Please Note: This web page attempts to clarify some of the regulations associated with controlling aquatic nuisances. However, the regulations are currently changing so the current aquatic nuisance control information listed here may not always be perfectly up to date. Please visit http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3677_8314-178183–,00.html for potentially more up date information. You can also contact the Inland Lakes Protection Staff directly within the Department of Environmental Quality at (517) 241-7734.
This information is provided as a service under the following grant: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with funds coming from The Environmental Protection Agency. This grant is being administered by the Grand Traverse Conservation District and has created the Invasive Species Network (ISN) with partners including The Leelanau Conservation District and 14 others to “create a long term regional effort to address invasive species.”
Therefore, the Leelanau Conservation District’s first target invasive species in this grant is Phragmites australis, also called Common Reed. This plant invades shorelines and is capable of extremely dense growth that chokes out native vegetation and animal habitat.
This web page will address the following questions:
What does Phragmites australis look like and why is it such a problem for shorelines?
Why has chemical herbicide application been chosen as the tool to control Phragmites australis?
Who is qualified to chemically treat Phragmites australis?
What must be done after Phragmites treatments?
Who are the partners in these efforts and how to contact them?
What does Phragmites australis look like and why is it such a problem for shorelines?
- A wall of Phragmites
- Expanding Clumps
- Seed Head in Winter
Phragmites australis, also called Common Reed, is an invasive plant from Europe that if left un-checked can engulf a shoreline diminishing native wildlife and recreational quality. Since it is a non-native plant, the nutritional value to wildlife is close to non-existent and the extremely dense stands it forms makes it nearly impenetrable for usable cover. In addition, as these dense stands overtake the shoreline they threaten the existence of endangered fragile plants such as Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium Pitcheri), Pine-drops (Pterospora andromeda), Pumpelly’s brome grass (Bromus pumpellanus), and Lake Huron tansy (Tanacetum bipinnatum). Furthermore, this plant reproduces by sprouts from an ever-expanding vibrant root system. This expansion can be as much as 60′ a year from established stands. Each stalk, which is up to 15′ tall, produces a heavy seed crop though research has shown these seed heads are not nearly as effective at reproducing in new areas as root fragments. So please do NOT roto-til or pull out this plant because it can greatly increase spreading.
More General Info Visit: http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/aqua/apis/PlantInfo/plantinfo.aspx?plantid=43
Or: Phragmites australis
Do I need a permit for treating Phragmites australis on my property? If so, what is the process for obtaining State permits for shoreline and inland Phragmites control?
You will need a permit to treat Phragmites australis in every situation where its growing in wetland/shoreline areas. Since it rarely grows outside of these areas it is extremely likely an owner will need an Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit to chemically treat Phragmites australis wherever it is encountered. A DEQ permit is also required for any mechanical treatments below the ordinary high water mark or in wetland areas.
An owner or contractor may NOT treat Phragmites australis in a wetland area above standing water without a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Permit. Furthermore, almost all chemical control must be completed by a registered aquatic herbicide applier who owns or works for a licensed company in the aquatics and right of way categories. Any chemical Phragmites australis treatment above standing water that does not include an ANC permit is illegal in the State of Michigan.
The Leelanau Conservation District is not an expert in State Law Regarding this issue, therefore please visit the DEQ website to see a full list of items required to get an adequate permit and treat Phragmites australis; http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3677_8314-178183–,00.html. You can also contact the Inland Lakes Protection Staff within the Department of Environmental Quality at (517) 241-7734.
Locally, the Leelanau Conservation District has and will continue to partner with the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners to apply for a county wide ANC permit along the Lake Michigan Shoreline in Leelanau County, Michigan. This permit allows annual chemical treatment to take place on each parcel rather than each owner submitting an individual application. Also, the Leelanau Conservation District has helped and will continue to assist local townships administer a Phragmites australis treatment ordinance. Currently, Bingham, Elmwood, Suttons Bay and Leelanau Townships have passed their own versions of aPhragmites treatment ordinance to expedite complete treatment along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Each ordinance has allowed for owners to opt out of any treatment program if they meet certain criteria, however, to date all affected owners have been supportive of these ordinances.
Why has chemical herbicide application been chosen as the tool to control Phragmites australis?
Integrated Pest Management is a framework for resource managers to utilize effective but safe control measures to contain invasive species. This framework outlines a decision matrix whereas a pest is identified accurately, the quantity of this pest is articulated, and a threshold is set where managers will act if the pest levels exceed a certain population size. When considering control actions, control is not implemented until the threshold is exceeded. If every option is explored and chemical application is the best measure to achieve adequate control, it will then be used. The Leelanau Conservation District and our partners have used Integrated Pest Management in our decision to utilize chemical herbicide application to treat Phragmites australis using the following information:
-Action Threshold: Phragmites australis is an incredibly invasive plant and other areas have shown how prolific its growth can be if left un-controlled. There are areas in southern Michigan where phragmites is the only dominant vegetation in an entire watershed. Therefore, since it is so aggressive an action threshold must be set very low so it can be stopped before it becomes established and therefore extremely expensive and/or impossible to control.
-Monitoring the extent of the pest: See under #5 in “What must be done after Phragmites Treatment?” for our surveyed maps of the infestation levels of Phragmites australis in Leelanau County. As seen in the maps the extent of infestation of Phragmites is considerable and would continue to rapidly expand if left un-controlled.
-Prevention: With so many areas in Leelanau County affected by Phragmites australis prevention of additional Phragmites from reaching our shores is futile. However, education, integrated control strategies and township supported ordinances will help control Phragmites. After Phragmites numbers diminish, it is important to shift focus to educating the public on how to prevent Phragmites from re-establishing on the shoreline and what to do if a small patch is found. Quick identification can lead to effective eradication before an area becomes re-infested.
-Control: Since we have identified Phragmites australis as plant with no natural enemies and which other plants cannot out-compete, some action must be taken before it takes over our entire shoreline. Therefore options for control include; waiting for natural animal predation or other natural processes to control it, plant other plants to out-compete the species, a number of human based mechanical controls, or above water approved herbicide application.
So far animal/insect browse has been close to non-existent on Phragmites. Dropping lake levels have certainly aided the expansion of Phragmites, but since it is already established any large increase in lake levels would only knock its population back briefly. Therefore, natural elements are not enough to control Phragmites. Many fragile endangered plants are being threatened if not choked out in some areas, so waiting for nature to produce a natural check and balance could jeopardize the existence of many endangered shoreline plants.
Planting other plants to out-compete Phragmites australis is not possible because none exist and if they did, they are not a good plant to consider for our shorelines.
Human based mechanical controls are also an option but remember any mechanical work below the ordinary high water mark will require a DEQ permit. Roto-tilling/excavating/pulling are not good control options as any broken root fragments can wash up on neighbors’ shores or get stuck on boats/machinery spreading the plant faster than natural processes. In situations of extremely low phragmites densities, hand pulling by trained professionals may be effective if they are careful to get all the roots and dispose of them properly. A mechanical option to consider for dense stands is mowing without chemical treatment. This mowing needs a DEQ permit and would need to be done many times in a growing season for 3-4 years in succession. Essentially this repeated mowing is requiring the root system to send new shoots up after each cutting draining it of energy reserves. Eventually the root system runs out of energy and the stand dies. For owners strictly opposed to the use of chemical herbicides this repeated mowing is really the only effective control option. If this option is chosen the expense would be considerable for several mowings per growing season and depending on the treatment area the fragile network of sensitive shoreline plants could be disturbed or destroyed during the process. Owners should ensure they can effectively mow often without further degrading their shoreline before choosing this option. Lastly, all local township’s Phragmites treatment ordinances would allow an owner to opt out of having their Phragmites chemically treated if they had an active DEQ permit and were proceeding with this mowing treatment option. The goal of the ordinances has always been to actively control Phragmites not to force owners to have something done in front of their parcel they do not want.
With all other control strategies explored chemical herbicide application was the last option to consider. County wide, chemical herbicide treatment has been the control of choice due to its effectiveness, speed and economical advantages. The DEQ Aqutics Nuisance Permit maintains that all products applied must be approved for over water use, applied in a manner non-damaging to non-target plants and applied by a registered applier. The ability for an applier to treat only targeted plants can be as selective if not more selective than some mechanical only treatments. Chemical treatments only happen once a year so other physical impacts on fragile plants are minimized. Lastly, the annual application of systemic herbicides can effectively control a stand of Phragmites australis in one to three years.
Who is qualified to chemically treat Phragmites australis? Any company who employs certified pesticide appliers in the State of Michigan categories of Aquatics (5) and Right of Way (6) and holds a business license in both may be eligible to chemically treat Phragmites australis. Additionally, any property owner who is a certified applier in aquatics and right of way may treat on their own property without a business license. There are a select few herbicide products owners can purchase and apply without being a certified applier. However, in all cases an active Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit from the DEQ is required to treat Phragmites above standing water. In addition, when hiring herbicide treatment contractors, owners should always insure hired companies have adequate insurance and are in compliance with Michigan Workmen’s Compensation Statutes.
In the summer of 2010 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment bid out the chemical treatment of Phragmites australis in 4 Leelanau County townships to bidders pre-qualified for herbicide application with the State of Michigan. The following is an alphabetical list of those companies who submitted a bid for this work. This list is provided as an informational tool only and does not imply any endorsement. There are additional companies who are qualified to treat Phragmites australis.
JF New, 708 Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, IN 46575 – (574) 586-3400
Owen Tree Service Inc. 225 N. Lake George Road, Attica, MI 48412 – (810) 724-6651
Plantwise, LLC 224 Charles Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 – (734) 665-7168
Wildlife and Wetlands Solutions, LLC 2517 Holland Circle, Traverse City, MI 49684 – (231) 943-0762
JF New completed chemical treatment in 4 townships in 2010. Wildlife and Wetlands Solutions, LLC completed chemical treatment in 2 townships in 2009 where landowner permission was granted only (This was before treatment ordinances were adopted). They are also partnering with the Leelanau Conservancy for the mowing and burning in all 4 townships during the 2010-2011 winter.
What must be done after Phragmites treatments?Locally, the Leelanau County shoreline Phragmites australis has been treated in the following manner.
1) The Leelanau Conservation District coordinated with the Leelanau County Commissioners to apply for a DNRE Aquatics Nuisance Control (ANC) Permit to chemically treat Phragmites australis. This permit was received allowing full treatment of all of Leelanau County’s Lake Michigan Shoreline. The permit required each affected owner to give permission to treat Phragmites or require the local township to pass an ordinance allowing treatment township wide. This permit always contains many precautions that a contractor must take to ensure human and wildlife contact with the active herbicide is extremely minimized. A small list of requirements contained within an ANC permit include; no chemical treatment until after Labor day, limiting the herbicide product brand, application window, over water use safety measures, posting signs where treatment occurred, and the use of applicable surfactants to ensure minimal herbicide drift and un-wanted water exposure.
2) The Leelanau CD completed a full walking survey of the entire shoreline with an accurate Global Positioning System (GPS) machine. Using this GPS data, maps were created for the current distribution of Phragmites australis. (Maps can be found under #5 below) These maps were then used to bid out chemical treatment of Phragmites to qualified contractors. A complete annual survey ensures that all areas of phragmites are identified and partners can easily gauge effectiveness of past treatments. Further, when treatment is bid out the accurate survey reduces costs by allowing contractors to efficiently navigate to known infestations without having to cover the entire shoreline.
3) A licensed sub-contractor was hired by the Michigan DNRE to chemically treat Phragmites australis along the Lake Michigan Shoreline. This treatment was in accordance with the ANC permit and included the application of a systemic herbicide. A systemic herbicide is taken into the plant and distributed in its vascular system before it becomes lethal to the targeted plant. This application is purposefully timed in late summer or fall to ensure Phragmites is pulling nutrients naturally, along with the applied herbicide, into the root system killing the aggressive sprouting ability. This herbicide application utilized an organic dye to ensure the contractor could visualize the treated plants and during post treatment inspection any non-target over-spray could be identified.
4) Two-three weeks after herbicide application the plants have likely experienced the effects of the applied herbicide. The Leelanau Conservancy received a grant to pay a local contractor to mow the dead Phragmites stems and burn them starting after the first killing frost through the winter. This mowing and burning is also being done with a county wide DNRE permit (parts; 325-Great Lakes Submerged Lands and 303 Wetlands protection) and cannot be done by an owner without a DEQ permit. This mowing and burning opens the treated Phragmites areas up to allow native plants to re-colonize the area faster. Also, if there are any phragmites sprouts next year re-treatment is considerably easier with the previous year’s dead stems removed.
5) Repeat steps 1-4 as needed until the Phragmites is controlled.
The above treatment framework was shown to give readers an idea of the steps involved to chemically treating Phragmites australis. Along with being a certified herbicide applier in aquatics and right of way, any chemical applier is required to have a DEQ Aquatic Nuisance Control permit to chemically treat Phragmitesand another separate permit to mow and burn it. In Leelanau County, we are handling the aspects of Phragmitestreatment and direct owner intervention has not been necessary. However, tax deductible donations to the Leelanau Conservation District, Click here to download a donation form, or its partners are a great way for owners to show their support and gratitude! Thank you!
The status of our Phragmites australis infestation is shown on the following maps.
2009 – Phragmites australis Distribution as Surveyed by; The Leelanau Conservation District
North half of Bingham Township
South Half of Bingham Township
North Half of Elmwood Township
South Half of Elmwood Township
2010 – Phragmites australis Distribution as Surveyed by; The Leelanau Conservation District
South half of Elmwood Township
North half of Elmwood Township
South half of Bingham Township
North half of Bingham Township
South half of Suttons Bay Township
North half of Suttons Bay Township
Leelanau Township, Southeastern Most 3 Miles
Leelanau Township, East Shoreline South of Northport
Leelanau Township, East Shoreline North of Northport
Leelanau Township, Tip of Peninsula
Leelanau Township, West Shoreline South of Cathead Point
Leelanau Township, West Shoreline Southwestern Corner
Leland Township, North Half
Leland Township, South Half
2011 – Phragmites australis Distribution as surveyed by; The Leelanau Conservation District and Partners
Southern Elmwood Township (1 of 3)
Middle Elmwood Township (2 of 3)
Northern Elmwood Township (3 of 3)
Southern Bingham Township (1 of 3)
Middle Bingham Township (2 of 3)
Northern Bingham Township (3 of 3)
Southern Most Suttons Bay Township (1 of 5)
Mid Southern Suttons Bay Township (2 of 5)
Village of Suttons Bay (3 of 5)
Mid Northern Suttons Bay (4 of 5)
Northern Suttons Bay Township (5 of 5)
Bayside, Southern Most Leelanau Township (1 of 7)
Bayside, Leelanau Township (2 of 7)
Bayside, Leelanau Township (3 of 7)
Bayside, Leelanau Township (4 of 7)
Bayside, Leelanau Township (5 of 7)
Bayside, Leelanau Township (6 of 7)
Bayside Northern Most, Leelanau Township (7 of 7)
Lake Michigan Side, Leelanau Township Southern Most (1 of 2)
Lake Michigan Side, Leelanau Township Northern Most (2 of 2)
Who are the partners in these efforts and how to contact them?
Click Here for a link to a map depicting responsibilities of each partner.
The Leelanau Conservation District
112 W. Philip Street, P.O. Box 205
Lake Leelanau, MI 49653
(231) 256-9783
The Grand Traverse Conservation District
1450 Cass Road
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 941-0960
The Leelanau Conservancy
P.O. Box 1007
Leland, MI 49654
(231) 256-9665
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay
13272 S. West Bayshore Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 935-1514
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
3860 North Long Lake Road
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 929-7911
Inland Seas Educational Association
P.O. Box 218
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
(231) 271-7911
Antrim Conservation District
4820 Stover Road
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-8363
Charlevoix Conservation District
303 North Street
Boyne City, MI 49712
(231) 582-6193
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
National Park Service – Sleeping Bear Dunes
9922 Front Street
Empire, MI 49630
(231) 326-5134
