posted here

Cape May Point State Park
Invasive Species Control using
the USDA-NRCS WHIP Program
Christopher Miller, USDA-NRCS and Matt Pelligrine, NJ Division of Parks and Forestry

Lower Cape May Meadows

How Many Vines Can you Spot

Maritime Forest-2004

Rationale for Invasive Species
Control
• Wooded and transitional areas of the park have
become highly degraded by a mixture of
invasive, non-native vines and shrubs.
• These plants inhibit succession of desirable
species and render the trees of the park more
susceptible to blow down from storms.
• If not addressed, the Park will lose most of it’s
maritime forest in the next few years, reducing
vital habitat for migrating birds and native
wildlife.

Restoration Plan Summary
• Treat 20 acres of the 44 acres of forest
over a period of 5 years. (2004-2008)
• Years 1-2: Cut vines in May shortly after
leaf-out (little root reserves left)
• Years 1-2: Chemical control in late
September-October
• Year 3:Begin restoration planting (2006)
• Years 4-5:Continue maintenance/planting
– Most work done by seasonal/volunteer staff.

Target Invasive Species
• Virgin’s Bower Clematis
(Clematis flammula)*
excudes a noxious gas
when cut that burns the
eyes.
• Climbs trees extremely
quickly
• Mowing alone not very
effective
• Takes approx. 3 weeks to
show injury from chemical
application

Target Invasive Species
• Porcelainberry
(Ampelopsis
brevipedunculata)
• It is especially
abundant in open
thickets and sand
dunes along coastal
portions of NJ.
• Repeated mowing
effective for control

Target Invasive Species
• Multiflora rose (Rosa
multiflora)
• In shadier
environments it
climbs toward the
light.
• Affected by Rosa
rosette disease

Target Invasive Species
• Japanese
honeysuckle
(Lonicera japonica)
• One of the first
species to leaf out in
the early Spring.
• Produces
considerable above
AND below ground
biomass

Native Vines
• Greenbriar (Smilax rotundafolia)
• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus
quinquefolia)
• Poison Ivy (Toxicondendron radicans)
• Fox grape (Vitis labrusca)
• Trumpet creeper (Campis radicans)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program and Invasive Exotics
“WHIPing Your Land into Shape”
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation
Service

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
• Develop, Improve, and Maintain Wildlife Habitat
• Non-federal Land
• Up to 75% Cost Sharing Available
• 5-10 Year Agreements
• NRCS/Landowner Conservation Plan
• Competitive (Projects ranked on environmental
benefits)

WHIP Priorities in NJ (2004-2007)
• Early Successional Habitat
• Riparian Habitat
• Federally Threatened Bog Turtle
• Habitat at Schools/Envirn. Ed. Areas
• Invasive Exotic Vegetation Control
• Lower Cape May Meadows ecosystem

www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov

With A lot of Perseverance
Before Treatment
After Restoration

Why the Plantation like Planting
…..to assist with mechanical weed control

Restoration Species Planted
• Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
• Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
• Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
• Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
• Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)
• Chestnut oak (Quercus prinus)
• Black oak (Quercus velutina)
• Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
• Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
• Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
• Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Restoration Species-Local Sources
Difficult to Obtain
• Post oak (Quercus stellata)
• American Holly (Ilex opaca)
• Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

And these guys don’t help either

Early Spring-2008

Summer 2009

Summary
• Invasives were controlled fairly well in highly
visible target areas of the park (trails, overlooks,
etc.) REQUIRES repeated mowing/chemical
treatment.
• Need a consistent workforce dedicated solely to
invasive species control and retreatment.
• Contracting out the work would have been more
costly, but probably beneficial for long term
control.