​Phragmites proving to be resilient in the Kincardine area

Phragmites is once again proving to be a resilient plant and is popping up throughout the Municipality of Kincardine.

Kincardine Residents Against Phragmites (KRAP) members have been monitoring the situation and are asking residents to contact KRAP if they notice Phragmites on their properties.

Committee members Anita Heikkila and Marlene Morrow have identified significant growth in several areas, including the Kincardine Golf Course, as well as at the new residential development, Seashore. Property managers at these locations have been contacted and have expressed an interest in supporting KRAP to eliminate the infestations.

Dr. Janice Gilbert, a wetland ecologist, has co-ordinated a date in September to spray areas identified by KRAP.

Phragmites is an invasive plant that first appeared in Canada in the early 1900s. The first specimens showed up in Ontario in the 1940s. Since then, the plant has become well-established and can be found all over Ontario, along 400-series highways and on many rural roads.

It is an aggressive plant that spreads quickly and out-competes native species for water and nutrients. It releases toxins from its roots into the soil to hinder the growth of, and kill, surrounding plants. While it prefers areas of standing water, its roots can grow to extreme lengths, allowing it to survive in relatively dry areas.

KRAP was formed in 2016 when local residents noticed a plant beginning to take over several of the beaches in Kincardine. Working closely with the Municipality of Kincardine, they were able to identify the plant as Phragmites and organize volunteers to begin the process of controlling the plant.

With help from Gilbert, the municipality hired individuals to backpack-spray plants that were established on dry land.

KRAP successfully applied for funding from Bruce Power and was able to purchase tools and hire students to start cleaning up beaches and raking up dead Phragmites. Kincardine volunteers then burned the plants and controlled new growth by spading plants as they began to reappear.

“Collaboration with multiple groups and agencies, including the Municipality of Kincardine, the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre, Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, Kincardine residents and, of course, Bruce Power, has resulted in an incredible success story,” said KRAP president Gail Walden.

In the past seven years, the group has helped to clean up and control 16 kilometres of lakeshore, from Boiler Beach to Lorne Beach.

“As a result of everyone’s efforts the results have been truly remarkable,” said Heikkila. “Areas where vegetation and habitats had been choked out, have now returned to their natural state. It is very exciting to see.”

However, KRAP insists its work continues.

“A few years ago, when water levels were on the rise, the plants were essentially drowned, and this helped control the spread, but recently with declining water levels, Phragmites once again is taking root,” said committee member Joanna Malott.

“With lake levels dropping these next few years, it will be critical to undertake the touch-up of those small, sparse cells that remain,” said Gilbert.

This year, Phragmites has also seen a resurgence in Wickham Cove, as well as at the corner of Highways 21 and 9.

“We have put an enormous amount of effort into eradicating this plant,” said Morrow. “Our biggest challenge now is to remain vigilant and deal with infestations before they start to spread.”

KRAP is asking residents to contact the committee if they believe Phragmites is located on their property. Homeowners can send an E-mail to Walden at sgailwalden@gmail.com if they believe they have Phragmites on, or around, their property.