Free Workshop on Phragmites Treatment and Management for Private Landowners

Free Workshop on Phragmites Treatment and Management for Private Landowners

Landowners are invited to attend a series of free public workshops to learn more about why Phragmites is a problem and how private landowners are benefitting from participating in an exciting regional program working to control these invasive plants.

Invasive Phragmites is a perennial wetland grass introduced from Europe that grows rapidly, forming dense stands which crowd out native vegetation, in turn reducing plant species diversity and wildlife habitat quality. This menacing plant is also a safety and fire hazard and clogs drainage ways rapidly.

The workshop presenters will discuss the project overview, planning efforts, landowner expectations, project timeline, communication plan, and ways you can benefit from and help with the control efforts. In order to develop a truly collaborative and effective control strategy, this project needs assistance from landowners like you!

Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) has been an active stakeholder in controlling some of the most problematic invasive species to help improve and protect the lakes and landscape of the Lakeshore. As part of an on-going, collaborative effort to control invasive species, LNRP has been awarded grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to conduct mapping and treatment of the highly invasive common reed grass or “invasive Phragmites” in the townships of Manitowoc County and near-shore townships of Sheboygan County.

With grant funding, LNRP has been working to control populations of Invasive Phragmites since 2015. Properties selected for participation in this project have had their invasive Phragmites populations treated with follow-up treatments occurring as necessary in subsequent years as funding allows.  Join us for a workshop to find out if your property qualifies for treatment as a part of this program!

Workshops have been scheduled as follows:

June 19^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Manitowoc County Complex (Manitowoc County)

June 20^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Town of Holland Hall (Sheboygan County)

June 22^nd from 10:00 to 12:00 noon in the Wells Fargo Room at LTC in Cleveland. (This workshop is specific to those properties along the Lake Michigan shoreline that have bluff communities.)

June 25^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Maple Grove Town Hall (Manitowoc County)

June 26^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Maywood Environmental Center (Sheboygan County)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

Manitowoc County: Tom Ward (920)-588-0047, [email protected].

Sheboygan County: Kendra Kelling (920)-946-2247, [email protected].

Manitowoc or Sheboygan County: Melissa Curran (920)-841-1072 or [email protected].

You may also contact your Township representative for more information.