Question 1

Phragmites

Accepted Answer

In response, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has used herbicide and/or physical removal at Heber Down, Long Sault and Lynde Shores Conservation Areas, as well as at Hampton Pond. The Phragmites management at Heber Down Conservation Area has been ongoing since 2016, in partnership with Enbridge, Trans Northern Pipeline, and Hydro One.  Extensive phragmites mapping has been completed at all eight Conservation Areas.Starting in 2023, CLOCA also partnered with the University of Toronto to release two species of moths as a biocontrol for Phragmites at Cranberry Marsh in Lynde Shores Conservation Area. The initial releases of both eggs and larvae of the moth were successful, with moth populations reproducing and overwintering successfully, and a significant reduction in Phragmites stem density and panicle (feathery flower) formation!  Although these impacts were very localized, they inspire hope that, over time, the moths will reduce Phragmites on a larger population scale.

Question 2

Garlic Mustard

Accepted Answer

In response, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has used extensive physical removal at Purple Woods Conservation Area starting in 2013 with CLOCA's high school education program, ‘To Beat It, We Eat It’.  In this program, students spent half a day in the forest pulling garlic mustard and the other half in the kitchen making it into delicious pesto for gourmet pizza, pasta, and salad! This program ran from 2013 to 2019 and removed a whopping 1.4 tonnes of garlic mustard from the Purple Woods Conservation Area sugarbush!  Since 2019, CLOCA staff made efforts to continue to pull the garlic mustard every spring, but the end of ‘To Beat It, We Eat It’, coupled with disturbance to the sugarbush related to the 2022 windstorm, led to garlic mustard populations becoming unmanageable through pulling alone. A spot spray herbicide treatment was done in 2023, followed by an annual spring garlic mustard pull community outreach and volunteering event (typically in June).

Question 3

Dog Strangling Vine

Accepted Answer

In response, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has used herbicide management of Dog Strangling Vine at Purple Woods, Crow's Pass, and Enniskillen Conservation Area, as well as Rogers Tract (part of CLOCA's Conservation Lands, not accessible to the public).While CLOCA uses other management options where possible - like mechanical, manual, and biological controls - sometimes the most effective tool against invasive species is chemical/herbicide (as is the case with Dog Strangling Vine). When herbicide is used, care is always taken to minimize residual spray on native species.Dog-strangling vine in action overcrowding our native provincial flower, the white trillium. Dog-strangling vine is outlined in red in the second image. Photo Credit: P. Martin.

Question 4

European Buckthorn

Accepted Answer

In response, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has used herbicide management of European Buckthorn in the 15 acre meadow at Bowmanville Westside Marshes Conservation Area  and the 61.5 acre tall grass prairie site at Long Sault Conservation Area. Buckthorn management is also ongoing at Rogers Tract (part of CLOCA's Conservation Lands, not accessible to the public).

Question 5

Autumn Olive

Accepted Answer

In response, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has used herbicide management of Autumn Olive in the 15 acre meadow at Bowmanville Westside Marshes Conservation Area as well as in the 61.5 acre tall grass prairie site at Long Sault Conservation Area and Rogers Tract (part of CLOCA's Conservation Lands, not accessible to the public).

Question 6

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Accepted Answer

Though not currently found in CLOCA’s jurisdiction, hemlock woolly adelgids (HWA) are in Ontario and have been found as close as Grafton. Surveying for the HWA has been ongoing at Stephen's Gulch, Long Sault, and Enniskillen Conservation Areas since 2023. These three Conservation Area have an abundance of hemlocks and are CLOCA’s Conservation Areas that are closest to Grafton. Surveys are done using the ball-sampling method which involves using a slingshot to fling a Velcro-covered ball into the top of hemlock trees. HWA lays eggs in masses covered with white "wool" which will attach to the Velcro if present. For hemlocks with low branches, the underside of the needles can be checked for little white tufts, but ball sampling will give a more accurate result as HWA infestations typically start at the top of the tree. Video showing a slingshot used to fling a Velcro-covered ball into a hemlock tree.Additionally a 3D-printed trap that collects environmental DNA was installed at Stephen's Gulch Conservation Area in 2024 as part of a pilot project led by the Invasive Species Centre in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and the Canada Food Inspection Agency. The project was designed to maximize detection potential for the HWA, as early detection of invasive species is critical to successful management. The slides from these traps collect environmental DNA, including any traces of HWA DNA (if present). So far, HWA has not been detected at CLOCA's Conservation Areas. What you can do to help stop the spread:- Don’t place bird feeders near hemlock trees – HWA crawlers hitchhike on birds- Don’t move firewood: burn where you buy! This will help stop the spread of many invasive insects.- If planting hemlocks, buy local and inspect for “wool” before purchase- Monitor and report HWA- Learn more by checking out the Invasive Species Centre's Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Fact Sheet

Question 7

Water Chestnut

Accepted Answer

Physical removal has been done at Pumphouse Marsh in south Oshawa since 2018. This species has only been found at three other locations in Ontario.

Question 8

Emerald Ash Borer

Accepted Answer

In response, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has done distribution mapping, monitoring of tree health, hazard tree removal and restoration planning. Infected trees in CLOCA’s Conservation Areas have been marked with yellow dots as part of our ash tree inventory.

Question 9

Giant Hogweed

Accepted Answer

Distribution mapping and reporting is done in partnership with Ganaraska Conservation and the Municipality of Clarington. If Giant Hogweed is found adjacent to any of CLOCA's trails, please report using the 'Report a Concern' form, by phone at 905 579-0411, or by email at mail@cloca.com.

Question 10

Wild Parsnip

Accepted Answer

Removal and follow-up monitoring is done along trails at CLOCA's Conservation Areas. If Wild Parsnip is found adjacent to any of CLOCA's trails, please report using the 'Report a Concern' form, by phone at 905 579-0411, or by email at mail@cloca.com.

Question 11

Beech Leaf Disease

Accepted Answer

This is a new invasive species that has spread very rapidly since 2024. It's presence is most notable at Heber Down Conservation Area. CLOCA has begun mapping it's presence. There is currently no control available for large-scale infestations. To stop the spread, please do not move: beech seedlings, leaf litter, or firewood.

Question 12

Beech Bark Disease

Accepted Answer

Beech bark disease has been present in CLOCA's jurisdiction for a while but there is currently no management available in a forest setting.

Question 13

Common Carp

Accepted Answer

Carp exclusion barriers have been used where possible to keep carp from entering coastal wetlands. For example the Shisko wetland was created in 2021 and connects directly with the Lynde Creek Marsh. A carp exclusion barrier was placed at the point of connection to keep carp from entering the new wetland. Exclusion barrier are typically grates with 7 cm (2.8 inch)-wide spacing that kept out the carp while allowing migratory native fish, including the northern pike, access to the wetland for spawning.  At Oshawa Second Marsh, the common carp were removed in 2004, and their re-entry was blocked with a dike that was built between Farewell Creek and the Marsh. One small channel was left to connect the creek and the marsh and was protected with a carp exclusion barrier. With the carp excluded, the marsh’s fish community bounced back, increasing in diversity until 2009, when the exclusion barrier was vandalized, allowing for the passage of carp into the marsh once again. The fish community rapidly (within a year) reverted back to the previously low fish diversity present before the carp were excluded. The response of the native fish community to the exclusion of carp, and the unfortunate re-introduction of the carp to Second Marsh, provided a unique opportunity to highlight the impact and importance of carp exclusion for wetland restoration. Now that the study is complete, plans are underway for future carp removal and subsequent exclusion.

Question 14

Purple Loosestrife

Accepted Answer

After much research and in cooperation with Ontario Beetles, 5,000 Galerucella beetles were released in Cranberry Marsh and Lynde Shores Conservation Area to munch away at the invasive purple loosestrife. In 1999, the tiny beetles, released in their larval stage, overwintered in the ground and emerged the following spring as adult beetles ready to eat the young leaves on the loosestrife plant—the beetle’s diet of choice. The plants responded to the munching by using their energy to produce more leaves, never reaching the flowering or seed stage in their growing season. With each female Galerucella beetle capable of producing about 500 eggs that hatch in a week, the population of beetles quickly expanded in response to the availability of purple loosestrife leaves. At the time of the release, CLOCA expected to see noticeable results in a five- to seven-year period, and sure enough, by 2004, while some purple loosestrife could still be found in Cranberry Marsh, the reproductive ability of the plants had been seriously compromised by the presence of the beetles. Purple loosestrife has continued to be controlled by the beetles with some expected variation from year to year. As the beetle population grows and the purple loosestrife food source becomes harder to find, the beetle population drops which allows for an increase in the purple loosestrife, followed by an increase in beetle numbers - and the cycle continues with the population numbers of both species constantly adjusting to each other. Although the beetles will never completely eradicate purple loosestrife, they have significantly curbed the population, so native species have the opportunity to re-populate Cranberry Marsh.

Question 15

European Frog-bit

Accepted Answer

Physical removal of European frog-bit has been ongoing at Enniskillen Conservation Area's South Education Pond (0.23 hectares) since 2010.

Invasive Species

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