Restoration & Invasive Species
What are Phragmites?
Phragmites (pronounced frag-my-tees), also known as the Common Reed, is a massive, invasive grass that has taken over thousands of acres of Utah’s wetlands. While it may look like a pretty, feathery grass, it is a "green conqueror" that can grow up to 15 to 20 feet tall and spread as much as 20 feet in a single year.
For additional information or questions regarding the sovereign lands restoration program, please contact Keith Hambrecht at [email protected] or 385-226-9550.
Why is it a Problem for Utah?
Phragmites isn't just an eyesore; it is a serious threat to our state’s water and wildlife.
-
This plant is "thirsty." Research shows it can use more than double the water of native plants, sucking up precious water that should be flowing into the Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake.
-
It grows so thick that birds like pelicans and ducks can no longer find places to nest. It effectively "chokes out" the native plants that animals need to survive.
-
When Phragmites dies back in the winter, it leaves behind massive amounts of dry, woody stalks. This creates a dangerous "ladder fuel" that can lead to fast-moving and intense wildfires.
-
These reeds create impenetrable walls that block people from fishing, boating, or even reaching the shoreline for search and rescue operations.
Managing Phragmites is not a "one and done" job. Because the plant has such deep roots (rhizomes), it usually takes three to five years of steady work to clear a single patch. FFSL uses a "multi-tool" approach:
-
Applying aquatic-safe herbicide in the late summer is the most effective way to kill the root system.
-
Once the plants are dead, we use large machinery to mow or crush the stalks.
-
In some areas, we use controlled burns or even hungry cattle to help clear out the leftover debris.
-
After the Phragmites is gone, we help native plants like Inland Saltgrass return to the land to keep the invaders from coming back.