We must do everything we can to protect Manitoulin’s shorelines
To the Expositor:
That was an interesting article about the extremely low water levels in the Great Lakes (‘All Great Lakes at near-record lows,’ May 14, Page 1).
Whenever we’re approaching those record highs and lows, there is always the fear that water levels have changed forever. Here’s hoping we still have ups and downs, even though they, too, are problematic.
My big fear now is that with the low water level, there will be a lot more spread of invasive phragmites. (“frag-MITE-eez”). This huge, aggressive, foreign grass can smother an entire shoreline. It is spread mainly by vehicles (ATVs, UTVs, 4x4s) and machinery. If you drive through phragmites, seeds or pieces of stem get stuck on your machine and then fall off as you travel.
This year, there is a lot more dry shoreline, so there is more room to drive and more land where phragmites may jump off. The shorelines are one of the major things that make Manitoulin Island so special.
We really don’t want our shores to be wall-to wall phragmites, like the ditches along the 400 highway.
Please! If you feel like driving on the shore, make sure your tires are clean. Hose them off at home before you head out. If you bring a machine from off-Island, hose off your tires before you load up. And common sense: if you come across Phragmites on your ride, don’t drive through it. Go around!
You can see what phragmites looks like by searching @manitoulinphrag.
Thanks for helping us keep Manitoulin a low-Pphrag area!
Judith Jones
Coordinator,
Manitoulin Phragmites Project
