The Conservation Commission applied for a grant with the DEP to mitigate phragmites, according to town documents. Phragmites are an invasive plant, which if left uncontrolled, choke out desirable vegetation and eventually destroy the salt-water marshes, according to town documents. The marshes are a critical natural resource that provide storage capacity for storm water and lower the risk of flooding during storm events and extreme high tides, according to town officials.
The town was awarded a grant for $40,000 from the DEP, and the Town Council voted to accept the money in September.
Last week the Town Council voted to allow Stantec Consulting Services of Scarborough to execute a plan to mitigate phragmates in three marshes in the Ocean Park area.
The cost of the mitigation will cost $39,000 and thus be covered by the DEP grant, according to town officials.
Stantec Consulting scientist Bryan Emerson and senior associate Joy Prescott outlined the plan in a letter to the town.
The firm will provide a commercial herbicide applicator and an assistant applicator licensed by the Maine Board of Pesticides Control to apply herbicide treatments, according to Prescott and Emerson.
Stantec will also also implement a salt marsh restoration plan, wrote Emerson and Prescott.
“Restoration will include preparing the sites and planting native species where necessary to jump start recolonization of the area by native species,” wrote Emerson and Prescott.
The plan also calls for about five local volunteer to assist with soil preparation and seedling planting over a two-day period at three marsh restoration sites.
A year after the restoration plantings, Stantec will reteurn to conduct an evaluation and treat any residual invasive plants.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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