Fire crews from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands recently attempted to burn 2,000 acres of invasive Phragmites near the Ogden Bay Wildlife Management Area to promote native plant growth.
Challenges during recent burn attempt
The Utah Department of Natural Resources reported that while crews used airboats and Marsh Master amphibious vehicles to ignite patches of the invasive plant, unfavorable weather conditions prevented them from meeting all burn objectives. The department noted that fire serves as a tool to mitigate Phragmites, increase wildlife habitat, and encourage native vegetation.
Integrated methods for plant management
The management of Phragmites australis involves an integrated approach including herbicide spraying, mowing, grazing, burning, water management, and revegetation. According to the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, these efforts have seen significant success in recent years.
Success rates in previous treatments
In 2022, the division and its partners treated 6,312 acres of Phragmites-infested shoreline across Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake. On Utah Lake specifically, treatments covered 2,086 acres and resulted in a 74 percent reduction of the invasive species. On the Great Salt Lake, more than 12,000 acres have been treated since 2016, with a project area along the southern shoreline of Farmington Bay seeing an approximate 65 percent reduction in cover.
Future restoration and follow-up plans
Keith Hambrecht, Invasive Species Coordinator for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, stated that while results are encouraging, significant work remains to restore shorelines with native plant species. Follow-up treatments involving mowing and trampling dead Phragmites were scheduled for the following winter.
