Crews work to control invasive plant taking over Tiny Marsh
An effort is underway to remove and control an invasive, robust weed in the Tiny Marsh.
The Marl Lake-Tiny Marsh-Matchedash Bay Conservation Association hired a company from the Windsor area to help remove the aggressive Phragmites.
David Hawke is spearheading the removal work and says Phragmites is the number one invasive plant in southern Ontario.
"If left unchecked, it's going to literally take over the wetland," explains Hawke.
He adds Phragmites is so thick and tall in the Marsh it crowds out natural vegetation and becomes a hazard for wildlife.
"Turtles can't come up on the shoreline, ducks can't bring their ducklings out, and it will just become the only plant growing here," Hawke says.
Experts say eradication is nearly impossible, but controlling the spread is possible.
Chuck Simpson, with the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre out of Langton, Ont., says the plant is covering roughly 10 per cent of the Marsh right now.
"We're using two amphibious vehicles, one to cut it right at the floor of the Marsh, that will eventually drown the plant. Little piles will be left in the water to act as a safe habitat for wildlife," he says.
Crews are done working in the Marsh this week but will be back for a couple of days next week.
They plan to return next summer to pick up where they left off.
The project is expected to take three years to complete.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.