Contact: Michael Kusch, 315-336-3126
Rome, NY: Fort Stanwix National Monument will conduct another herbicide treatment to the park’s lawn the first week of May in preparation for planting grass seed. Last fall Fort Stanwix National Monument sprayed herbicides on several areas of the park grounds. The treated area is located between the fort and the Marinus Willett Center and Black River and Erie (east) Boulevards. This treatment will ensure that the seeds sown later in May are not over taken with weeds. In mid May the dead weeds will be raked and removed from the site and the area reseeded. Irrigation piping will be installed to water the seeds. The result will be green grasses during the summer. “After the Marinus Willett Center was completed a seed mixture of native grasses and flowers was sown,” said Mike Kusch, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management. “Unfortunately these plants were out competed by weed seeds in the soil. The result was a lawn devoid of native grasses and flowers. Because of this, Fort Stanwix National Monument is taking an aggressive approach in the fall and spring to correct the situation.” The goals of the original planting of native grasses and flowers were to provide an aesthetic and more historic view of the fort from the Willett Center. The plants selected were also intended to reduce the number of people walking across the lawn and wearing destructive paths into the fort’s earthworks, as well as to reduce rain and snowmelt runoff toward the Willett Center, the park trail and Black River Boulevard. This spring’s efforts will not be as ambitious, but will strive to reduce the number of people walking over earthworks, to prevent erosion, without using signs and fences. Fort Stanwix National Monument is open seven days a week 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Days. Admission to the Marinus Willett Center and Fort are free. Visitors are encouraged to start their experience at the Marinus Willett Center at the intersection of West Dominick and James Streets. A park ranger can assist you in planning your visit. For more information about upcoming events call the park at 315-338-7730. Please visit the park's web page at www.nps.gov/fost for additional information. |
Last updated: February 26, 2015