Phragmites Update

Last year the phragmites herbicide treatment program was tied-up with funding delays during the state budget process. So in September, the Township decided to pay for the treatment and have the contractor spray even though we had some cool weather. As a result, we know we did not get complete coverage but a large percentage of the stands should have responded to the treatment.

What are our next steps? The Township met with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to layout the 2010 plan. Another survey of the entire shoreline will take place in late July through early August to identify the effectiveness of the original treatment. The Township will obtain the necessary treatment permit from the DNRE for the entire township as we did last year so individual homeowners do not have to get permits. Professional treatment will occur earlier in mid-August to improve the effectiveness of the herbicide and the Michigan DNRE will cover 100% of the treatment costs.

What should property owners do? If you are certain that your phragmites was treated and died, you must obtain your own cutting permit from DNRE to remove the dead plant material. Contact Robyn Schmidt of the DNRE Land and Water Management Division, 231-876-4444 or schmidtr1@michigan.gov. If you are uncertain about the treatment or its effectiveness, do not cut your phragmites. Your property will be included in the September 2010 herbicide treatment program and a township-wide cutting permit will be issued for 2011. For more information, the Township will send a spokesperson to your neighborhood association meeting if requested or call the Watershed Center, 935-1514.

Glyphosate - Information regarding the chemical being applied to phragmites on the shoreline.

E  X  T  O  X  N  E  T
Extension Toxicology Network

A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program.

(An excerpt from the Project……….)

Fate in Humans and Animals

Glyphosate is poorly absorbed from the digestive tract and is largely excreted unchanged by mammals. Ten days after treatment there were only minute amounts in the tissues of rats fed glyphosate for three weeks.

Cows, chickens, and pigs fed small amounts had undetectable levels (less than 0.05 ppm) in muscle tissue and fat. Levels in milk and eggs were also undetectable (less than 0.025 ppm). Nearly all glyphosate residues were rapidly eliminated by fish that had been exposed for 10 to 14 days once these fish were transferred to glyphosate-free water. Glyphosate has no significant potential to accumulate in animal tissue

Ecological Effects

Glyphosate is only slightly toxic to wild birds. The LC50 in both mallards and bobwhite quail is greater than 4,500 ppm. The bioaccumulation factor in chicken muscle, fat, eggs, and liver was as low as 1/10,000

Glyphosate is practically non-toxic to fish. However, Roundup was more toxic to fish than was glyphosate. In rainbow trout, for instance, the 96-hour LC50 was 8.3 mg/l with Roundup and 38 ppm with glyphosate. The LC50 for glyphosate was 120 mg/l for bluegill sunfish. An additive used in the Roundup formulation (modified tallow amine used as a surfactant) is apparently more toxic to fish than many common surfactants. For this reason, the formulation for use in aquatic situations (Rodeo) omits this ingredient. The surfactant is used to allow the compound to readily dissolve in solution and to keep the compound from balling up on the leaf surface.

There is a very low potential for the compound to build up in the tissues of aquatic invertebrates or other aquatic organisms. Glyphosate is relatively non-toxic to honeybees. Its oral and dermal LD50 is greater than 0.1 mg/ bee 

 

Wants to contribute to the Phragmites fund?

The Treasurer's Office is now accepting contributions to the "Phragmites fund" to help offset the expense of eradicating Phragmites. If you would like to contribute, your check should reference phragmites and be made payable to Peninsula Township.

Click Here to view the Phragmites Ordinance(No. 37)

Click Here to view the Phragmites video created for Beaver Island's Peaine Township, that was shown at the regular Town Board meeting on April 14th.

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