The Mustard Grove

It may sound like a new upscale restaurant or the name of the latest “new urbanism” housing complex in Madison.  But it’s none of these, although it is of relatively origin and is an unusual entity.  The Mustard Grove (aka Marion Dunn Prairie) is probably a novel ecosystem.   At any rate it certainly is a black walnut grove with a ground layer of introduced mustard species (Brassicaceae), including garlic mustard, Dame’s rocket and yellow rocket.   The Brassicaceae (cabbage family) globally ranks among the top 50 most invasive plant families.

What is a novel ecosystem?  Basically, it is a combination of plant and animal species that have not previously existed.  According to Hobbs, Higgs, and Hall (2013) in their new  book from Wiley-Blackwell, “Novel Ecosystems, Intervening in the New Ecological World Order”, novel ecosystems “are those systems that differ in composition and/or function from present and past systems as a consequence of changing species distributions, environmental alteration through climate and land use change . . .”  (p. 4)

The Mustard Grove--a newly emerging ecosystem on Monroe Street at Glenway that is dominated by black walnut and several mustard species.

The Mustard Grove–a newly emerging ecosystem on Monroe Street at Glenway Street that is dominated by black walnut (Juglans nigra) and several mustard species, including garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) with white flowers and seed pods, Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) with pink flowers and Yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris.)

“Such systems can arise either from the cessation of past management practices or because of changes in mostly un-managed systems.” (Hobbs, Higgs, and Hall, 2013 p. 4).  In this case the cessation of fire and ineffective pest species control probably played a role in the transformation of the former prairie into a novel ecosystem.

The Marion Dunn Prairie was a tall-grass prairie planting begun in 1982, done largely through the efforts of volunteers.  From that time through 2004 the site was managed with regular prescribed prairie fires.   But the gradual transformation of the site by black walnuts and mustard invasions and storm water management issues made prescribed fires after 2005 impractical.

But today, The Mustard Grove is probably a novel ecosystem, as opposed to being an historical prairie system that is within its normal range of variation.  It is probably not a hybrid prairie system with a few non-native species intermixed with the usual prairie plants.  According to Hobbs, et al. (2013) novel ecosystems such as The Mustard Grove have passed ecological thresholds of changes that render it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to return the system to its previous condition.

This irreversible condition presents a dilemma to restorationists whose goals are recreation of historic ecosystem conditions in this changing modern world.  However, novel ecosystems raise important questions for restoration ecologists.  For example, since novel ecosystems are relatively new we don’t know much about how they work, nor do we know what can a land manager can, or should, do about them.   We don’t know the range of realistic and possible conservation goals for novel ecosystems.  Will society learn to value novel ecosystems and what ecological, social and cultural restoration goals will be socially acceptable?

Posted in Novel Ecosystems, Pest species, Restoration in Madison Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Greater Celandine–Watch for this Pest Plant

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a cheery yellow perennial that has been introduced as a garden plant and become naturalized and ecologically-invasive.

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a cheery yellow perennial that was introduced as a garden plant and has become naturalized and ecologically-invasive.

This plant is recognized by its yellow, four-parted flowers arranged in a small umbel-like cluster.  It blooms from May to August.  It likes disturbed areas, moderate soil moisture, and dabbled shade.  Celandine poppy is often found growing in association with other well-known pest species such as garlic mustard, Dame’s Rocket, and yellow rocket.

A member of the Poppy or Papaveraceae family, Greater Celandine is difficult to pull because the leaves often break off at soil level when tugged on, leaving behind a long tap root (like a dandelion) which oozes a yellowish sap.  Best to use a trowel or shovel on this one.

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Planting at Glenway Prairie Sites Scheduled for Ma y 18

Sandy Stark, DMNA Bike Path Chair, sends a friendly reminder that the 3rd Saturday work party is coming up soon (May 18).   Sandy will pick up two packed flats of sun and shade plants that morning and deliver them to the Glenway/SW Path intersection (behind Glenway Golf Course; parking on Glen or Gregory) for digging into various spots.

The work party will also likely do some general garden tidying up, but mostly planting and watering. This is the fun part!  Start time is 10am.

Sandy will bring some digging tools and extra gloves, as well as the famous chocolate chip oatmeal cookies from Mary Cook’s Garden at the Hilldale Farmer’s Market.  The water fountain across the street is ON, by the way.

Check out the website (www.dmna.org) for information on the new effort to clear garlic mustard and other invasives out of the neighborhood woods between the golf course and the cemetery. Go to SW Path, or look for the sidebar on lower left to find “Glenway Woods Garlic Mustard Removal”.

By the way, for garlic you mustard weed warriors or those seeking to learn more about this interesting and challenging plant, check out the Garlic Mustard Challenge web site.  It has information on all things garlic mustard.

Posted in Community-based restoration, Dudgeon-Monroe Neighborhood Association, Garlic mustard control, invasive plants, Pest species, SW Bike Path | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ground Rules for Restoration Work in Mud Season

April 8, 2013

It’s Mud Season in Madison

Dancing Sands and Council Springs, Madison, WI–Mud season is upon us.  Mud season is that period from late winter to early spring when open ground and dirt paths such as unpaved roads and hiking trails become a slippery morass from melting snow and spring rains.  Mud season is that time of year when foot and vehicular traffic on saturated soil cause compaction and rutting.

First Principle: Cause No Harm

It’s not complicated folks, stick to paved roads, stone paths, or board walks, when doing restoration work (or just walking in your local park or conservation area) during our mud season.  Resist the urge to walk on a lawn area or dirt path if you are just visiting a local nature center; and if you are a restoration volunteer it’s not OK to walk off the trail during mud season to cut brush.  You should do restoration work during mud season only if you can do it from a hard surface.

What Causes the Mud?

Mud develops when the ground thaws in the spring after a winter-long freeze and deep snow pack.  The soil  thaws slowly from the surface down and because melt water and rainfall can’t infiltrate into the soil, surface puddles form and mud is the result.  People traveling by foot or vehicles over saturated soil then make the situation worse.

Human Impacts During Mud Season

But mud is not just unattractive.   And footprints in the mud are not something that will just go away in the summer. And mud on your boots and tracked into the house is more than an inconvenience–it is a sign that you have caused real and lasting ecological damage.

When people churn up the soil and compact it, soil structure is altered, oxygen is squeezed out, and local drainage patterns are disturbed.  The impacts happen quickly, either after the first use or after very low use levels.  Impacts are cumulative, building up gradually to degrade the resource over time.  Even if you are working for a good purpose, ecological damage can result.  Even if  you don’t see mud, human foot traffic on wet soil will cause compaction.

Unintended Negative Impacts of Restoration Work

City of Madison Parks and Dane County Parks recognize the impact that people can have during Mud Season and have closed certain areas and requested that visitors not walk on lawn and natural area paths for the duration of Mud Season.   Therefore, it was shocking and sad to see that on Saturday April 6, a volunteer work party at the Wingra Oak Savanna trampled all through the area surrounding Dancing Sands Spring and the Council Spring below the Kenneth Jensen Wheeler Council Ring.  The soil in the area on the shore of Lake Wingra is wetland peat.   The intended management purpose was apparently to clear out unwanted shrubs from the wet prairie restoration.  The likely result was long-term impacts to the soil.

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Winter Road Salt a Persistent Impact on Madison Watersheds, Lakes, and Drinking Water

The road salt (usually sodium chloride) applied on our streets, sidewalks, and driveways to make winter driving and walking easier, does not just disappear once the storm is over.  It mixes with melt water or rainfall and washes down the storm drain where it ends up in Madison lakes, the groundwater, and eventually our drinking water wells.

The Friends of Lake Wingra (FoLW) and many others have, for years, been advocating for reduced road salt use because of its likely impacts on our lakes.   Now comes another piece of evidence in the road salt discussion.  According to a new report,  one result of over 50 years of road salt use by the City of Madison, is a continual rise in chloride levels in our watershed and lakes.    This finding from  the 2012 Road Salt Report prepared by Environmental Protection Lead Worker from the Department of Public Health for Madison and Dane County, Rick Wenta, and his colleague Kirsti Sorsa, the environmental technical services supervisor.

This fact plus a thorough discussion of road salt use practices and procedures in Madison and the implications for environmental and public health, are reported by Yilang Peng, a writer for Madison Commons in a piece entitled “Road Salt Lingers in Madison’s Watersheds and Drinking Water.”

Among the key points reported in Peng’s story and based upon the 2012 Road Salt Report, are these:

  1. Road salt use began in Madison in 1959.
  2. “The total road salt use (in Madison) reached 7,716 tons in the 2011-2012 winter, double the volume used in the winter of 1982. It peaked at 17,993 tons in the winter of 2007-2008, a particularly snowy season.”
  3. “In 2012, average chloride level in Lake Wingra reached 115 mg/L, a 130 percent increase over the preceding three decades. Chloride in other Yahara Lakes – Monona, Mendota, Kegonsa, Waubesa – is accumulating at a higher rate, though the current levels are much lower than Lake Wingra’s concentration,”
Posted in Friends of Lake Wingra, Groundwater, Lake Wingra, Lake Wingra Watershed, Madison lakes and beaches, Road salt use | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

First Day of Spring 2013 in Lake Wingra Watershed

The Lake Wingra Watershed is cold and snow-covered on March 20, 2013, much the same as it was on Feb. 6, 2013 when the image above was captured.  Sunrise over Lake Wingra and Ho-Nee-Um Pond at the Wingra Oak Savanna.

Sunrise over Lake Wingra and the Ho-Nee-Um Pond at the Wingra Oak Savanna.  The Lake Wingra Watershed was nine degrees Fahrenheit  and snow-covered this morning, March 20, 2013.  Conditions were much the same on Feb. 6, 2013 when this photograph  was taken.

Early morning at the Wingra Oak Savanna as it appeared on Feb. 6, 2013.  Photo by Stephen B. Glass

Early morning at the Wingra Oak Savanna on Feb. 6, 2013.   The Sandhill cranes returned to the Lake Wingra marshes a couple of weeks ago and are still dealing with a snow-covered landscape this morning.  Photo by Stephen B. Glass.

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An Alternate (Global) View of Phosphorus (P)

Limited Global Supply Spurs Research to Conserve and Reuse Vital Nutrient

While Some Seek To Bury (P) In Pond Bottoms Others Strive to Salvage It.

Without phosphorus there would be no life.  It is critical from the cell membrane level to plant roots and branches, and human bones and limbs.   Phosphorus is found in the earth and rocks, it is globally necessary but easily accessible deposits are not distributed evenly across the world.  Some places on earth seemingly have, or use, an excess amount and others have not enough.

A recent on-line article in Science News (Feb. 23, 2013; Vol. 183, #4) titled “Salvage Job With fertilizer prices skyrocketing, scientists scramble to recover phosphorus from waste” describes the global effort of scientists to conserve this vital nutrient.  Research includes efforts to create plants more efficient at using phosphorus; to recovering phosphorus from waste treatment plants; re-use the recovered phosphorus as fertilizer; to converting algae to a biofuel.

Posted in Alum application trial, Phosphorus, Phosphorus in storm water, Phosphorus recovery and reuse | Tagged , , | Leave a comment