The Town of Brookhaven is expansive – touching both shores and hosting a diversity of habitats such as woodland forests, rivers, coastal islands, and saltmarshes – all of which require protection from invasive species. Alan Duckworth, Senior Environmental Analyst, oversees many ecological projects in the Town to improve water quality, protect threatened species, and restore habitat.
One major invasive species project of the last decade has been controlling perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) at West Meadow Beach. Perennial pepperweed is an invasive plant that grows in a variety of habitats, including salt shrub, maritime shrubland, maritime red cedar forest, dredge spoil shore, lawn, and roadside. Perennial pepperweed’s shade tolerance, salt tolerance, and vigorous spread by rhizomes make it difficult to control. Likely introduced through animal feed at a nearby horse farm, it grew to span more than 28 patches in the area. West Meadow Beach and nearby Flax Pond contain the only known populations of this invasive plant in New York State. A combination of manual control and wiping applications of herbicide have been the best options for Brookhaven to manage perennial pepperweed. Using an herbicide application technique called wicking targets invasive plants and minimizes impact to surrounding native vegetation. Brookhaven has been granted funds by the Long Island Sound Futures fund to continue removing invasives, like perennial pepperweed, from West Meadow Beach.
Another exciting Town project has centered on fish passage in the Swan River. Installing a fish ladder two years ago allows diadromous fish, such as river herring, to successfully access upper reaches of Swan Lake. However, invasive species such as eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), phragmites (Phragmites australis), and knotweed (Reynoutria spp.) still impact the area. The Town works to control these species to ensure water can still flow and fish can still move freely through the river.
Aside from fish, the Town also works to conserve bird populations through their work on Carter’s Island. This island in Moriches Bay hosts a tern colony. Since terns require bare sand, pebbles, or shell substrate to nest, phragmites growing on the island threatens to take over their nesting area. The Town’s work to control phragmites and install nesting boxes has helped to support the tern population.
By working with partners and professionals, the Town of Brookhaven has found success in strategic invasive species management, protecting unique habitats for wildlife in the process. LIISMA is grateful for their partnership!
View Alan Duckworth’s full presentation here: https://youtu.be/RU6ozAYrBTI?feature=shared&t=579
