Sources/Usage: Public Domain.

Dr. Wes Bickford (GLSC, Ann Arbor, Michigan) participated in Canada’s 1st National Phragmites Conference on January 20, 2022, and give an invited presentation entitled, “Cut-to-drown management: Taking advantage of high Great Lakes water levels to control Phragmites.” This virtual conference is hosted by the Canadian Council on Invasive Species, Ontario Invasive Plant Council, and the Ontario Phragmites Working Group and will help participants better understand the state and spread of “Canada’s worst invasive plant,” Phragmites australis, and it’s impacts on species at risk, habitats, communities, and infrastructure across Canada in the face of a changing climate. The presentation will focus on efforts by the USGS and US Fish and Wildlife Service to assess the impact and feasibility of cutting under water (or “cut-to-drown”) to control large populations of Phragmites in periods of high Great Lakes water levels. Cut-to-drown management is growing in popularity, particularly in Canada, highlighting the importance of this research for best management practice development