Wasaga Beach Provincial Park - The Friends of Nancy Island and

Transcription

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Action Plan
for
The non-native genetic strain
of Common Reed
(Phragmites australis)
February 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 4
PROVINCIAL PARKS AND CONSERVATION RESERVES ACT............................... 6
Purpose............................................................................................................................ 6
Objectives: Provincial Park............................................................................................. 6
Planning and Management Principles............................................................................. 6
Ecological Integrity......................................................................................................... 6
BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 7
Overview......................................................................................................................... 7
Shoreline Environments.................................................................................................. 7
Blue Flag......................................................................................................................... 7
Phragmites....................................................................................................................... 8
Management Planning .................................................................................................... 9
UNDERSTANDING MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR PHRAGMITES ...................... 10
Burning: ........................................................................................................................ 10
Cutting: ......................................................................................................................... 11
Hand-pulling: ................................................................................................................ 12
Herbicide:...................................................................................................................... 12
Mechanical Excavation:................................................................................................ 14
Smothering or Tarping:................................................................................................. 15
Management Direction: ................................................................................................ 15
ACTION PLAN ................................................................................................................ 17
Project Goal .................................................................................................................. 17
Project Objectives ......................................................................................................... 17
Steering Committee ...................................................................................................... 18
Occurrence of Phragmites within the Park ................................................................... 18
Communications ........................................................................................................... 18
Effective Communications .........................................................................................18
Literature Review and Case Studies ..........................................................................19
IMPLEMENTATION....................................................................................................... 20
Implement Plan ............................................................................................................. 20
REFERENCES CITED..................................................................................................... 23
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Phragmites Action Plan
APPENDIX 1:
Identification: Native vs. Invasive Phragmites ............................................................. 24
APPENDIX 2:
Regional Context of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.................................................... 26
APPENDIX 3:
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park ..................................................................................... 27
APPENDIX 4:
Life Cycle of Phragmites .............................................................................................. 28
APPENDIX 5:
Occurrences of Phragmites in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park..................................... 29
Figure 1: The Point ....................................................................................................29
Figure 2: Beach Area 4. ............................................................................................ 30
Figure 3: Beach Area 6. ............................................................................................ 31
Figure 4: West of Beach Area 6................................................................................ 32
Figure 5: West of Beach Area 6................................................................................ 33
APPENDIX 6:
Letter of Petition from Residents of the Town of Wasaga Beach ................................ 34
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INTRODUCTION
The non-native genetic strain of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) has established
itself along the shoreline of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The native strain of Common
Reed is also present in southern Ontario. From a conservation perspective, it is important
that the native strain is not controlled. Refer to Appendix 1 for an aid to identifying the
native and non-native strains of this species.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is committed to identifying occurrences of the non-native
genetic strain of Common Reed within its management areas and to monitor its spread.
For the purposes of this plan, the term Phragmites only refers to the non-native genetic
strain of Common Reed. A steering committee and working group will guide this
program. They will be committed to the reduction and control of Phragmites at Wasaga
Beach, while maintaining the ecological integrity of the provincial park. Ontario Park’s
commitment to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act enables the reduction
and control of Phragmites along the Wasaga Beach shoreline. It will be virtually
impossible to completely and permanently eradicate Phragmites from the park.
The steering committee consists of experts in various fields and science based
professionals and will provide advice and direction. More specifically this committee will
be comprised of representatives from Ontario Parks, the Ministry of Natural Resources –
Field Services Division and the Lake Erie Management Unit, the Nottawasaga Valley
Conservation Authority, and Environment Canada. Members of this committee are
subject to change as management and direction of this Action Plan evolves.
The working group for this Action Plan is comprised of members of organizations and
individuals who support the reduction and control of Phragmites along the Georgian Bay
shoreline. This group provides a communication and educational link to local
communities. This group consist of representatives of: The Friends of Nancy Island and
Wasaga Beach Park, Blue Flag – Environmental Defence, the Lake Huron Centre for
Coastal Conservation, the Town of Wasaga Beach, the Town of Collingwood, Tiny
Township, representative landowners and concerned residents.
This Action Plan will use an adaptive management approach. This will be achieved by
using predictive modeling based on current knowledge to inform management decisions.
This will allow new methods and techniques to be used as they become available to be
integrated into this Plan. Ongoing reviews and discussions will occur during
implementation and completion of the various phases of this project. This approach will
ensure that Ontario Parks’ mandate is complied with, ecological integrity is maintained
and the most effective control methods are used.
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Ontario Parks have been in communication with members of the steering committee in
the development of this Action Plan. Park staff also visited other agencies within central
and southern Ontario that are dealing with the same issue but on a larger scale. Wasaga
Beach Provincial Park is not an isolated case as Phragmites is quickly spreading within
wetlands, roadside ditches and coastal environments throughout southern and central
Ontario. Southwestern Ontario is at the forefront in reduction and control of Phragmites
as they have been actively dealing with this species for several years.
The following section outlines the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act
which is the guiding force for Ontario Parks and as such for this Action Plan.
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PROVINCIAL PARKS AND CONSERVATION RESERVES ACT
Purpose
To ensure that Ontario’s Provincial Parks is to permanently protect a system of provincial
parks and conservation reserves that includes ecosystems that are representative of all of
Ontario’s natural regions, protects provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural
and cultural heritage, maintains biodiversity and provides opportunities for compatible,
ecologically sustainable recreation.
Objectives: Provincial Park
1. To permanently protect representative ecosystems, biodiversity and
provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage
and to manage these areas to ensure that ecological integrity is maintained.
2. To provide opportunities for ecologically sustainable outdoor recreation
opportunities and encourage associated economic benefits.
3. To provide opportunities for residents of Ontario and visitors to increase their
knowledge and appreciation of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage.
4. To facilitate scientific research and to provide points of reference to support
monitoring of ecological change on the broader landscape. 2006, c. 12,
s. 2 (1).
Planning and Management Principles
The following principles shall guide all aspects of the planning and management of
Ontario’s system of provincial parks and conservation reserves:
1. Maintenance of ecological integrity shall be the first priority and the restoration
of ecological integrity shall be considered.
2. Opportunities for consultation shall be provided. 2006, c. 12, s. 3.
Ecological Integrity
Ecological Integrity refers to a condition in which biotic and abiotic components of
ecosystems and the composition and abundance of native species and biological
communities are characteristic of their natural regions and rates of change and ecosystem
processes are unimpeded. 2006, c. 12, s. 5 (2).
(3) For the purpose of subsection (2), ecological integrity includes, but is not limited to,
(a) healthy and viable populations of native species, including species at risk, and
maintenance of the habitat on which the species depend; and
(b) levels of air and water quality consistent with protection of biodiversity and
recreational enjoyment. 2006, c. 12, s. 5 (3).
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BACKGROUND
Overview
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is a 1, 844 ha Recreation Class Park located on the south
shore of Georgian Bay. Although best known for its 14 km long, sandy beach, the park is
rich in other natural resources. The park protects one of the largest; best developed and
preserved systems of parabolic sand dunes and coastal dune ecosystems in the Great
Lakes area. These areas provide habitat for many provincially rare species such as the
threatened Hill’s Thistle (Cirsium hillii), the threatened Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
(Heterodon platirhinos) and the endangered Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus
circumcinctus). Refer to Appendix 2 for regional context of the park and Georgian Bay,
and Appendix 3 for overview of the park.
Shoreline Environments
Marram Grass (Ammophila breviligulata) is the primary stabilizing plant species
associated with Wasaga Beach’s dune shoreline environments. This plant is able to grow
towards the lake from the dunes, by supplying colonizing shoots with nutrients from the
parent plant. Marram Grass not only binds sand, but it helps to create dune ecosystems,
which are globally threatened. As new Marram Grass plants grow and thrive, older plants
decay, which provides nutrients to the substrate.
Where sand dunes are not present along the Wasaga Beach shoreline, such as the western
section of the beach, wet meadows exist. These communities are the result of lower water
levels on Georgian Bay. Now evident near the shore are areas where the water table is so
close to the surface that water seeps up and through the sand. Native plants such as
Three-squared Bulrush (Scirpus americanus) and Soft Rush (Juncus effusus), are welladapted to grow in this habitat, which is uncommon in the park.
Blue Flag
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park was the first and only provincial or state managed park in
North America to be awarded the international designation as a Blue Flag beach. This
program is administered by Environmental Defence in Ontario. This international ecolabel is only given to beaches or marinas that achieve high standards in water quality,
environmental management, environmental education, safety and services. It is an
important achievement for Wasaga Beach Provincial Park and speaks to the high standard
of its operations and maintenance.
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Phragmites
Phragmites is a long-lived, perennial, warm season grass that grows in dense stands.
Warm season grasses are those that are most photosynthetically efficient at relatively
high temperatures. The native genetic strain of Phragmites will co-exist with other
species, but the non-native genetic strain typically grows in a monoculture. The species
can grow to heights exceeding 5 m and densities of over 200 stems/m2. An individual
plant can have rhizomes that exceed 30 m in length, grow more than 2 m/year and readily
grow into new plants when fragmented. The plant mainly reproduces from rhizomes but
can also spread by seed. Mature plants can produce 2,000 seeds annually. To be most
effective, the timing of Phragmites control needs to be synchronized with the plant’s life
cycle, as shown in Appendix 4.
Ontario Parks has mapped the occurrence of Phragmites over much of Wasaga Beach’s
shoreline (see Appendix 3). The eastern and western shorelines, wet meadow area and
The Point currently have colonies. Phragmites is threatening the ecological health of the
Wasaga Beach shoreline because it is displacing native species and also occupying
previously unvegetated areas, which could be colonized by native species. Ontario Parks
will protect native species of vegetation along the shoreline to maintain the coastal dune
systems present along the shoreline. Refer to Appendix 5 for Phragmites occurrences
within the specific Beach Areas.
The presence of Phragmites and other vegetation on the western shoreline prompted over
500 people to sign a petition (see Appendix 6). The goal of this petition was to encourage
Ontario Parks to remove beach vegetation along the shoreline. As a result of this petition
and a request by a resident an on-site visit by the Minister of Natural Resources occurred
on October 10th, 2008. This Action Plan was developed to address the concerns that were
raised and charts the interim course of action to deal with the reduction and control of
Phragmites along the Wasaga Beach shoreline. This plan was prepared in advance of the
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park Management Planning process. Unless there is a health
and safety concern, Ontario Parks will not be removing or controlling any native species
within the park. To do so would contradict our mandate and would negatively impact the
ecological integrity of the beach ecosystem.
The eastern shoreline and The Point also have extensive colonies of Phragmites. It is
believed the Phragmites may threaten Piping Plover habitat in the near future. During the
2008 spring Piping Plover survey many nest scrapes and tracks were noted in this area,
however both pair of plovers chose a nesting location west of the Phragmites colonies.
Ontario Parks conducted a literature review of Phragmites, to learn about the best method
of control and reduction. In the fall of 2008, Ontario Parks staff furthered this research by
contacting numerous experts who will make up the steering committee.
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Lake levels, prevailing winds and extreme weather conditions all influence the dynamics
of a shoreline environment. The shoreline of Wasaga Beach is no exception. Seasonal
and annual shoreline and wildlife communities are always changing. The control of
Phragmites is needed to help ensure that this dynamic beach system is maintained. One
intent of this Action Plan is to guide Ontario Parks to help maintain this system. Because
of the difficulty of controlling Phragmites, this Action Plan will need to be implemented
over several years to reduce and control this plant. Our goal is to successfully reduce and
control Phragmites along the Wasaga Beach shoreline.
Management Planning
Ontario Parks is undertaking a management planning process, which will ultimately
replace the existing 1978 Wasaga Beach Provincial Park Master Plan. Currently there is
no Vegetation Management Plan to provide direction on the control of Phragmites or
management of other vegetation within the park. This Action Plan has been prepared
interim direction on Phragmites control that is consistent with MNR policies and
legislation (e.g. , Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, Class EA for
Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves, Ontario Provincial Parks Planning and
Management Policies, Policy on the Use of Pesticides and herbicides in Provincial Parks,
Endangered Species Act 2007).The current park management planning process will take
the next three to four years to complete. Phases in this process include: creating a
background information summary report, exploring management options, developing a
preliminary park management plan and finalizing the approved park management plan.
There will be many opportunities for the surrounding community, the Town of Wasaga
Beach and other stakeholders to provide input. Scheduled open houses and public
comment periods will be advertised throughout the planning process through both the
local media and the Environmental Registry.
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UNDERSTANDING MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR PHRAGMITES
The Phragmites control methods described below provide the reader with an overview of
current management options. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park will examine each
Phragmites stand and determine which control method(s) best suits each area based on
pressures, the stands characteristics and the location along the shoreline. The information
in the following section is based on The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
(2007); Anonymous (1994), Derr (2008) and advice from experts currently working with
Phragmites. These methods may be updated as new information on research and control
measures become available.
Burning:
Methods:
Prescribed burning is the planned and deliberate use of fire by authorized personnel to
achieve resource management objectives. Prescribed burning has been used in
combination with herbicide application to control Phragmites. Burning removes
aboveground biomass, making it easier to access and locate Phragmites regrowth and
spot-treat residual plants with herbicides.
Cautions:
Burning without pairing with an herbicide application does not control Phragmites, and
instead may encourage rhizome growth and increase stand densities.
Effectiveness:
Prescribed burning is not an effective control method on it own, but can be a useful tool
to increase the effectiveness of herbicide treatment. Prescribed burns must be planned
and implemented in accordance with the Prescribed Burning Operations Policy, the
Prescribed Burn Manual and municipal by-laws. Prescribed burning is designated as a
Category A project in the Class EA for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves.
Compression:
Methods:
It has also been noted by experts that compressing or rolling the dead standing
Phragmites stalks in the winter aids in application of an herbicide control program as the
new growth is accessible and the herbicide can be readily applied to the target plants.
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Cautions:
In the case of compressing Phragmites at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, the staff
member should have appropriate training on the equipment to ensure safety and
compliance to all with the Ontario Park policies for Health & Safety and the
Occupational Health & Safety Act. The area to be compressed should have a site visit
before compression to ensure the safety of the equipment operator as to any obstacles or
concerns within the area.
Effectiveness:
Compression is effective in aiding with other control methods as it removes the dead
standing biomass as an obstacle to treatment applications.
Cutting:
Methods:
The best time to cut Phragmites is when most of its carbohydrate reserves are in the
aerial portion of the plant. This is usually at anthesis (i.e., flowering or tassel stage) and is
typically in late July/early August. Some patches may be too large to cut by hand, but
repeated cutting of the perimeter of a stand can prevent vegetative expansion. Phragmites
stems should be cut below the lowest leaf, leaving a stubble not longer than 10 cm. Handheld cutters and gas-powered hedge trimmers work well. This must be repeated in the
second year and then every subsequent year until the plant is under control. If combined
with the application of an herbicide containing glyphosate then the stands should be cut
in September prior to an April application of the herbicide.
Cautions:
Cutting several times a season, at an inappropriate time, may actually increase growth
and thus stand density. However, if cut in late July/early August, most of the
carbohydrate reserves produced that season are removed with the aerial portion of the
plant, reducing the plants vigour. This cutting regime may eliminate smaller colonies if
carried out annually for several years. Manual or mechanical cuttings of larger, high
density, mono-specific Phragmites stands can be difficult from a control standpoint and
may require the hand application of an herbicide containing glyphosate by a Ministry of
the Environment licensed technician selected by Ontario Parks. Cutting does not address
the sufficient storage reserves in the rhizomes and re-growth will be observed in all cases
without a follow up cutting and an application of an herbicide containing glyphosate.
Effectiveness:
This method requires annual treatments for several years to reduce the spread of plants.
The cutting of larger stands with high stem densities is not an effective control method
unless coupled with an immediate application of an herbicide containing glyphosate to
the freshly-cut, stem cross sections or a cut-stem injection.
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Disposal:
Cut material should be removed from the site and burned or allowed to decay in an area
where sprouting and formation of rhizomes will not occur. Do not compost rhizomes.
Harvested materials may be burned in slash piles or a burn barrel. Burning must be
carried out in accordance with applicable provincial policies and legislation and
municipal by-laws.
Sanitation:
Clean all clothing, boots and equipment on site to prevent spread of seed.
Hand-pulling:
Methods:
Plants <2 years old can be hand-pulled. A shovel will be needed for plants >2 years old.
For this application to be effective the entire rhizome must be removed, as re-growth will
occur. This method is not practical for Wasaga Beach Provincial Park because the
wetness of the sand substrate makes pulling inefficient and it will potentially have
negative impacts on Piping Plover habitat.
Cautions:
The entire rhizome must be removed or re-growth will occur. This proves difficult due to
the segmented nature of the hollow rhizomes and as such they break when trying to
remove them from the wet sandy substrate. This process is very labour intensive and
could result in coastal dune systems being disturbed, destabilized or destroyed resulting
in the loss of Piping Plover habitat.
Effectiveness:
Hand-pulling, though very labour intensive, is an effective technique for controlling
Phragmites in small areas with dry sandy soils. This method can be effective in small
stands e.g. <100 plants, low-medium density (1-75% area) & <1 ha.
Disposal:
Clean all clothing, boots, & equipment on site to prevent spread of seed.
Herbicide:
After consulting with experts, Wasaga Beach Provincial Park has chosen to use an
herbicide containing glyphosate treatment for Phragmites along the shoreline. The
purpose is to reduce and control Phragmites from overtaking native vegetation, the
shoreline, the coastal dune system and potential and existing Piping Plover habitats. Any
herbicide application within the Park would be clearly marked and communicated to
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adjacent landowners and beach visitors before, during and after any application as per
guidelines with Ontario Park policies for Health & Safety, the Pesticide Technician
Program Training and The Pesticide Act.
Based on recent studies by Dr. Janice Gilbert et al. in Rondeau Provincial Park, and other
trials and test projects throughout Ontario and the United States, an herbicide containing
5% glyphosate is recommended to successfully reduce and control the spread of
Phragmites and prevent plant resistance. Herbicide selection in the Rondeau test case was
selected for grass specific herbicides versus Round-Up Ultra 2 (a non-specific herbicide)
with the following criteria: 1) the product having low to no residual effects and
decomposing quickly in the environment, 2) the product not being highly toxic (high
LD50’s 1 ), 3) the products mode of action was mainly translocation to the roots and, 4)
the product was designed to control grass species (i.e. was not broad spectrum).
Methods:
All studies, trials and current research show that an herbicide containing glyphosate 2 is
most effective for controlling this species. Application of an herbicide would be
conducted in the fall for our location as to not interfere with park operations. If
Phragmites stands are too tall to safely apply herbicide, cut in late summer to remove
standing biomass to assist with herbicide application in the fall. After 2 to 3 weeks
following application of an herbicide containing glyphosate, return to the stand to
monitor results.
Applications of an herbicide should take place in late fall (October) i.e., when there is a
net flow of water and nutrients towards roots and rhizomes. In addition, this is a time of
year when there are relatively few visitors using the beach. Several methods are currently
employed to apply herbicide to Phragmites stands. The methods that would be utilized at
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park would be application via a back pack sprayer, hand
wicking and injection. Each application method would be used for certain characteristics
of each stand, for example the back packer sprayer would be used for a quick and
targeted area while hand wicking would be employed for sparse and random Phragmites
plants in outlining areas. Injection of herbicide would be used in Phragmites where the
rhizomes are growing directly into the Nottawasaga River. For injection applications, 5
ml of an herbicide containing glyphosate should be injected using a 30 ml syringe and a
16 gauge needle. The herbicide can be injected slowly into the base of the stem and
marked with flagging tape as to identify the injected stems for monitoring purposes.
1
LD stands for "Lethal Dose". LD50 is the amount of a material, given all at once, which causes the death
of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals. The LD50 is one way to measure the short-term poisoning
potential (acute toxicity) of a material (Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, 2005).
2
Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) is a non-selective systemic herbicide, absorbed through the
leaves, injected into the bole, or applied to the stump of a tree, used to kill weeds, especially perennials and
broadcast or used in the cut-stump treatment as a forestry herbicide. Some crops have been genetically
engineered to be resistant to it. Glyphosate was first sold by Monsanto under the trade name Roundup, but
is no longer under patent (Wikipedia, 2008).
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Cautions:
Always follow label directions (e.g., do not apply in windy conditions). Do not apply
Roundup Ultra 2 if rain is expected within 2 hours or Weather-max if within 10 minutes,
because the herbicide will be washed away before it can have effect. Wildlife surveys
should be conducted prior to application to limit impacts.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been aggressively controlling
Phragmites within their coastal wetlands for close to a decade. Based upon their results,
trials of numerous mechanical and chemical methods, the best success comes through
aerial herbicide application which includes the ability to spray over water. This option is
not legal in Canada nor is it necessary, given the size of the Phragmites stands at Wasaga
Beach. The methods for controlling this invasive species along the shoreline would be
backpack sprayer, hand-wicking and injection of an herbicide containing glyphosate.
Effectiveness:
Herbicide use is the most effective control method and all other methods are noted to be
used in conjunction to increase their effectiveness. The herbicide Roundup Ultra2, which
contains glyphosate, was tested at Rondeau Provincial Park and is a known and
recommended herbicide control in the United States for the control of Phragmites.
Herbicides containing glyphosate have had a 90% reduction in Phragmites stands in the
United States and in Ontario.
Mechanical Excavation:
Methods:
Any mechanical treatments should not occur until at least two weeks after an herbicide
application to allow the plants to absorb the chemical. Mechanically excavating an area is
not practical at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park due to the high impact on the ecological
integrity of the establishing coastal dune systems along the shoreline and the potential for
rhizomes fragments to regenerate. Mechanical methods generally result in stimulated regrowth resulting in increased Phragmites stand densities.
Cautions:
Mechanical treatments are used most effectively following an herbicide treatment to
remove dead standing stems and promote native vegetation re-growth, through cutting
not excavating.
Effectiveness:
Not effective.
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Smothering or Tarping:
Methods:
Cut the Phragmites to less than 10 cm. Gas powered hedge trimmers or a chainsaw sickle
blade attachment are very effective for cutting. After cutting a stand of Phragmites,
anchor a geotextile sheet or dark industrial black plastic tarp (at least 6 mm thick) over
the cut area using sand bags, logs or rocks. High temperatures under the plastic will
eventually kill the plants. This technique works best when the treated area is in direct
sunlight. Phragmites runners along the edges of the tarp can be treated with a spot
application of herbicide containing glyphosate. The plastic can be removed 3 years after
initial coverage. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park will not be considering this method as the
Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation and Rondeau Provincial Park both
attempted this method and had little success. In the case of the Coastal Centre, the tarp
was removed and an herbicide application was conducted to the target area for control.
Cautions:
Continual monitoring will be required to determine if Phragmites runners are extending
from under the covering material if it is maintaining a good general condition. The
impacts of continuous high winds from Nottawasaga Bay are unknown but would most
likely cause problems similar to those in other beaches on Lake Huron.
Effectiveness:
This method can be effective in small stands i.e.: <100 plants, low-medium density (175% area). Plants may die off within 3-10 days, depending on sun exposure.
Disposal:
The cut material can be left under the covering or bagged and removed from the site and
disposed of in an approved landfill or incinerated.
Sanitation:
Clean all clothing, boots and equipment on site to prevent spread of any viable seed.
Recommended Treatments:
The above Phragmites reduction and control methods have been presented to outline the
options available based on current knowledge by experts and those already underway
with the control of this species. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, based on information and
input from experts in the field, is recommending that an herbicide application be the
primary means of reduction and control for Phragmites along our shoreline. The park is
recommending combinations of herbicide and other control methods based on experts
work in other parks, other areas of the province and the United States. They have
conducted hundreds of trials and have shown what works to be the best primary control
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method and as such the park will use the information gathered from their experiments in
control of this species. The park will treat two Phragmites areas for control during the
2009-2010 operating season. These two large stands will be the first Phragmites control
areas due to political and ecological pressures.
The 62nd Street (west of Beach Area 6) Phragmites stand application of control methods
should consist of compression in the late fall, removal of the inflorescences 3 in the
summer and an herbicide application in the fall. Late fall compression is recommended as
the dead standing stalks are easily knocked down and compressed over the winter and
thus will aid in herbicide application as dead standing biomass is no longer an obstacle.
The removal of inflorescences will aid in reduction of viable seed from the site and an
herbicide application in the fall will not interfere with the operation of the park, local
residences and tourism.
The Point Area (east of Beach Area 1) Phragmites stand application methods should
consist of cutting remaining seed heads still on site and carefully disposing of these on
site in the spring, and an herbicide application in the fall. The control burn would be
utilized to destroy any viable seed on site and the fall herbicide application would not
interfere with the endangered Piping Plover season (May – August).
Since this Action Plan is using an adaptive management approach we will consider new
control options as they become available.
3
Inflorescences: the flowering part of a plant.
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ACTION PLAN
This Action Plan outlines the short and long term objectives of this reduction and control
program; the roles of the steering committee, the need for effective communications and
a summary of literature and case studies. This information supports the direction and
control method Ontario Parks has chosen to follow.
Project Goal
Our goal is to identify the most effective and efficient approach to successfully reduce
and control Phragmites along the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park shoreline.
Project Objectives
The short and long term objectives for this Action Plan are outlined below.
Objectives (Short Term – 2009)
• Reduction and control of Phragmites along the Wasaga Beach shoreline, with special
focus on the 62nd Street and The Point areas.
• Determine which method or combination of applications of control is most effective
and efficient for Wasaga Beach Provincial Park Phragmites stands.
• Work with members of the steering committee to create a series of public information
sessions on Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, beach management, dune/shoreline
stewardship, dune ecology, Piping Plovers and Phragmites.
• Train Ontario Parks staff with current reduction and control techniques.
Objectives (Long Term – beyond 2009)
• Implementation of ‘optimal’ control methods for the various Phragmites stands along
the shoreline.
• Ongoing public information sessions on Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, beach
management, shoreline stewardship, dune ecology, Piping Plovers and Phragmites.
• Integrate this Action Plan for Phragmites with a comprehensive vegetation
management plan for the entire park, within the context of a revised Park Management
Plan.
• Eventual reduction and control of Phragmites to a strategic low maintenance reduction
and control program.
• Restoration of native dune plant communities, especially Marram Grass.
• Facilitate the development of a dune/shoreline stewardship guide to inform and assist
adjacent landowners.
Ontario Parks has begun discussions with various steering committee members to achieve
these objectives in a timely manner.
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Steering Committee
As noted above, Ontario Parks has established a steering committee to facilitate the
implementation of this Action Plan. This committee shall provide Ontario Parks with
their expertise in coastal ecosystems and current control methods. The steering committee
will be reviewing our control program and/or actively participating with its various
phases. This program shall be reviewed throughout the different phases of the Action
Plan by the various steering committee members and necessary changes will be
implemented as required. The Ontario Parks Central Zone Ecologist will oversee the
implementation of this Action Plan to ensure that the program meets the objectives of
Ontario Parks’ mandate and complies with relevant legislation such as the Provincial
Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Occurrence of Phragmites within the Park
During the summer of 2008 a Masters of Environmental Science student from the
University of Western Ontario helped to map Phragmites occurrences within the park.
Its occurrences along our 14 km shoreline were mapped using a hand held GPS unit. The
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) has also mapped the occurrences of
Phragmites on shores in the greater Wasaga Beach area. The NVCA and Ontario Parks
are working in partnership and sharing information on an ongoing basis. Wasaga Beach
Provincial Park’s far western and eastern shorelines have extensive colonies of
Phragmites. Small Phragmites stands are also present in Beach Area 4. All mapped
Phragmites stands are shown in Appendix 5.
Until such time as the Park Management Plan and Vegetation Management Plan are
completed, park staff will rely on existing management direction, the PPCRA and other
policies to guide this Action Plan.
Communications
Effective Communications
Ontario Parks is committed to hosting scheduled meetings with the steering committee
and other stakeholders to seek advice, additional support or to address concerns with this
Action Plan and its implementation. Ontario Parks has already had several meetings, two
of which were with residents of the Town of Wasaga Beach regarding the health and state
of the beach along the western shoreline of Beach Area 6. These meetings preceded this
Action Plan and several management meetings to discuss Phragmites with the Town of
Wasaga Beach and other steering committee members.
18
Media
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park has an excellent working relationship with the local
newspapers (Wasaga Sun and Enterprise Bulletin), television (Rogers and A Channel)
and radio (97.7 The Beach) stations. The park has worked with these media outlets for
many years to keep the residents of the Town of Wasaga Beach and visitors informed of
the various issues which are present at a high-use major activity recreational park and
plan to continue this into the future.
Literature Review and Case Studies
Ontario Parks staff have reviewed North American literature and case studies on
Phragmites. Most of the current information focuses on wetland ecosystems and the
extent that Phragmites can spread and reduce biodiversity. A significant gap has been
identified through this review process; namely the lack of information of Phragmites in
the Great Lakes coastal environments and studies of Canadian origins. A scientist with
Environment Canada (Dr. Allan Crowe) and the Ministry of Natural resources (Dr. Janice
Gilbert) have undertaken extensive research on beach management and Phragmites along
Georgian Bay coastal areas and throughout south-western Ontario. Both of these contacts
have been valuable sources of information for the development of this plan and have
agreed to participate in the implementation of this Action Plan.
19
IMPLEMENTATION
An adaptive management approach shall be taken during the implementation of this
program. As new information is gained through the steering committee and monitoring
analysis becomes available, the program shall be adapted as the park initiates and
completes different phases of this Phragmites control program.
The implementation of this program is outlined below. It will be conducted to coincide
with specific phases of the life cycle of Phragmites, refer to Appendix 2, and minimize
conflicts with the peak park operating season. The seasonal population of the Town of
Wasaga Beach increases dramatically between the Victoria Day and Labour Day long
weekends. This control program will not interfere with the main operating season and the
1.7 million park visitors (including residents) that use Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.
This is important for the local economy and the provision of tourism services.
Due to the many significant species and vegetation communities at Wasaga Beach
Provincial Park, mitigative actions will be taken to ensure that implementation of this
plan does not harm these features. These actions include: conducting surveys prior to
control treatments to ensure that sensitive species are not present; timing of work to avoid
sensitive life history stages (e.g. avoiding control activities during the nesting and
breeding season of the Piping Plover), and using herbicide application techniques that
minimize effects on non-target species.
Implement Plan
The following is the recommended course of action for the Phragmites Action Plan at
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.
Timeline
Spring 2008
Summer 2008
Course of Action
• Host a meeting with western shoreline resident
group to address concerns regarding the
occurrence of vegetation on Beach Area 6
• Park staff to map the occurrences of Phragmites
stands along the 14 km shoreline with the
boundaries of the provincial park
Status
Completed
May 14th,
2008
Completed
Jun – Aug,
2008
• Implementation meeting with Ontario Parks, the
Town of Wasaga Beach and the NVCA to discuss
the occurrences of Phragmites along the shoreline
and potential control options
• Ontario Parks monitored and documented
occurrences of unauthorized cutting/mowing of
Phragmites and other native beach vegetation to
maintain private beach access points
Completed
June 17th,
2008
20
Completed
Summer 2008
On-going
Fall 2008
• site visit to Lake Huron Coastal Centre and Sauble
Beach by Ontario Parks staff and other steering
committee members – included observation and
training of Phragmites herbicide injection & hand
wicking control methods
• Site visit by the Minister of Natural Resources in
response to the Town of Wasaga Beach resident
petition and request by local resident
• Hired an Assistant Park Planner to develop an
Action Plan for Phragmites
• Establish steering committee
Winter 2008/09
• Meeting with Dr. Janice Gilbert with the Lake
Erie Management Unit, steering committee
member for an overview of Phragmites
occurrences and site visit
• Coordinate plan review with Ontario Parks
Central Zone Ecologist and Zone Manager
• Physical compression of the largest Phragmites
stand – west of 62nd Street (west of Beach Area 6).
• Assemble technical experts recommendations into
the Draft Action Plan for Phragmites
• Meeting with Dr. Janice Gilbert with the Lake
Erie Management Unit, steering committee
member and Dover Agri-Serve for an overview of
Phragmites occurrences, control options, and
overview of Training Course.
• Engage MNR Science and Field Services
Division, OP Planning and Research Section,
Ontario Parks Southeast and Southwest zones in
review of Draft Phragmites Action Plan.
• Review Final Phragmites Action Plan with local
working group members to facilitate discussion,
questions and support
• Implementation of Final Phragmites Action Plan
• Develop and Implement local Phragmites
communications plan.
• Outline the control areas and best method for the
2009-2010, 2010-2011 and, 2011-2012 operating
seasons.
21
Completed
Oct 3rd-4th,
2008
Completed
Oct 10th, 2008
Completed
Oct 27th, 2008
–Feb 27th 2008
Completed
Oct – Nov, ‘08
Completed
Nov 4th, 2008
Completed
Dec 2008
Completed
January 7th,
2009
January 15th,
2009
Completed
January 21st,
2009
Completed
February 4th,
2009
February 28th
2009
On-going
Pending
Pending
Spring 2009
Summer 2009
Fall 2009
Winter 2009/10
• Sediment testing to establish a baseline before a
herbicide control method is applied
• Monitor the compressed stand for origins of new
Phragmites growth and document
• Ontario Parks staff trained to Ministry of the
Environment standards as a Pesticide Technician
to ensure safe handling procedures while working
with herbicide. This training will be delivered by
Dover Agri-Serve a partner with the Lake Erie
Management Unit – currently the leading team
working and controlling Phragmites in the
Province
• Cut seed heads of Phragmites at The Point (east
of Beach Area 1) before Piping Plovers arrive in
May
• Host an information session/workshop provided
by steering committee partners, Caring For Our
Beaches Workshop
• Continue to document the occurrences of
Phragmites along the shoreline
• Work with Wasaga Beach resident volunteers,
Stewardship Rangers and staff to remove
Phragmites inflorescences from the 62nd Street
Phragmites stand.
• Implementation of herbicide control methods at
the 62nd Street and The Point Phragmites stands.
• Review herbicide program results.
• Discuss results with the steering committee and
reassess direction of program if needed
• Incorporate Final Phragmites Action Plan into the
Management Planning Process via a vegetation
management plan.
22
Pending
Pending
Committed,
and
Under
Development
Pending
Under
Development,
July 10th ,2009
On-going
Under
development
Under
development
Pending
Pending
Pending
REFERENCES CITED
Anonymous. 1994. A Landowner’s Guide to Phragmites Control. Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. 2005.
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/ld50.html
Derr, Jeffery F. 2008. Common Reed (Phragmites australis) Response to Mowing and
Herbicide Application. Invasive Plant Science and Management Vol. 1, JanuaryMarch.
Gilbert, J.M., L. Bennett and B. Locke. 2007. Draft-Invasive Alien Species Phragmites
australis subsp. Australis (common reed) Control Pilot Projects #1,2 and 3
Rondeau Provincial Park. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Kleineberg, J. 2007. A Guide to the Control and Management of Invasive Phragmites.
Ducks Unlimited, Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. 2008. Field Guide for the Control of
Common Reed (Phragmites australis) on Lake Huron Beaches. The Lake Huron
Centre for Coastal Conservation.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. 2007. Best Management Practices for
the Control of Common Reed. The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation.
Ministry of Natural Resources. 2003. Park Management Binder: Operations PoliciesProcedures-Bulletins. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Ministry of Natural Resources. 1992. Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and
management Policies. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Ministry of Natural Resources. 2004. A Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial
Parks and Conservation Reserves. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Swearingen, Jil. 2008. Phragmented Phragmites: Distinguishing Exotic and Native
Forms of Common Reed (Phragmites australis). United States National Park
Service.
Wikipedia. 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
23
APPENDIX 1:
Identification: Native vs. Invasive Phragmites
Several key characteristics aid in distinguishing the native versus the invasive strain of
Phragmites. Below are several aids for identification but ultimately genetic testing may
need to be done to verify. The invasive strain is adaptable and seems to differ from a
wetland to a coastal ecosystem with certain characteristics and as such genetic testing
should be conducted when in doubt.
Native
4
Invasive
Ligule Width
Ligule Width
>1mm (1.0-1.7mm)
Leaf Sheath Persistence
<1mm (0.4-0.9mm)
Leaf Sheath Persistence
Most Leaf sheaths are missing or very
loosely attached to overwintering culms.
Nearly all leaf sheaths are present and
tightly adhering to culms.
4
The ligule is found at the inner base of the leaf between where the leaf attaches to the main stem and the
stem itself (Wikipedia, 2008).
24
APPENDIX 1:
Identification: Native vs. Invasive Phragmites
Stem Coloration
Red-purple coloration is more common on native form
Stem Spots
Native plants have the stem spots and the Invasive do not.
Plant Colour – the Native plant is a lighter Plant Colour - the Invasive plant is a
yellow-green
darker blue-green
(Source: Swearingen, 2008)
25
APPENDIX 2:
Regional Context of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
26
APPENDIX 3:
27
APPENDIX 4:
Life Cycle of Phragmites
(Source: Kleineberg, 2007)
28
APPENDIX 5:
Occurrences of Phragmites in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Figure 1: The Point – Phragmites Occurrences, 16 June 2008 (East of Beach Area 1)
29
APPENDIX 5:
Figure 2: Beach Area 4 - Phragmites Occurrences, 16 June 2008.
30
APPENDIX 5:
Figure 3: Beach Area 6 - Phragmites Occurrences, 16 June 2008.
31
APPENDIX 5:
Figure 4: West of Beach Area 6 - Phragmites Occurrences, 16 June 2008.
32
APPENDIX 5:
Figure 5: West of Beach Area 6 - Phragmites Occurrences, 16 June 2008.
33
APPENDIX 6:
Letter of Petition from Residents of the Town of Wasaga Beach
34

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park - The Friends of Nancy Island and

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