Helicopter applies herbicide as part of Green Bay area phragmites control effort.

Phragmites australis, also known as common reed grass, is an exotic plant species that aggressively invades wetlands and near-shore areas, crowding out native plants and degrading wildlife habitat.  Over the last decade, low water levels have allowed phragmites to become well established along Lake Michigan and Green Bay shorelines and coastal wetland areas.  

Traveling along stream and road corridors, phragmites is rapidly moving inland and establishing itself across the northeast Wisconsin landscape.  More than 100 people from federal, state,  local agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations recently gathered at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for a workshop to discuss the best available control techniques for phragmites and to foster greater collaboration and coordination of research, management, and education efforts. As part of the program, Green Bay Field Office biologist Gary Van Vreede presented on the phragmites control efforts undertaken by the Service as part of a Fox River Natural Resource Damage restoration grant and several Partners for Fish and Wildlife projects.  Through these efforts, more than 800 acres of coastal wetland habitat have been treated for phragmites control.  By working collaboratively with other researchers and land managers, we can more effectively manage exotic invasive species such as phragmites.