April 17th 2023
Story and photography by:
Tim FitzGerald
 
Invasive Phragmites (European Common Reed) is an invasive plant that has been causing damage to Ontario’s biodiversity, ecosystems, wetlands and beaches for decades. 
 
Sam Sommer and Lexi Armstrong from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (field office Walsingham) gave us a very informative presentation today.
 
Phragmites is a bamboo-like grass. The stands are tall/dense and choke (emit natural toxins) out native plants' growth, provide poor wildlife habitat and disrupt natural wetland flows and functions. 
 
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is an active member of the Long Point Phragmites Action Alliance https://longpointphragmites.ca/ . "Full-court press"! (In basket ball - the purpose of the full-court press is to overwhelm offensive players, preventing them from running offensive formations.) Currently LPPAA has thirty-one members from  every corner of Norfolk County - conservation groups, government, hunters, anglers, farmers all aligned to eradicate phragmites in Norfolk infesting the Big Creek Watershed from Delhi to Long Point Bay.
 
The Strategy - The Nature Conservancy has specialized procedures and equipment (from tracked swamp crawlers down to hand held sprayers) to apply approved herbicides. It typically takes three application years to knock out an invasive stand - apply/reapply years 1 and 2, rest, final clear-up reapply year 4. Proper procedures and education of all participants are key.

Why are invasive phragmites so hard to control. This image of what is below ground should explain why.
 
 
A photo of a dense rhizome mat. In order to eradicate Phragmites fully from an area, this hardy belowground structure needs to be the focus of management. Photo credit: Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
 
 
Don't transplant this species in your garden, do not compost this species in your back yard (rhizomes will spread underground). Stay on designated trails. Leaving trails or entering areas containing invasive Phragmites can encourage the spread of this plant. When leaving an area containing invasive Phragmites, brush off clothing and clean equipment onsite to avoid the transfer of seeds to new areas.