The diversion of water from Lake Michigan to a city in Wisconsin wasn't the only hot topic at the recent meeting of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
Huron County Warden Paul Gowing, who attended the meeting, says the spread of Phragmites throughout Southern Ontario is a major concern. Phragmites is an invasive weed that is very difficult to kill and is taking over wetland areas.
Gowing says a presentation at the meeting featured NASA images showing Phragmites along the Lake Ontario shoreline near Mississauga. The weed grows to well over six feet tall with an almost feathery plume at the top, and one of the concerns discussed at the conference was the potential for them to catch on fire when they mature and dry out.
Gowing says they've become a common site in roadside ditches where that kind of fire could present a serious problem for drivers.
The Huron County Warden adds the message at the conference was there has to be a concerted effort to eradicate Phragmities now, because once they establish in an area, it's very difficult to get rid of them.
