TRAVERSE CITY -- Shoreline plants are nothing new around Grand Traverse Bay, but one that recently popped up raises environmental concerns for some.
Phragmites (frag-MY-teez) is an invasive species from Europe that's taken over spots around both arms of the bay. It pushes out native plants like cattails, disrupts wildlife habitats, grows as tall as 15 feet and prompted area officials to consider new laws to combat the deep-rooted, reed-like plant.
"You have an imbalance in the environment that can disrupt things rather rapidly," said Mary Tonneberger, who lives along the shore of Grand Traverse Bay in Omena.
Phragmites create tall, dense stands that degrade wetlands and coastal areas, crowd out native plants, block shoreline views and reduce beach access. It's a pesky plant that can take over a shoreline before property owners even know it's a problem, Tonneberger said.
"It's a huge impact and it's coming so fast," she said.
The best way to kill phragmites is with special herbicides because the plant spreads as much as 60 feet per year through a strong root system. Yanking the plant from the ground won't guarantee it's gone, said Brian Piccolo, wildlife habitat biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
"The best way to deal with it is a coordinated approach, rather than individual landowners removing it. If you have one landowner treat it and another that's not, it's probably still there," he said.
Tonneberger, chairwoman of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners, hopes residents will become educated on the topic. She wants township officials to consider ways to eradicate the plant.
Officials in Grand Traverse County's Peninsula Township are doing just that: drafting a phragmites ordinance.
"A lot of property owners may not have them now, but they will if we don't do something about it," said Gordon Hayward, township planner.
An ordinance would allow officials to hire herbicide applicators to treat plants along the shoreline on private property.
The draft ordinance will be considered by the township's board on May 12 and a public hearing could be held in June, Hayward said.
Michigan also hosts a native phragmites plant, but the invasive version infests southern Michigan with little hope to subdue its spread.
"The fortunate thing is ... in Grand Traverse Bay, it's early enough to get a handle on it. A couple years later, we might not be able to," said Andy Knott, executive director of the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City.
The center will host two free public workshops about phragmites on June 6, first at 9 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., at the Hagerty Center, 715 E. Front St. in Traverse City.
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