This proposal funds the removal, eradication &/or control of Spartina from the estuarine habitat of Skagit County. The methods of treatment will consist of cutting, digging & applying herbicides. Through the use of these methods in the estuaries, native plant species will be allowed to return to those areas currently infested or affected by this invasive noxious weed. Spartina aggressively invades NW marine ecosystems & displaces native vegetation, such as eelgrass, & threatens estuaries by occupying ecological niches where little competition exist. As Spartina colonizes areas, it results in widespread ecological disruptions. These disruptions include destroying important feeding & rearing grounds for juvenile salmon & potentially disrupting marine food chains. Salmon rearing & feeding grounds will be enhanced as sloughs are allowed to return to their natural conditions. Shoreline monitoring will be done by hiring a trained Spartina crew, along with trained volunteers. Monitoring is necessary to catch seedlings before they produce seeds. The Spartina Task Force of N. Puget Sound lists Skagit Bay as a high priority site for Spartina removal. The goal of the Task Force is to enhance public access, salmon habitat & wildlife habitat; monitor results of removal & modify future control methods; re-treat sites if necessary; prevent seed production at specific sites; & prioritize sites for control.
