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Archived News Items from 2018


03 Dec 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of November

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of November was 218 hours, 99% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 55% more than the total for this period last season and 73% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season.

A further 147 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 10 h spent on weed mapping. When all this effort is combined, the total of 375 h was the second largest of the 9 seasons of records behind 2012-13. When all this effort is combined, the total of 272 h was the fifth largest of the 9 seasons of records.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (53 h, all in November)followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (45 h) and Skeleton weed (40 h). Together these account for 64% of the effort so far this season.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


06 Nov 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of October

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of October was 122 hours, entirely within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 25% more than the total for this period last season and twice as much as the effort on the Reserve alone last season, but the second smallest total for the 9 years of records.

A further 140 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 10 h spent on weed mapping. When all this effort is combined, the total of 272 h was the second largest of the 9 seasons of records behind 2012-13. When all this effort is combined, the total of 272 h was the second largest of the 9 seasons of records behind 2012-13.

For the season to date Skeleton weed has received the most effort (39 h) closely followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (36 h) with Capeweed the only other category exceeding 10 hours. Skeleton weed has become an emerging problem on the Reserve, perhaps encouraged by the removal of other weed competitors.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


09 Oct 2018:    Just how dry is it this year?

The answer is: very dry.

An analysis of data from the two official Bureau of Meteorology rainfall stations closest to the Pinnacle (for which we have 45 years of records) shows that the rainfall to date this year (300 mm) is the third lowest behind 1994 (248 mm) and 2004 (246 mm).

Nearly half of this rainfall (144 mm) fell in January and February, when its effectiveness is countered by high temperatures and uptake rates by plants.

In the period from March to September there has only been 156 mm. This is the smallest total for those months in the 45 years of records. The next smallest for this period were 169 mm (1994) and 181 mm (2004).

In terms of the impact of this dry year it is relevant that last year was also a relatively dry one (329 mm to September; 589 mm for the whole year) and a significant proportion fell in the warmer months of November and December.

Monthly and annual rainfall since 2010 for the two weather stations used here is updated monthly on the fotpin website.

Warren Bond


21 Sep 2018:    Spring Walks Program

This spring, fotpin is holding three guided walks:

  • Spring Bird Walk (7th October)
  • Aboriginal Heritage Walk (21st October)
  • Wildflower Walk (4th November)

For details see Spring walks program 2018 [ pdf 1.1 MB] or keep up to date with "What's on".


20 Aug 2018:    Safety Alert Falling Limbs and Trees

The dry conditions have increased the risk of falling trees and limbs.

See Safety Alert for advice of how to minimise the risk.


02 Aug 2018:    Weeding effort summary for 2017-18 season

The weeding effort summary for the 2017-187 season shows that our effort was the smallest of the last 8 years, both for the Reserve* alone (623 hours) and for the Reserve and adjacent paddocks combined (696 hours). This largely reflects a decline in weeding volunteer numbers over the years.

Compared with the average for the previous 6 seasons the total effort was 37% less but the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 30% less. This is because with our reduced resources we have prioritised the Reserve and had to abandon a great deal of weed control in the adjacent paddocks.

Despite the reduced effort, we are reasonably confident that all major weed targets were controlled to the same extent as in previous seasons. This is attributed to the dry winter that resulted in less weed germination and growth, improved efficiencies in our weed control and evidence that our past efforts have permanently reduced the severity of infestation by many of our target weeds reducing the amount of effort required.

The weeds that absorbed most effort this season were St. John's Wort (202 hours, all on the Reserve), miscellaneous Broadleaf Weeds (104 h), Saffron Thistles (95 h), Verbascum (62 h), Briars (47 h) and African Lovegrass (40 h) which together accounted for 79% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.

* Note: effort for the Reserve now includes effort in the Extension, both in this season and in previous seasons.


24 July 2018:    Molonglo 3 Water Supply Main Update

Works have commenced for the construction of the new pipeline between the Weetangera water tanks and the new suburb of Whitlam with the erection of temporary fencing to provide a secure construction site.
A new web page has been created to keep members and other Reserve users informed of any construction activities that may affect them. In the first instance it foreshadows the restricted access that will apply along some of the tracks.


05 June 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of May

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of May (667 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is partly because of the very low rainfall in 2017; the rainfall for the calendar year was the lowest since 2009 despite the wet finish to the year. As a result there were initially fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. The above average rainfall in October, November and December generated the requirement for increased effort, but volunteer availability has been limited resulting in the total effort remaining low.

In May St. John's Wort received most effort (32 h) followed a long way behind by Verbascum (12 h), (11 h), Nightshade (10 h), and Briars (8 h). These accounted for 81% of the month's effort.

For the season to date Miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds received most effort (18 h) followed a long way behind by Woody Weeds (5 h), St. John's Wort (4 h), Verbascum (12 h), African Lovegrass (3 h) and Nightshade (2 h). These accounted for 92% of the month's effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


05 May 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of April

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of April (632 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is partly because of the very low rainfall in 2017; the rainfall for the calendar year was the lowest since 2009 despite the wet finish to the year. As a result there were initially fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. The above average rainfall in October, November and December generated the requirement for increased effort, but volunteer availability has been limited resulting in the total effort remaining low.

In April St. John's Wort received most effort (32 h) followed a long way behind by Verbascum (12 h), Miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (11 h), Nightshade (10 h), and Briars (8 h). These accounted for 81% of the month's effort.

For the season to date St. John's Wort (198 h), Saffron Thistles (95 h), miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (66 h), Verbascum ( 62 h) and Briars (47 h) have received the most effort. Together these accounted for 74% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


04 Apr 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of March

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of March (542 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is partly because of the very low rainfall in 2017; the rainfall for the calendar year was the lowest since 2009 despite the wet finish to the year. As a result there were initially fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. The above average rainfall in October, November and December generated the requirement for increased effort, but volunteer availability has been limited resulting in the total effort remaining low.

Spraying of Briars received the most effort for March (23 h) with significant amounts of time also devoted to Nightshade, St. John's Wort and Verbascum. These accounted for 67% of the month's effort.

St. John's Wort (167 h), Saffron Thistles (95 h), Verbascum ( 50 h), miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (50 h) and Briars (39 h) have received the most effort. Together these accounted for 74% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


11 Mar 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of February

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of February (435 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is partly because of the very low rainfall in 2017; the rainfall for the calendar year was the lowest since 2009 despite the wet finish to the year. As a result there were initially fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. The above average rainfall in October, November and December generated the requirement for increased effort, but volunteer availability has been limited resulting in the total effort remaining low.

Spraying of St. John's Wort dominated the effort for February (52% of effort) with significant amounts of time also devoted to Saffron Thistles and Briars.

St. John's Wort (148 h), Saffron Thistles (94 h), miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (44 h) and Verbascum (38 h) have received the most effort so far this season. Together these accounted for 75% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


17 Feb 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of January

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of January (338 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is partly because of the very low rainfall in 2017; the rainfall for the calendar year was the lowest since 2009 despite the wet finish to the year. As a result there were initially fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. The above average rainfall in October, November and December generated the requirement for increased effort, but volunteer availability has been limited resulting in the total effort remaining low.

Spraying of St. John's Wort dominated the effort for January (55% of effort) with significant amounts of time also devoted to Saffron Thistles, miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds and African Lovegrass.

St. John's Wort (98 h), Saffron Thistles (73 h), miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (40 h) and Verbascum (36 h) have received the most effort so far this season. Together these accounted for 72% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


11 Feb 2018:    Autumn Walks Program

This autumn, fotpin is holding two guided walks:

  • Aboriginal Heritage Walk
  • Tree Week Bird Walk

For details see Autumn walks program 2018 [ pdf 0.6 MB].


07 Jan 2018:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of December

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of December (240 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is partly because of the very low rainfall this year; the rainfall for the calendar year was the lowest since 2009 despite the wet finish to the year. As a result there were initially fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. The above average rainfall in October, November and December generated the requirement for increased effort, but volunteer availability has been limited resulting in the total effort remaining low.

Spraying of St. John's Wort dominated the effort for December (60% of effort) with significant amounts of time also devoted to Saffron Thistles and African Lovegrass.

Saffron Thistles (55 h), St. John's Wort (49 h) Verbascum ( 34 h), Capeweed (25 h) and miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (26 h) have received the most effort so far this season. Together these accounted for 79% of the effort, with Paterson's Curse, accounting for much of the remainder.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


For earlier News articles, see News Archives for:

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010/11

 


 

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