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Spartina Monitoring and Removal
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Spartina
angelica (English cordgrass) is an introduced, aggressive,
aquatic grass that invades mudflats, beaches, eelgrass
meadows, algae beds and salt marshes.
The plant takes over to form monotypic “Spartina meadows”
resulting in loss of important habitat for fish and
wildlife. The large root masses of Spartina trap sediment,
raising the elevation and thus changing the entire
ecosystem.
Spartina angelica was introduced in Puget Sound in 1961 for
dyke and shoreline stabilization, oyster packing material
and cattle fodder but quickly spread outside its intended
usage area. In Washington state, there has been extensive
conversion of native habitat to a monoculture of Spartina
resulting in millions of dollars spent on control.
Spartina angelica was first discovered in Boundary Bay and
Roberts Bank in 2003 by Gary Williams during intertidal
marsh surveys conducted for the Vancouver Port Authority. In
2004, a multi-agency partnership was formed to develop a
Spartina removal plan and promote public awareness of the
problem. The “Early Detection, Rapid Response” technique was
employed by the B.C. Spartina Working Group to control the
spread. Volunteers began to manually dig up plants and clip
seed heads and an excavator was used to remove large clones
and bury them.
Areas of Spartina infestation continue to be monitored and
mapped and removal efforts and public education by groups
such as Friends of Semiahmoo Bay continue to be key in
controlling the spread of the plant.
Volunteers are needed to continue in the monitoring and
removal of this invasive species.
Stay tuned for more information!
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Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society, with partners, invites you to celebrate
Boundary Bay, Canada's Top Bird Area.