August Stewardship Update & Ecological Report

Lots of youth, Weekly Workdays are Done.
This summer we’ve had 3 different youth teams working in Rouge Park: Youth Work is a Civilian Conservation Corps crew from Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan. They worked primarily on the Scout Hollow Trail, opening up a view of the wetlands across the street from Brennan Pools, helping clean up a job we started with the ACCESS volunteers back in May. The crew is composed 4-5 younger Detroiters, and it is the program’s second year working in Rouge Park. 
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Another crew that worked in the park were from the nonprofit, Green Door Initiative. GDI sent anywhere from 8-12 youth with crew leaders, completing more than eight workdays in the park. Their work centered on restoring a new section on the eastern side of the Ma'iingan Wildwood Trail connecting back to the Sorenson Rec reation Area. We made significant progress with their help!

We’ve been training up a team of Lead Stewards to help support volunteers who come to work in our park. Thus far we have had 5 trainees, with another 5-7 new trainees joining the Lead Steward Training Program this August. They will represent Friends of Rouge Park to guests who come to volunteer in the park. These leaders shined when 80 youth from Greening of Detroit or the 150 from Americorps members came to work in the park. Their leadership has been vital.  We recruited these stewards from consistent volunteers, so If you’re interested in being a lead steward; come hang out with us and put in some work. 
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The summer was a sprint, and as the weather cools, our field work will shift. We will no longer be offering weekly public workdays on Fridays! But we are beginning our weekday volunteer days for those who can come on weekday mornings! 

The following are this September’s workday opportunities:
Sept 10, 9am-12pm Corporate workday @ Tireman Ave & Spinoza Dr. 
Sept 17, 5-9pm  Sunset workday followed by Night Moth activity @ North Prairie Pathway/Butterfly Garden 
Sept 25, 9-12pm Corporate Workday @ Tireman Ave & Spinoza Dr. 
Sept 26, 5-7:30pm Sugarbush Buckthorn Bonfire @ Outer Drive, South of Tireman Ave.

Ecological Report:  Goldenrods heals, prairies overrun by invasives need fire
In these final days of summer, which officially ends on the autumnal equinox, Sept 22, the prairie is fully blooming with goldenrod. So far I have only observed five species of goldenrod; gray goldenrod (solidago nemoralis), grass-leaf goldenrod (euthamia graminifolia), stiff goldenrod (solidago rigida), late goldenrod (solidago altissima), and Canada goldenrod(solidago canadensis). I hope to see a few more now that they’re all starting to bloom. 

Goldenrod is a pioneering species, whose seeds spread through wind dispersal, making it excellent for soil stabilization. It’s also a vital late-season food source for pollinators like bees and butterflies, and beyond that, a food source for other animals, including birds (in winter) and small mammals (like deer & rabbit). As for its medicinal benefits, goldenrod contains anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and diuretic properties, which make it effective for respiratory congestion, seasonal allergies, and wound healing. It can also be used for skin irritations, to reduce swelling and pain, and support urinary tract health.

The invasive porcelain berries (Ampelopsis glandulosa) are now starting to show their purple and blue brilliance. Native to south east Asia, the plant was brought over for its ornamental value. Its berries are edible, yet unpalatable with flavor described as “bland, slimy, or mealy with a prickly aftertaste.” However birds will eat it when other foods get low. They are the primary means of spreading this invasive. We have yet to figure out how to manage these fellas but they are dominating the prairie. Their leaves are a lot like grape leaves but deeply lobed, separated into 3-5 sections. Look out for them if you are strolling through the beautiful goldenrods in our prairie. They cover most everything.

I saw a photo of the invasive spotted lanternfly in Detroit. This Eurasian beetle is often attracted to the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). This sap sucking insect can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to diseases and other pests. As they suck sap, they poo out “honeydew” which falls below them  creating a sticky, messy, sugary residue that attracts sooty mold, which blocks sunlight, hinders photosynthesis, and attracts wasps which can also tend to be a nuisance this time of year. We highly recommend removing any trees of heaven near your home, as this invasive tree will attract this invasive insect which could really damage our forest.
Learning about and managing invasive species is a central part of my job. It can feel like fighting the tides because the scale of the problem is so much greater than the funding to fight that war. I’ve had some interesting conversations recently about the term “invasive”. My interlocutor suggested that these plants are just doing their thing. It's the humans that are the problem. I suppose there is some truth to that. Afterall, 

Humans brought them here. The invasives tend to thrive in disturbed areas and humans are good at disturbing ecosystems; ripping up plants, tilling soils, draining wetlands. These aggressive plants are filling a niche but the problem lies in the vast amount of space they take up, replacing native species. I don’t like to argue about words. We could call them ‘aggressive newcomers’ or ‘colonizers’ for all I care. My primary interest is ecosystem restoration and that means that we need to restore our relationship to the ecosystem. Controlled burns in our oak savannah and prairie complex help to manage these aggressive invaders, restore balance and encourage native species to thrive. Let’s restore Rouge Park’s ecosystems together.