Tackling Invasive Phragmites
Invasive Phragmites australis, a perennial wetland grass, was recognized as Canada’s worst invasive plant in 2005. Phragmites (frag-MY-tees) outcompete native plants, reducing biodiversity and habitat quality for Species at Risk and other wildlife.[1][2]
Phragmites are spreading throughout the Goulbourn Wetland Complex, including its tributaries, Poole Creek and Flowing Creek, and within roadside ditches. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry commissioned a study in 2015 which indicated that 25% of Ontario’s species at risk were considered threatened by Phragmites. [3]
Friends of Stittsville Wetlands has joined the Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities' Joint Phragmites Working Group, along with others, to develop a regional strategy for managing invasive phragmites. In 2026, efforts are focused on mapping the location of Phragmites across the Mississippi and Rideau watersheds. This mapping will help to inform and track future management efforts beginning in 2027. This program will draw on the Invasive Phragmites Best Management Practices in Ontario published by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council.