Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SC Coastal News 09-28-2005 09:31
– – –
Invasive Phragmites Weed Tackled In Coastal Areas
The battle to control an invasive plant species with the potential to drastically alter marsh ecosystems shifted into high gear this summer along the South Carolina coast in the Santee Delta area.
The plant is common reed, also known by its genus name of Phragmites (pronounced frag-MITE-tease). Although this species is native to North America, an invasive variety from Europe has taken hold in coastal waters of the state where it forms very dense stands that displace native vegetation and harm waterfowl use.
“We have been battling Phragmites for almost 20 years with limited success,” said Chris Page, aquatic nuisance species coordinator for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), “but the release of a new and more effective herbicide has encouraged us to expand our control efforts.” A total of 1,944 acres were treated at the Yawkey Wildlife Center, Santee Coastal Reserve, Samworth Wildlife Management Area and Santee Delta at a cost of $342,577. Additionally, private landowners treated more than 800 acres in the same area.
Plans are also underway to initiate a pilot project that will assist the general public in controlling Phragmites on private property. The Georgetown County Soil and Water Conservation District has agreed to administer a cost-share program that compensates private landowners for treating Phragmites on their property. Funding will come from Natural Resources Conservation Service Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program funds, The Nature Conservancy, a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant through the Historic Ricefields Association, and DNR. The Georgetown County Soil and Water Conservation District will act as the single point of contact for landowners for all funds. The program should begin this fall.
Phragmites is also being treated in the ACE Basin, where about five acres was treated along rice fields and riverbanks in Colleton County.
Phragmites control in the ACE Basin area is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the DNR’s Land, Water and Conservation Division and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
“Phragmites is only a recent invader in our coastal marshes below Charleston, and we wanted to jump on it before the problem got way out of hand,” said Dean Harrigal, ACE Basin coordinator for the DNR based at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in Colleton County.
A Phragmites invasion alters the structure and function of diverse marsh ecosystems by changing species composition, nutrient cycles, and hydrological regimes. Dense stands of Phragmites decrease native biodiversity and quality of wetland habitat, particularly for migrating wading birds and waterfowl species.
Phragmites can grow 10-12 feet high in dense stands and is long-lived. It is capable of reproduction by seed, but spreads primarily by underground stems called rhizomes. The native and introduced species of Phragmites are very similar in appearance.
The herbicide used by DNR to treat Phragmites, imazapyr (under the trade name Habitat), is environmentally safe and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in aquatic areas. The toxic effects to fish and aquatic invertebrates have been found to be insignificant based on tests using standardized EPA protocols.
For more information on this and other invasive aquatic nuisance species, visit the DNR Web site at: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/water/envaff/aquatic/index.html.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SC Savannah River 09-27-2005 10:39
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
9/22 Hunted w/boatblind and took two geese early and one GW teal late-morning. Geese came into light calling and small spread (4 floaters)
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SC Savannah River 09-27-2005 10:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted 9/17. Lots of activity from other hunters and heard a lot of shooting. Saw one group scratch three geese and a few teal. Motored up to their spot after they left and noted they were using a mix of steel and lead shells (maybe reloaded steel?) in their empties.
Missed on the only group of geese that worked the spread. Boondock (another group up river) reported they took six geese and four teal.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SC Savannah River Goose Opener 09-27-2005 10:23
– – –
Sorry about the late report. Just got reinstated as Field Editor.
My buddies hunted the SC 9/16 opener along the Savannah River downstream of Lake Thurmond.
They took four blackfeet
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SC 2005 Waterfowl Report 08-11-2005 09:26
– – –
Wterfowl Project Report available online at
http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/wild/waterfowl/WaterfowlProject2005.pdf
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Columbia 08-11-2005 09:17
– – –
WATERFOWL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL MEET AUGUST 11 IN COLUMBIA
The Waterfowl Advisory Committee to the S.C. Natural Resources Board will meet 10 a.m. Thursday, August 11 in Room 335 (board room) of the Rembert Dennis Building at 1000 Assembly St. in Columbia.
The meeting is open to the public. Anyone with business for the advisory committee, needing the agenda or directions to the meeting place should contact Susan Johnson at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources in Columbia at (803) 734-3889. South Carolina Natural Resources board member Stephen L. Davis of Greenwood is chairman of the Waterfowl Advisory Committee.
Items scheduled on the agenda for the Columbia meeting of the Waterfowl Advisory Committee include:
* Advisory committee member comments
* Constituent comments
* National Waterfowl Hunter Survey
* S.C. Waterfowl Hunter Survey results
* 2005-06 waterfowl season staff recommendations (including youth day)
* Youth license sales trends
* Team DNR program
* DNR draw hunts framework and schedule (additional hunts at Santee Coastal Reserve WMA in Charleston County and Samworth WMA in Georgetown County)
* Waterfowl stamp budget
* Phragmites treatment update
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SC Geese SW/Savannah River 08-11-2005 09:16
– – –
Looks like a good year for local goose production on the river and local ponds and sloughs. Anybod else seeing much?
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SCDU May Events 05-04-2005 12:25
– – –
Laurens Chapter Banquet
Date: May 5, 2005
Location: The Clinton House
Contact: Roby Adair
Phone: 864-683-6024
Columbia Golf Tournament
Date: May 11, 2005
Location: WoodCreek Country Club
Event Type:
Golf
Contact: Bill Short
Phone: 540-7823
In years past this event has been a sellout and we anticipate the same happeing this year.
“The Bag” is back! This year we will be bringing back our cloth “goodie bag” bigger and better than ever.
Our traditional cookout following the tournament will continue this year as will the lunch from Chick-fil-A. We invite you to attend the cookout prepared by Damon’s featuring their famous ribs and chicken with all the trimmings. If you do not golf but are a conservation supporter and like to have fun please join us for beverages at 5:00pm prior to the cookout. Again this year we will have door prizes and the awards presentation followed by a Silent and Oral Auction.
Call Bill Short to obtain an entry form.
As a supporter of our conservation efforts we would also request individuals and companies to consider sponsoring a sign to be displayed on the course during the event. Sign sponsorship is $100.00 and is tax deductible.
Additional contacts:
Ken Hoover – Golf Chairman 803-647-7077
Mark Coker – Golf Co-Chairman 803-782-2898
Wally Allen – Golf Co-Chairman 803-365-144
Clemson Chapter Banquet
Date: May 12, 2005
Location: Clemson University Outdoor Lab
Contact: Oscar McCurry
Phone: 864-225-8704
Southern Berkeley Banquet
Date: May 14, 2005
Contact: James Meadows
Phone: 843-870-0635
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
April SCWA Event 04-20-2005 08:03
– – –
4/30/05 Four Holes-Edisto Conservation Dinner
Contact: Kevin Weatherford (803) 492-8280
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
April SC DU Events 04-20-2005 07:53
– – –
Abbeville Oyster Roast
Date: April 21, 2005
Contact: Matt Cox
Phone: 864-378-1365
Ticket Price is $25
USC Beaufort
Date: April 21, 2005
Location: Pepper’s Porch, Blufton
Contact: Brent Gresham
Phone: 843-908-9915
Dinner includes an oyster roast, barbeque, rice and hash, green beans and slaw, and an open bar. There will be a live auction, silent auction, and raffles. Ticket prices are $35 per single and $55 per couple (Ticket includes annual membership to Ducks Unlimited). This is USC Beaufort’s first annual banquet, so come out and enjoy the fun and festivities, while supporting the local college chapter!
College of Charleston
Date: April 27, 2005
Location: Charleston Yacht Club
Contact: Taylor Kemp
Phone: 803-325-5527
Citadel Chapter
Date: April 30, 2005
Location: Tucker’s Pond on John’s Island
Contact: Todd McElveen
Phone: 843-863-1001
Additional contact: William Rhodes 843-860-3045
