Why Are Phragmites australis a Problem?  Why Should I Care?

Phragmites:

• Are invasive plants causing damage to Ontario’s biodiversity, wetlands and beaches.
• Crowd out all other vegetation.  They are so tall that they shade out other plants and when they die Phrag continue to stand, creating the “standing dead”.
• Shade and cool the soil, creating a microclimate that affects what grows and survives.
• Root systems can reach nearly two metres (six feet) below ground and release toxins that keep other plants from growing.
• Provide poor or loss of habitat and food supplies for wildlife, including several Species at Risk.
• Stalks are rigid and tough, and do not allow for wildlife to easily navigate through or nest in a stand.  Stalks can trap and kill turtles and animals as large as deer.
• Can cause lower water levels as water is transpired faster than it would be with native vegetation.
• Grow very quickly  i.e. In Long Point, Phragmites have spread from only 17 hectares in 1995 to now covering thousands of hectares.
• Increase fire hazards as stands are composed of a high percentage of dead stalks that are very combustible.
• Affects on agriculture and crops can lead to economic losses.
• Cause road safety hazards by blocking views at intersections and at the end of driveways.
• Impact recreational activities such as swimming, boating and angling.
• Affect our water-based tourism and the local economy.
• Destroy our beaches, making it impossible to access the water.
• Once established in water there are no approved eradication treatments in Canada.
• Monoculture stands negatively affect property values and raise aesthetic concerns.
• Costs to control and eliminate escalate every day no action is taken.

Sources:

University of Waterloo Magazine
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Invasive Phragmites-Best Management Practices, Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. Version 2011.15p