Page 14 - 2015 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

A few years ago, when my for many marshland animals. Where

former English teacher who resides a couple of Phragmites start growing,

Current Stands of on Harsen’s Island suggested I do an they unfortunately quickly multiply
Phragmites article about the Phragmites problems to the thousands and cause danger-
(pronounced: frag my’ teez), I thought ous obstructed views around canal

too many people may find this a fairly entrances causing deaths and injuries

boring subject… Big weeds growing to people on watercraft, completely

around the lake and various groups of block views around many homes and

people trying to kill them. marinas …. And not just around the

However, after last year’s lake, but inland ditches and fields are

spectacle of Dickinson Island burn- Local Muskrat
ing during the annual Jobbie Nooner

event, and the buzz about the smoke

which people could see 20 miles away,

ash falling from the sky all over boats

and homes, and …. someone said they

got pneumonia from

it on my Facebook

page, this very seri- now being over-

ous subject created a come with phrag-

lot of controversy, or mites. Last fall,

Suitable Areas at least definitely at- we saw a stand of
for Future Phragmites tracted a lot of needed Phragmites near
growth according to the attention. Orchard Lake, 40
USGS (United States And, YES miles from Lake
IT IS A SERIOUS St. Clair!

Geological Survey) PROBLEM that all of Recent lo-

us homeowners - whether you live on cal and state government initiatives

or off the lake - in the lower half of include projects covering 1000’s of

the Great Lakes must be aware of to combined acres at our Lake St. Clair

help combat this problem before it’s Metropark in Harrison Township,

too late. Harsen’s Island, Dickinson Island,

Although there are native and St. John’s Marsh in Fair Haven

phragmites species to North America, and Algonac.

Most Suitable a highly invasive Eurasian subspecies Because this is such a wide-

More Suitable began establishing itself here during spread problem, WE now have to take
the 1800s. These highly invasive care of this ourselves with some local

Suitable weeds can grow to 15’ tall and choke

out our native reeds, grasses, and cat- CONTINUED ON PAGE 24.....

tails which provide the homes needed

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