When you hear of invasive species, you might picture green-eyed
aliens from outer space. Here in Door County, Soil and Water
Conservationist, Greg Coulthurst, is defending against another
kind of invasion. Certain plant species are threatening to take
over our road ditches, fields and forests by crowding out native
plants and disrupting wildlife habitats. With the support of
local residents, town boards and shoreline communities
throughout Door County Greg has had success on Washington and
Detroit Islands bringing a harmless-looking tall, brown grass,
called Phragmites, largely under control. This summer he’s
focusing on Wild Parsnip and Phragmites. Beginning in Southern
Door, a contractor hired through funding from the US Forest
Service, will spot treat some 60 miles of rights-of-way and 6 to
11 acres of privately owned land with additional treatments to
follow this fall. A tremendous amount of support comes from
donations from local landowners and townships for this effort.
Matching grants from the federal