September 18, 2007

The sight of phragmites, an invasive wetland grass, is becoming increasingly common along the Saginaw Bay Coastline. The Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with a stakeholder work group, will soon begin a phragmites control demonstration project as part of an effort to eliminate or significantly reduce phragmites in select coastal shoreline locations in Hampton Township as well as demonstrate the effectiveness of the chemical and mechanical treatment of phragmites and the benefits to coastal wetlands.

Phragmites can generally be found growing in coastal and interior wetlands, lake margins, roadside ditches, and other low, wet areas, although it can also be found in dry areas. Phragmites tend to grow creating dense stands that degrade wetlands and coastal areas by crowding out native plants and animals, blocking shoreline views, reducing access for swimming, fishing, and hunting, and potentially creating fire hazards from dry plant material.

This demonstration project will contribute towards restoring fish and wildlife habitat in the Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern. In addition to a control site, various treatments will be conducted on five demonstration plots including mowing, herbicide treatment using imazapyr and glyphosate, as well as treating with an imazapyr/glyphosate mixture.

Funding for this project has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office, BASF, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Other contributors include Ducks Unlimited, Cygnet Enterprises, Hampton Township, and Consumers Energy. For more information, contact the DEQ at 517-241-7734.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised September 18, 2007 by Pat Watson