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Invasive Species Project Begins at Alewife

Directed by: Peter Alden

Participants: Eagle Eye staff Abdu Saalam Alta Ali and students, Dave Morimoto (Lesley College), Mark Kirk (FAR)

Cards characterize patches of invasives.

12 separate species identified at Alewife:
Norway Maple Acer platanoides
Black Swallow-wort Cynanchum louiseae
Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergi
Oriental Honeysuckles Lonicera genus (2+ species)
Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
Black Locust Robinia psuedacacia
Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Phragmites Phragmites australis
Japanese Knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum
European Buckthorns Rhamnus genus (2 species, both present)
Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora
Ailanthus Ailanthus altissima (nearby, not yet Alewife?)

300 green natural bamboo poles were purchased at Mahoneys in Winchester, photocopying onto heavy stock at Staples, 100 sheets of laminating stock to protect signs from water and snow. Youth assembled the signs; 20 signs were erected. There will be more professional signs in future for this kind of project, and may incorporate color art via computer in next round. There's so many invasives there that 300 signs won't be near enough, but its a start. Peter.

Anyone wanting to know more about the project or sign on for the long haul, please contact us: Mark, 617 489-7717, 617 547-1944

This page added November 12, 2002

November 29, 2002 update:
Invasive Species Program Continues
FAR, Lesley College, Eagle Eye Institute and Peter Alden will continue to work on the Reservation for purposes of identification and eventual removal.