County-wide approach to combatting phragmites on hold

Essex County Civic Centre.

Initiated by the Town of Amherstburg, Essex County Council is looking into a collaborated effort when it comes to combating phragmites.

Back in July a letter was sent from the town to the county noting, “a concerted and coordinated approach is essential to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of phragmites across our county.”

Director of infrastructure and planning services Allan Botham brought forth a report last Wednesday night indicating that all seven local municipalities as well as the City of Windsor have budgeted for management of the invasive species.

In his report to council, Botham described phragmites as an aggressive plant that grows quickly and releases toxins from its roots which hinders the growth and eventually kills surrounding plants. Phragmites can grow as high as five metres and have as many as 200 stems.

“On the ground we are all actively attacking phragmites but at a coordinated level we are just getting started,” said Botham.

Botham said that, headed by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), a working group has been created through the Nature Conservatory of Canada, and $100,000 is available to help with such things as spraying, mapping and working with individual landowners.

“I was hoping to get a little more here today than what’s actually in the report,” said Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue.

Prue was not satisfied with the report from Botham and said that while it is a step forward to a collaborated county-wide effort, it is not enough.

“I was hoping the county would see some of the initiatives and have a county-wide policy or approach rather than leaving it up to the individual municipalities,” said Prue.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said having a county-wide approach was something that could be looked at in the 2026 budget. Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley as well as Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey said there was still a lot of unknowns of how it would become a county responsibility.

“I would like to take it back to my municipality and have a discussion,” said Shepley.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt brought forth a motion to defer any decisions on whether or not the county will take the lead.

“We (Lakeshore) have a program in place now as do a lot of municipalities and I’m not sure the answer is that the county takes it over. I can see working together,” commented Walstedt.

County council has agreed to bring it back in a month.

County-wide approach to combatting phragmites on hold

By Fred Groves