Should this be a cause for concern?

[jrc]

That's because it's impossible to define what is a native species.

[Jonas Pilot]

Originally Posted by jrc

That's because it's impossible to define what is a native species.

Are you sure?

[jrc]

No, I'm not sure that's why they changed the law.

But if you think about it, what does native species really mean? It easy to identify some recent imports, especially the "bad" ones. But some definitions of native species mean:

"In the U.S., non-native species are typically defined as those that arrived since the time of European contact"

Do you really want the state of NH checking that every shrub, bush and tree you plant was here before Columbus?

Plus there is this little piece of the definition:
"A species can not be considered native to a particular geographic region or habitat in the United States merely because it occurs natively somewhere within the continental United States. ... For example, a California poppy growing in Alabama would be considered a non-native plant."

So again the state would have to decide if maybe your pine tree from Vermont was Ok but those evil Massachusetts pines were non-native.

The goal of the law is to protect the water quality, not to bring historic purity to the plant world.

Source of quotes:
http://definitions.uslegal.com/n/native-species/

[Jonas Pilot]

So what is happening to our lakes? Non-native aquatic plants are proliferating. These nuisance plants enter our lakes and begin taking over. Most of these non-native species grow faster than our native vegetation, choking it out. Some even grow so thick that boating, swimming, and fishing become more of a struggle than an enjoyment. Non-native plants such as Milfoil and Fanwort are slowly taking over a number of lakes in New Hampshire.

http://www.nhlakes.org/ed_aqu_exo.htm

*One of the goals of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs is to help educate our citizens about some of the environmental issues which affect the quality of life of each one of us.
NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PLANTS are of great concern now among environmentalists, gardeners, and others, "as they are taking over our wetlands and other areas where native plants have lived for many years. Without the native plants, many species of wildlife will perish." (Virginia Grandpre' in the Stoddard Garden Club's Alien Invaders informational flier.)

http://www.nhfgc.org/invasive.htm

Next to habitat lost to land development and transformation, invasive species pose the greatest threat to
the survival of native biota in the United States, and many other areas of the world. An "invasive species"
is defined as a species that is 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose
introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
(Executive Order 13112). Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes).
Human actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions.

http://www.nashuarpc.org/LMRLAC/docu...siveplants.pdf


It’s a matter of balancing nature and its habitats. Plants that live peacefully with natural controls in many parts of the world can be aggressive and invasive here. Purple Loosestrife may take over a wetland pushing out native species, leaving little or no room for wildlife to live and breed; Japanese knotweed may uproot a driveway or road; Buckthorn, Burning Bush and Barberry may invade a forest replacing native plants that once were the comfortable native habitat for mammals, amphibians and reptiles; Birds, turtles, deer, mink, and other wildlife that once used wetlands and forests must move on to less desirable habitat where they struggle to exist. Ultimately this change in plant life reduces natural biodiversity.

http://www.plcnh.org/invasivesguide.htm

[jrc]

NH has an invasive species law. And a committee that deals with that.

The shoreland law doesn't need to add additional rules. Not all non-native plants are invasive.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

So what is happening to our lakes? Non-native aquatic plants are proliferating. These nuisance plants enter our lakes and begin taking over. Most of these non-native species grow faster than our native vegetation, choking it out. Some even grow so thick that boating, swimming, and fishing become more of a struggle than an enjoyment. Non-native plants such as Milfoil and Fanwort are slowly taking over a number of lakes in New Hampshire. http://www.nhlakes.org/ed_aqu_exo.htm

The scourge of non-natives I think of, have proliferated just in my lifetime!

Every scourge will just have to "run its course".

>>> Shrug <<<

[fatlazyless]

Today's July 15 www.citizen.com has a very brief report that three public beaches in Laconia have been closed by the City and NH-DES due to high levels of bacteria. Opechee Cove Beach on Lake Opechee, Bartlett Beach - where the Winnipesaukee River enters Lake Winnisquam, and the beach at Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. All three areas are part of, or close to the outflow of Lake Winnipesaukee. It does not say what type of bacteria or have any photos.

So, apparently the NH-DES is still out there testing the waters and posting their orange signs when necessary which is a very good thing. I had been thinking that the waters testing program may have been discontinued for the reason discussed earlier which was elimination of the DES funding.

It's not really clear whether the beaches actually get closed or if the choice to use the beach and water is just left up to individuals with the orange DES signs posted into the sandy beaches at the water's edge to notify the public, which is what has been done in the past?
.............

Say hey.....lookie here....the Citizen article was rewritten since my 8:18am post above and now it says something like 'bacteria warning signs are posted while the beaches remain open and people can decide for themselves about going into the water.'

[SIKSUKR]

Oh boy. Sometimes its just not worth the effort.