On Wednesday, July 7, the park staff pushed two floating cattail mats, found north of Sullivan Bay on Lake Kabetogama, into Sullivan Bay. These mats will be transported to where the Ash River mat was anchored in June, and all mats will be treated and removed together. These mats will be pushed through the Sullivan Bays narrows and may cause a temporary blockage of boat traffic to Kabetogama Lake. Park Law Enforcement will be stationed at each end to direct boat traffic.
Hybrid cattails have invaded approximately 500-acres of wetlands in Voyageurs National Park, displacing native communities of plants such as wild rice, sedges, rushes, and native cattail. In addition, the hybrid cattail can grow into floating mats that can break free and cause navigational hazards, cause damage to shoreline infrastructure, and proliferate the spread of the invasive species. This long-term project will improve fish and wildlife habitat, reduce the probability of floating mat detachment, and help restore wetlands to a more diverse, natural state. More information on the project can be found at: www.nps.gov/voya/learn/nature/cattails.
This project is funded by a variety of organizations, including the Outdoor Heritage Fund as part of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund, Initiative Foundation, Voyageurs Conservancy, National Park Foundation, Clean Air Act Settlement Fund, and the National Park Service.
