Untreated Phragmites within the Amalga Barrens Sanctuary, Courtesy & © Hilary Shughart, Photographer |
Untreated Phragmites within the Amalga Barrens Sanctuary, Courtesy & © Mike Wolfe, Photographer |
Phragmites Invading Again, Amalga Barrens Sanctuary, July 30, 2022, Courtesy & Copyright Jack Greene, Photographer |
Water Levels Low on the Playa, Phragmites Invading Again on Left, Amalga Barrens Sanctuary, July 30, 2022, Courtesy & Copyright Jack Greene, Photographer |
Notes:
September: Bridgerland Audubon engaged Cache County to spray the existing phragmites stands on the sanctuary
October: Kayo Robertson reports that the phragmites kill wasn’t as great as desired
November: Burning was discussed with the possibility of engaging the Smithfield Fire Department, but it is outside the open burning period. Official burn season ended Nov and starts in March. Kayo obtained an exemption burn permit. Results of the burn activity are yet to be reported.
Dr. Karin M. Kettenring, USU Professor of Wetland Ecology, recommends an iterative process for control:
- Spray late summer/early fall
- Mow or burn over winter to clear out thatch
- Mow mid-summer to keep phragmites from producing seeds (knock it back but allow enough time to regrow for a fall spray)
- REPEAT
She also notes that “if the phragmites is drought-stressed, it will not take up the herbicide well. Luckily it appears that most of [our] phragmites is along Clay Slough so it should be okay. But basically you need to the plant to be healthy for the herbicide to work.
Spraying too early is a waste of herbicide. You need to wait until its translocating carbohydrates to the roots/rhizomes before winter so spraying in the early fall is a good time.”
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