MANITOULIN—For the large network of volunteers who help Manitoulin Phragmites Project keep an eye on areas where work has taken place to control this invasive grass, it is the time of the year to check on these sites to see that they are still under control, as part of Manitoulin Phragmites Week (July 15-21). As part of the week, one of the groups that will be undertaking work to help get phragmites under control is the Lake Manitou Area Association (LMAA).
At the LMAA annual general meeting last week, President Mike Costigan told members, “I would like to bring to your attention that last year we had a phragmites presentation made to us by Judith Jones (coordinator of the Manitoulin Phragmites Project). She spent two days on Lake Manitou along with Manitoulin Streams surveying the lake.” He explained there are a couple of pockets of areas with phragmites on the lake, and work will be carried out on them on July 18.”
“We need 10 volunteers to help out as Judith will have her work crew there in Gushy Bay, a fairly marshy area off of Bidwell Road,” said Mr. Costigan in providing the exact address for the location and the proper clothing and footwear needed by volunteers who want to help out.
“It’s nice this follow up work is going to be carried out after the survey was done,” said Mr. Costigan. “Judith (Jones) is an awesome person and looking forward to working with us.”
“This week, July 15-21, is Manitoulin Phragmites Week,” stated Judith Jones, coordinator for the Manitoulin Phragmites Project. “Most of the sites on the Island are done and it means to do any work we have to get to sites by canoe, boat or four by four.”
Ms. Jones explained invasive phragmites is a huge foreign grass that grows so quickly and densely it can smother natural plants and take over an entire beach. Patches of this grass may double in size in just two years. It is mainly spread by pieces of plant stuck to vehicles and machinery.
“Phragmites Week is an annual event held the third week of July,” said Ms. Jones. “It is time to check your property, your favourite shoreline, nearby wetlands and anywhere else for invasive phragmites. If it’s there, it’s best to deal with it before it spreads. The team from Manitoulin Phragmites project can show landowners what to do. We will be making house calls to anyone who needs help.” Messages can be left at (705)-859-1027 to set up a visit.
“To see what phragmites looks like and find out more about controlling it, there will be show-and-tell sessions held Friday, July 19 in Kagawong outside the Park Centre at 9:30 am, in Little Current at Low Island pavilion at 11:30 am, in Mindemoya outside the library at 2 pm, and in Manitowaning at the arena at 3:30 pm.
“Now in its ninth year, the project has controlled phragmites at more than 100 sites across the island, notably clearing the invasive species from almost all of the south shore including 19 hectares of beach at Michael’s Bay,” said Ms. Jones. “This summer we are doing major work on the northern shoreline of Lake Wolsey where 64 hectares of natural coastal wetland is infested with large patches of the invasive grass.”
The Manitoulin Phragmites Project has resources to help people learn about phragmites. On Facebook and
YouTube they are @manitoulinphrag and have pamphlets, photos and ‘how to’ videos showing how to control this aggressive grass. Reports of locations with phragmites can also be sent to the project by emailing manitoulinphrag@yahoo.com
