Ontario has invested in a fund to help combat phragmites, which will come to Essex County to fight the invasive species. The Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program has received the funding to put towards 119 projects, tacking the province’s worst invasive species. The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund will be put towards mapping, genetic testing and direct invasive phragmites management, restoring shorelines, supporting at risk species, reducing fire hazards, protect agricultural drainage, and more. These are expected to give Ontario $113.4 million in benefits annually. “Our experience tackling invasive phragmites proves that together we can transform and revitalize landscapes,” said Brett Norman, director of habitat restoration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “These projects improve roadway safety, protect critical infrastructure, and reduce long-term maintenance costs for municipalities. As our partnerships grow, so does our impact for people, communities, and native wildlife across Ontario.” In Essex County, the OPA says 90 per cent of historic wetlands have been lost and those that remain have been taken over by phragmites. Locations where phragmites have created the biggest risk have been identified and local partners and contractors will follow through with targeted control efforts in the priority areas. This will help reduce flood risk, protect infrastructure, improve public safety, and restore wetlands and shoreline access. “Wetlands and municipal drains across the Windsor-Essex County region have been decimated by invasive phragmites,” said Kevin Money, director of conservation services with the Essex Region Conservation Authority and lead of the Essex Phragmites Management Area Working Group. “We are grateful to Ministry of Natural Resources, NCC, and ISC, through the OPA program for providing the structure and support for the Essex Phragmites Management Area Working Group to implement an integrated, landscape-scale approach. Significant progress has already been made, and with continued support, we are confident the wetlands in Canada’s southernmost region can be restored to healthy, thriving ecosystems and resilient nature-based solutions.”
