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Conservation coordinator updates committee on invasive plants, tree pruning and osprey telemetry
Summary
Conservation Coordinator Tom reviewed invasive-species control (phragmites australis), tree-pruning plans for Janesville Road and telemetry work tracking local ospreys, and outlined planned kiosk/signage replacements at conservation areas.
Tom, the conservation coordinator, told the committee that invasive-species management occupies much of his time and highlighted phragmites australis (giant reed grass) as a significant, spreading concern alongside ongoing pruning and signage replacement work.
Tom described phragmites as a tall, rhizome-spreading grass that has proliferated along roadsides and in unkempt areas and summarized planned contractor pruning along Janesville Road to achieve about 15 to 15.5 feet of street-clearance. He said interpretive and wayfinding signage at Badisher and Engle conservation areas will be replaced because the existing kiosk tops have degraded after roughly 20 years of use.
On wildlife monitoring, Tom said osprey telemetry tags transmit via cell towers while birds are in the United States; coverage lapses when birds are in areas without cellular roaming, and staff expect a large data update when the birds pass cell towers upon return. Tom noted some tracked individuals reached the Dominican Republic or farther during migration.
Committee members asked about species planted in medians and Tom identified likely flowering crabapples and hawthorns and cautioned about certain pear varieties being invasive. No formal actions were taken on these items at the meeting.
