Come join us this Wednesday July 4th, 2018 at 6.30pm at Huron Feathers Presbyterian Centre (303 Lakeshore Blvd N, Sauble Beach, ON N0H 2G0), for our Beach Talk lecture series. The Beach Talk Speaker series includes topics related to Piping Plovers, shorelines, dune plants and beach habitats.

Next up is Janice Gilbert, Ph.D. a Wetland Ecologist and Executive Director at the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre.

Invasive Phragmites was identified as Canada's worst invasive plant in the early 2000's. It is a European grass that was brought to the Atlantic Provinces in the 1800's. The first specimens in Ontario are believed to have occurred on Walpole Island, Lake St. Clair in 1948. Rapid expansion throughout Southern Ontario took place during the 1990's and this robust grass is now well established along many sections of the Lake Huron shoreline. It can grow to heights exceeding 5 metres and reach densities greater than 150 plants per square metre. Phragmites out-competes all of our native plants including cattails and willows and has no natural controls to keep it in check. The threat to Great Lakes coastal wetlands and shorelines is considerable and increases annually due to the plant's ability to spread and tendency for exponential growth.

This presentation will provide information about Phragmites, the concerns it creates, control options, challenges, initiatives being undertaken throughout the Great Lakes, and tools that the general public can use to assist with control.

source: media release, Plover Lovers