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Date: 05/06/92 <br /> From: Jack Long CEWMJEL - RIS1 <br /> Subject: Mowing along Spectra Physics mitigation site <br /> On April 28, Mark Wilson, the horticulturist maintaining the Spectra Physics <br /> mitigation sites, and I visited the recently planted mitigation site along the <br /> north bank of the Amazon at the diversion weir. Mark was asking for the City's <br /> help in controlling the growth and spread of a number of invasive and competing <br /> species that were growing on the back side of the levee that abuts the planted <br /> area. This included blackberry and wild mustard, but Mark was mostly concerned <br /> with the profusion of teasel that was beginning to send up flower stalks. <br /> The area needing mowed was about 20' wide by at least 500' long. Such a large <br /> amount of major vegetation control (blackberries especially) was beyond the <br /> capacity of Mark's available resources and was though to be City responsiblity <br /> since it was on the levee. To accomplish the desired results, the levee slope <br /> would have to be mowed within the month before the teasel went to seed. <br /> Channel bank and slope mowing was not scheduled to be performed along this <br /> stretch of the Amazon for another 4 to 6 weeks and then not along the back <br /> side of the levee. However, in the hope of promoting the success of this <br /> recently created wetland, we agreed to perform mowing in the desired area as <br /> soon as possible. I am therefore happy to report that the requested mowing <br /> was performed this morning with no problems and that the invasive vegetation <br /> has been subdued for the time being (although it WILL be back)! The operator <br /> of the slope mower, Ray Lawson, was extremely careful and if anything we <br /> probably errored on the side of conservatism rather than take the chance of <br /> mowing something by mistake. <br /> Mark was grateful for our assistance and confident that control of these <br /> competing species will enhance the possibities of success for this site. <br /> jack <br />