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This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------010802080303090204010504 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Foreign plant invading Little Albro Lake (from today's Chron.cle Her.ld) By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter | 5:28 AM There's big trouble at Little Albro Lake. The Dartmouth lake is under attack by an "invasive plant species" called Yellow Floating Heart. The Asian plant was first introduced as an ornamental pond plant, says a staff report, but quickly takes over as it roots in bottom sediment and can root in up to two metres of water. It's so bad that swimming might have to be limited in the lake, says area councillor Jim Smith (Albro Lake-Harbourview). "We'll be lucky if they don't multiply and end up in another lake," he said. However, the city's hands are tied because taking care of the lake falls under provincial jurisdiction. "They are currently investigating experience in other jurisdictions with this species. Their advice is that . . . a delay of one year will not make this problem any worse," says a staff report written for last night's meeting. However, Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) said she walked by the lake the other day and couldn't believe how much it had reproduced in the past year. "It's unbelievable," she said. Although the plant is not poisonous, the report says that the Department of Natural Resources anticipates that this species may become a significant problem in Nova Scotia within the next few years as it tends to take over any lake in which it is introduced. As well, the plant is so hardy that it can be easily transported from lake to lake in the form of leaf or root fragments, even carried unintentionally on the hulls of boats, the report outlines. Herbicides are not an option because of the municipal law governing the use of pesticides, a point made by Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley). "A barge with a spray program would get rid of it in a week." He said the municipality is sadly becoming victim to several invasive species, noting the Asian spruce longhorn beetle and purple loosestrife. "If we need to change legislation to allow it (spray programs), we should," said Mr. Streatch. Coun. Bob Harvey (Lower Sackville) disagreed. "Dumping large quantities of chemicals . . . will only create another problem," he said, noting it could lead to a massive fish kill. Council agreed to send "an aggressive letter" to the provincial environment department. ( apugsley@herald.ca <mailto:apugsley@herald.ca>) --------------010802080303090204010504 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type"> <title></title> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> <font class="Content_Headlines-links">Foreign plant invading Little Albro Lake<br> (from today's Chron.cle Her.ld)<br> </font><br> By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter | 5:28 AM<font class="Content_body-links"> <p>There’s big trouble at Little Albro Lake.</p> <p>The Dartmouth lake is under attack by an "invasive plant species" called Yellow Floating Heart.</p> <p>The Asian plant was first introduced as an ornamental pond plant, says a staff report, but quickly takes over as it roots in bottom sediment and can root in up to two metres of water.</p> <p>It’s so bad that swimming might have to be limited in the lake, says area councillor Jim Smith (Albro Lake-Harbourview).</p> <p>"We’ll be lucky if they don’t multiply and end up in another lake," he said.</p> <p>However, the city’s hands are tied because taking care of the lake falls under provincial jurisdiction.</p> <p>"They are currently investigating experience in other jurisdictions with this species. Their advice is that . . . a delay of one year will not make this problem any worse," says a staff report written for last night’s meeting. </p> <p>However, Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) said she walked by the lake the other day and couldn’t believe how much it had reproduced in the past year.</p> <p>"It’s unbelievable," she said.</p> <p>Although the plant is not poisonous, the report says that the Department of Natural Resources anticipates that this species may become a significant problem in Nova Scotia within the next few years as it tends to take over any lake in which it is introduced.</p> <p>As well, the plant is so hardy that it can be easily transported from lake to lake in the form of leaf or root fragments, even carried unintentionally on the hulls of boats, the report outlines.</p> <p>Herbicides are not an option because of the municipal law governing the use of pesticides, a point made by Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley).</p> <p>"A barge with a spray program would get rid of it in a week."</p> <p>He said the municipality is sadly becoming victim to several invasive species, noting the Asian spruce longhorn beetle and purple loosestrife.</p> <p>"If we need to change legislation to allow it (spray programs), we should," said Mr. Streatch. </p> <p>Coun. Bob Harvey (Lower Sackville) disagreed.</p> <p>"Dumping large quantities of chemicals . . . will only create another problem," he said, noting it could lead to a massive fish kill.</p> <p>Council agreed to send "an aggressive letter" to the provincial environment department. </p> <p>( apugsley@herald.ca)</p> </font> </body> </html> --------------010802080303090204010504--
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