Still dumping pesticides in our great lakes
Tue, 2008-07-01 12:07
#1
Still dumping pesticides in our great lakes
Tue, 2008-07-01 12:07
#2
While visiting my parents recently who live near the shoreline of Lake Huron, at Huron-Kinloss Township near Kincardine, I was on a routine walk on the beach when I noticed, that scattered every hundred meters or so were signs warning that pesticides were in use, and not to go in the grasses, mere metres from the shoreline.
I'm no scientist, so any information specifically about Round-Up would be appreciated. Still, the idea of dumping this substance so close to water was offensive. The township has hit a new low.
My assumption is that faced with increasing revenue from rising property taxes as the result of rich people making mansions (or, cottages, as they call them), they are more willing to placate their demands for a pristine shoreline devoid of pesky, natural vegetation.
I have made a facebook album called
[url=http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31986&l=8c0f6&id=518141428]Killing Lake Huron[/url] which shows the signs.
Tue, 2008-07-01 13:19
#3
ElizaQ
Did you call the info number at all?
Tue, 2008-07-01 13:33
#4
Not yet, I will tomorrow.
Tue, 2008-07-01 14:06
#5
ElizaQ
Okay I was just wondering what they said if you did. The number is listed as the community center number which is odd but maybe their environmental office is there. Not sure.
You may want to take a look at the towns beach stewardship plan. I'm familiar with that area (have parents there as well) and know that dune conservation strategies for that area are quite active. Knowing that over the past few years there has been a major problems with invasive species that actually lead to the destruction of the native ecology, I expect that this application may have to do with that and not destroying the native species. I think there may actually be bylaws against doing that as I do remember that when the plan was implemented there was actually a lot of complaining by some of the property owners about having to allow the natural vegetation and not being able to have the perfect beaches and 'messy' looking property.
The link to it is on this page.
[url=http://www.huronkinloss.com/news/environmental.php]http://www.huronkinlo...
I just read the policies in the appendix about the use of 'gysophates'. It's discouraged and they say that they only do spot treatments on the specific plants in question and not broadscale spray application. They also recognize that it will likely get into groundwater. Not that this justifies it's use but the plan does explain why it's done and the cost and benefits. Also of course it's alway prudent to check and see whether or not they're actually following the actual policies and are able to explain this particular application.
[ 01 July 2008: Message edited by: ElizaQ ]
Tue, 2008-07-01 15:22
#6
Thanks for the insight. I checked out their plan, they already had several other options for the management of invasive grasses. I will call and ask tomorrow about these options, whether or not they've tried them all...how much roundup they used, how they applied it, etc. I am still worried about this stuff ending up in the lake. I am trying to find provincial and federal laws this may breach (I think the DFO may take an interest since Roundup is linked to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems), as I can not yet find any reference to pesticides in their municipal bylaws.
Wed, 2008-07-02 11:14
#7
I called the township today and they told me they were trying to get rid of an invasive that was altering the acidity of the soil, which could put the dunes at risk, so it appears it was the lesser of two evils. They didn't spray it either, they used a method which sounded much better than what I had in mind. Phew! Relief.
Wed, 2008-07-02 11:50
#8
ElizaQ
quote:
Originally posted by dw_ptbo:
[b]I called the township today and they told me they were trying to get rid of an invasive that was altering the acidity of the soil, which could put the dunes at risk, so it appears it was the lesser of two evils. They didn't spray it either, they used a method which sounded much better than what I had in mind. Phew! Relief.[/b]
Thanks for the update. Sounds like they are actually following their enviro plan which is good to hear. It's worth more then paper and placating people.
I really dislike like the use of herbicides and don't use them myself but when it comes to the problems that some areas are having with invasives that threaten the whole area's ecology it really does become a lesser of two evils situation and a difficult call. Some plants are nearly impossible to get rid of by just manual means.
Wed, 2008-07-02 11:58
#9
Yeah exactly. The fellow told me that the method they use involves an ATV with an outstretched bar thats 3 feet off the ground, it is essentially coated in roundup (he said it was quite diluted), and comes in touch with just the tall plants they want to kill off (which were altering the ph levels of the soil). He said it breaks down in 5 days. I'm glad they weren't just spraying the stuff all over the place.
It would be interesting to find what triggered the explosive growth in this plant, as previous times of low water levels had not generated the same conditions that would have put the dunes at risk.
Wed, 2008-07-02 12:13
#10
ElizaQ
It could be a number of things or more likely a combo of things. Climate change could be one. I recently attended a garden seminar in Kincardine. One of the speakers was from the Conservation Authority who spoke about some of the changes the area is already seeing in terms of vegetation. Gardeners spoke about noticing how over the past years changes in certain plants behaviors, things like earlier flowering, or differences in growth patterns to even plants that normally died off, surviving the winter or reseeding that hasn't occurred before. Her's was a cautionary talk and she did mention issues to do with invasives or plants that normally aren't invasive in an area becoming so as the conditions change. Her's was a a cautionary talk.
I then went to another talk at a nursery by a guy that worked for a plant supply company and he talked about how great it was that now gardeners were discovering they had more options and could grow more types of plants. He was actually excited. Gave me the heebies actually because there was no recognition that this 'positive' could or would be tempered by any negatives.