Peterborough County Receives Funding to Support Invasive Phragmites Management

Peterborough County, ON – Peterborough County has received a grant through the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Invasive Species Centre.

This funding will support the mapping of invasive Phragmites along County Road allowances and help assess the best methods and resources needed to develop a management plan.
About Invasive Phragmites:

Invasive Phragmites (frag-MY-tees) is a perennial grass introduced to Canada’s coastal regions in the 1800s. It spreads aggressively by outcompeting native vegetation for water, sunlight, nutrients, and space. By the late 1990s, it had become well established across Ontario, posing a major threat to wetlands and shorelines.

Why It’s a Concern:

Phragmites impacts the natural environment by:
•    Reducing biodiversity and outcompeting native vegetation;
•    Lowering water levels in wetlands and shorelines;
•    Threatening species at risk that rely on these habitats;
•    Blocking sightlines for motorists and obstructing road signs;
•    Impacting drainage systems and damaging roadside infrastructure.

In Peterborough County, Phragmites have been identified not only near wetlands and waterways, but also within roadside ditches and agricultural lands, where they interfere with visibility, drainage, and soil stability.

Peterborough County’s Approach:

With support from the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, Peterborough County has developed a mapping application to record Phragmites populations along County Road allowances. Data collected includes population size, density, hydrological conditions, and whether the species is present on public or private land.

This mapping initiative enables the County to visualize the scale of the issue and overlay additional information, such as provincially significant wetlands and ongoing eradication efforts from partner organizations. This approach will guide the development of a Phragmites management program that follows best management practices.

The Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program coordinates a collaborative, province-wide effort to combat the impacts and spread of invasive Phragmites. This initiative is made possible by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and led by the Invasive Species Centre and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, alongside a network of dedicated partners.

Together, these efforts support the protection of local ecosystems, infrastructure, and biodiversity across Ontario.

“Protecting the health of our wetlands, shorelines, and infrastructure is critical to maintaining the environmental and economic sustainability of our region. This funding allows us to understand the scope of the issue better and plan strategically for the future.”   -    Bonnie Clark, Warden, Peterborough County 

Learn More:

• To learn more about invasive Phragmites, visit Invasive Phragmites
  – Profile and Resources | Invasive Species Centre
• To report a sighting of an invasive species in Ontario, visit Invasive species in Ontario | ontario.ca

The views expressed in this release are those of Peterborough County and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, or the Ontario Phragmites Action program and its partners.