestrife was brought from Europe by gardening enthusiasts for its beautiful flowers, however it can spread from gardens to waterways.
If left alone the fast growing Purple Loosestrife can overwhelm a river and choke out the natural vegetation. This would destroy the shoreline ecosystem affecting all species (fish, birds etc) depending on the shoreline habitat. The plant is no longer sold but somehow the hardy and aggressive plant can still manage to enter the natural ecosystem.
click to enlarge
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Purple Loosestrife was discovered along the shores of the Seine River during a 2003 survey conducted by the City of Winnipegs Naturalists Office.
Armed with a GPS and canoe, a team paddled the river in search of the dreaded purple flowers.
Sadly the crew discovered numerous locations where the invasive plant had taken hold.
Locations were widespread but seemed most common between Bishop Grandin Boulevard and Fermor Ave.
SOS partnered with the Manitoba Purple Loosestrife Project's Cory Lindgren to tackle the problem. Cory instructed the Katimavik participants (Kat Krew) on how to recognize the plant amongst the vegetation along the banks, before the flowers appear.
Once the plant flowers, its removal is likely to cause the unintentional spread of seeds - worsening the problem. The best method is to identify the plant and remove it roots and all. We learned that at the base of each plant were young plants growing which needed to also be pulled out. The plant material and muddy root ball must then be removed from the environment and destroyed.
For three days the SOS Coordinator and Rodney Penner from the City Naturalist's Office joined Cory and the Kat Krew to search and destroy the plants. Northern Soul Wilderness Adventures provided canoes, paddles and shuttle van and trailer for the three days. (Thank you Northern Soul!)
The weather was hot, and the work was muddy, but all were enthusiastic about averting an infestation. Finding every plant was key as a single mature plant can make hundreds of thousands of seeds a year!
Another method to eliminate this purple scourge is to introduce one of the plants natural predators.
In Europe many species of insect feed on the plant, root or flower. The Manitoba Purple Loosestrife Project has identified one insect, Galerucella calmariensis that will target only the intended plant, and pose no threat to native species. Breeding this beetle and releasing it in infected areas has had tremendous results. The Kat Krew assisted Cory on the harvesting the beetles at the farm and helped release them in the infected areas.
SOSs problem seems much less severe when compared to marshes and streams where the plant has flourished for years. The only remedy in these cases is the beetle.
SOS also released approximately 300 beetles along the Seine River.
Needless to say, every summer SOS will be keeping a close eye on the shoreline scanning for the deadly plant. If you see what you think may be Purple Loosestrife please contact Cory at (204) 467-3269.
Fireweed (Left) is often mistaken for Purple loosestrife (right)
For more information on Purple Loosestrife, view the Frequently Asked Questions
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