Gooseberries and Dying White Pine Trees
An Old but Persistent Threat
Yet another alert. I have been working on a personal photographic inventory of flowering plants in the dunes. In the last year, having completed the more common and typical dune plants, I expanded my horizons and added plants like the Gooseberry (or Dog-berry). The flower does not qualify on the basis of its beauty. Its fruit is more interesting and handsome than the flower.
Now, I have learned that it is an invasive exotic. While it creates the normal disruption of the ecosystem by taking over habitat from native species, its truly evil role is as an alternate host for the Eastern White Pine Blister Rust. This fungus cannot even survive without Gooseberry plants.
The USDA Forestry Service indicates that the infested areas include most of Michigan. The mechanism by which the Gooseberry supports and enables the White Pine Rust is described in an excellent, fascinating and informative article at the online textbook Forest Pathology by J. Worrall. The US Forestry Service and the US Conservation Districts recommend that Gooseberries within 300 yards of Eastern White Pines be removed. I have now taken to pulling up every Gooseberry that I see. It requires more effort than pulling Garlic Mustard but can usually be done by hand, without tools -- though gloves help.
Charles Davis
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Solar Schmolar
Global Warming?
Time for another Crock of the Week from Peter Sinclair, who just earned himself an invite to a gathering of climate change warriors in Washington. This time, in honor of warmer weather, Peter looks at claims that Earth is warming because our sun is getting stronger. See sunspots! Marvel at cherry pickers! It's like Watch Mr. Wizard on steroids!
Thanks and a tip of the hat to Michigan Land Use Institute.
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Warren Dunes and Warren Woods
Preserved for Future Generations
In case you missed the court's ruling in the case of the Warren Dunes and Warren Woods here is an update. Heirs of the Warrens had been suing to regain control of land which was a significant portion of these two parks/nature reserves.
The land had been held by a trust created by the Warrens -- set aside by the Warrens to be used in perpetuity for public use as a nature preserve. The trust was allowed to go dormant and after many years the heirs had asked the court to reinstate the trust and its title to the land.
The court rejected the heirs' request, took ownership of the property itself, and made the Michigan Department of Natural Resources manager of the land. It will continue in its current use as a preserve.
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Lake Michigan-Huron Levels
Closing-in on Long Term Averages (LTA)
Lake Michigan-Huron also continued its seasonal climb in June, rising about 3 inches since last month. Its mean water level in June was 578.77 feet, 10 inches higher than last year, but 6 inches below its LTA. Lake Michigan-Huron is forecasted to be 4 to 6 inches below its LTA over the next 6 months, but remain 9 to 11 inches above its levels of a year ago during that time period.
Click on chart to visit Corps or Engineers site. |
