Lakefront Workday

Annette Young

On a balmy late October morning, a dozen volunteers, armed with loppers and buck saws, gathered at Rebora Plaza to tackle non-native trees along the lakefront. Organized by the Environmental Restoration Group's board member Bill Schaudt, the work day was a collaboration with the National Park Service. After an educational session on tree identification and safety procedures by Hunter Mosely of the NPS, the group combed the stretch from Derby Ditch to Shore in search of Black Locust and Lombardy Poplar trees.

The Black Locust can invade disturbed habitats and reproduces vigorously. Its dense thickets shade out native vegetation, allowing for invasion of weedy non-natives. The leaf pattern of the Black Locust is similar to some native species, but can be distinguished by heavy, paired thorns on smaller branches.

The Lombardy Poplar, a tree not native to North America, is a fast growing tree with a relatively short life span. Its extensive root system is invasive with saplings sprouting directly from roots, even in remote locations away from the actual tree trunk.

A follow-up to the group's effort will be performed by the NPS in the late fall to remove the larger and diseased trees. Notification of future ERG work dates will be sent out via the ABSR email tree.