The SCRCA would like to advise the community of an upcoming closure at the Marthaville Habitat Management Area, located north of Petrolia.
The Marthaville Habitat Management Area will continue to be closed to the public on Monday, October 28th, Wednesday, October 30th, and Friday, November 1st, 2024, to remove the invasive plant, Phragmites australis.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while this work is completed.
More on Phragmites…
Phragmites australis is an aggressive plant (originating from Eurasia) that spreads quickly and outcompetes most native species, resulting in a complete takeover of their habitats. You can find this invader across the St. Clair watersheds, from Lake Huron beaches to farm fields and surrounding our wetlands.
Impacts of this plant include:
- provides very poor habitat and food sources to local wildlife (including several Species at Risk within our Watershed)
- because of its high density of stems, there are barriers to ponds, especially for several species at risk
- decrease in plant biodiversity
- can change local hydrology (water levels)
- increased chance of fires because of dead stem stocks
- can also impact our day-to-day activities
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- decreased road visibility
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- negatively impact agricultural crops
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- negatively impacting recreational activities (boating, swimming, etc.)
Identifying Phragmites…
The tricky thing about identifying the invasive Phragmites australis is that there is a very similar native Phragmites (Phragmites americanus). Here are some tips to differentiate the two species:
- Invasive Phragmites can reach heights of up to 5 metres (15 feet) and grows in stands that are extremely dense with as many as 200 stems per square metre;
- Native Phragmites are shorter and do not grow in stands as dense; they are more naturally mixed in with other plants;
- Invasive Phragmites have stems that are tan or beige with blue-green leaves and large, dense seedheads; and
- Native Phragmites usually have more reddish-brown stems, yellow-green, and smaller sparser seedheads.
What can I do to prevent the spread of Invasive Phragmites?
The following are tips provided by the Ontario Government (Ontario Government: Phragmites Fact Sheet)
- Learn how to identify invasive Phragmites and how to avoid accidentally spreading it through its root fragments and seeds. This is especially important if you are planning to do work in an area which contains invasive Phragmites,
- Do not plant invasive Phragmites. Native Phragmites have the same appearance and do not pose an ecological risk.
- Gardeners should use only native or non-invasive plants and are encouraged to ask garden centres for plants that are not invasive.
- 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. Remove all visible portions of plants and dispose of them in the garbage.
- Do not compost invasive Phragmites. Both seeds and rhizomes (horizontal plant stems growing underground) can survive and grow in compost.
