In yesterday's post, I wrote about the Poison Hemlock and other invasive species taking over the creek banks in the Allentown Park System. This is a result of the ill-advised riparian buffers, promoted by the Wildlands Conservancy.
Yesterday morning the park department started to clear cut the stream banks in Cedar Park, the only way to get rid of the invasives. Removing them by hand would require the labor of the whole department, for the whole summer.
The buffers serve no ecological purpose in Allentown, because the storm water is piped directly into the streams, under the buffers. However, the Wildlands Conservancy never lets specific realities get in the way of their generalized science.
These faux buffers have numerous victims. Yesterday this year's batch of ducklings were turned into paté and mulch, when the mower went over their nests. For the rest of the summer, the city will allow the faux buffer to grow, blocking both view and access to the creek. It's not a good plan for the ducks or the children.
Allentown should defer to General Trexler's landscape architect, and again allow its citizens to enjoy the parks, as designed.
Riparian buffers are absolutely needed for any stream, or body of water. They provide protection from erosion, since the root systems of plants protect the soil from being swept away with the current. The Riparian habitat also creates a barrier for litter from getting into the water, and is a habitat for wildlife. The people who were clear-cutting should have absolutely checked for wildlife, as ducks nest on the sides of the stream.
ReplyDeleteUnless you are an ecologist or conservationist specializing in invasive species management, I would trust the Wildland Conservancy and scienists more!
Sarah, what parts of reality do you have a problem with? In spite of your ecology platitudes, the photo clearly shows that the weeds and invasives being clear cut do not provide any stabilization to the stream banks, because they must be periodically removed. It is only a faux buffer, in every sense. Now, if the city had planted those 100 new trees along the bank, especially willow trees,, then that would prevent erosion. FYI, there was no checking for wildlife and ducks, I was there.
ReplyDeleteYour whole arguement was that there is no purpose for riparian buffers at all, which is wrong- THAT is the reality. You just changed your whole arguement in the comments.
DeleteNow, if the city planted native grass, then further away from the stream, shrubs, then trees. An ecosystem needs more than a monoculture of 100 willows.
This would be optimal, but often invasive species
out-compete native species, as native species work in their own ecological niche, while invasives often don't have that hinderance.
Sarah, once again the storm system carrying the runoff is piped below this "ecosystem", directly into the stream. These are parks, not science fairs, to demonstrate "ecosystems". The willows do hold the banks together and prevent erosion. They also provide beauty, something not even considered in your weed wall.
ReplyDeleteYou honestly don't sound like you've been to a high school science class in the past 50 years. Anywhere you go outside is much, much more complex than anything a science fair could really cover. Just because you don't realize the complex nature between organic life, and the environment, doesn't mean you can say whatever you want and it be true. When you get a 4 year degree in Environmental Biology, come talk to me, and we can discuss as equals.
DeleteSarah, you may think that your four year undergraduate degree qualifies you to change an award winning park system designed by the leading landscape architect of the time, but I don't.
DeleteI haven’t seen any ducklings there this year 😞
ReplyDeleteLast year I believe one family survived the slaughter, this year none. I saw one family "sitting" on their previous nest, very sad. I believe at Cedar Park numerous females died "protecting" their nests. I now only see one female in the park, along with a few new widowers.
DeleteCatching up on your blog...
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking!! Absolutely reprehensible behavior by the public worker(s). Anyone who has either zero compassion for wildlife & nature or is just too ignorant to be aware of life other than their own, should not be working for any Parks Department...ever. Please tell me they were fired or transferred to a different department.