Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary Habitat Restoration Project 2020

A number of non-native, invasive plants have become established in the wetlands and transition areas located within the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. These plants have crowded out native vegetation, reduced species diversity, and degraded habitat functions and values for wildlife within the Sanctuary.

To address this issue, the Borough of Stone Harbor proposes to conduct the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary Habitat Restoration Project to manage the invasive species common reed (Phragmites australis) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) via herbicide application, hand cutting and removal. These invasive species will be treated with the herbicide Imazapyr**. Subsequent to treatment, invasive species would be cut and removed from the Sanctuary by hand to limit their spread.

This project is currently in the permitting phase and there is a requirement within this process to notify all neighbors within 200 feet of the proposed project.  The Initial treatment is scheduled for the Fall of 2020 (after Labor Day – October).

The effective management of invasive vegetation would require a multi-year treatment program.  It is anticipated that after the first two years, any subsequent treatments would consist of relatively minor maintenance using backpack sprayers.

Click below link to view the Princeton Hydro presentation at the February 18, 2020 Council Work Session.  The Princeton Hydro Presentation begins at 1:00:25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4WR-KkiakQ&feature=youtu.be

**Imazapyr is of relatively low toxicity to birds, mammals, and fish; studies indicate imazapyr is excreted by mammalian systems rapidly with no bioaccumulation (Tu et al. 2001). Imazapyr is classified by the U.S. EPA as a Group E compound, indicating that the herbicide shows no evidence of carcinogenicity