The City of Windsor is taking another step to protect some of the region’s most important natural areas from an invasive plant.
Herbicide treatment to control invasive Phragmites australis is now underway and will continue through the end of September.
This work is happening in several areas, including Ojibway Park, Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Titcombe Trail, Peche Island, East Riverside Park and Sandpoint Beach.
Phragmites can spread aggressively, crowding out native plants and threatening wetlands, marshes, beaches and prairie ecosystems.
The City has contracted the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre to carry out the treatment and the trails will remain open during the work.
City Naturalist and Supervisor of Natural Areas Karen Alexander says it’s an aggressive invasive plant that has become a major problem across the region.
“So what the City of Windsor is doing to try to bring this plant under control is really focus our efforts in places where our biodiversity is very high. And we would like to see these spaces preserved for conservation and protection of some of the rare species, species at risk and native plants and wildlife that live in our city.”
She says there is no immediate safety threat to people using the trails during the project.
“Residents can keep an eye out for the pesticide in use signs that will be up at the entrance to parks when the crews are in the park and those signs will stay up for 24 hours. If they do come across the crews working, just give a wide step around the area they’re working, but there’s no immediate threat to safety.”
Alexander says the city is implementing control efforts annually in the Ojibway Prairie Complex.
“This is a place where we’ve been able to get large infestations pretty much under control and management of the species is minimal. We are looking at other places in the city, we’re really looking for opportunities to bring in contributing dollars through various grants and partnerships, and we’re also looking to grow that program as opportunity allows.”
Two registered pesticides may be used during the work, depending on the location and conditions.
The city says trails will remain open, but visitors are being asked to stay on authorized trails and give crews a wide berth if they encounter them working.
The herbicide application is expected to continue through September 30.