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Officials try new techniques to fight invasive plant species

Salt Lake Tribune | April 28, 2019

Related Topics: Utah Lake Commission, Provo, Kimarite, Great Salt Lake, Phragmites, Daily Herald, English auxiliaries and contractions

Provo • Officials are trying new techniques to get rid of an invasive plant species called phragmites from the shores of Utah Lake, such as spraying herbicides and smashing the plants instead of burning them.

A new program is also being piloted this summer, in which cows will be fenced into acres of phragmite growth in order to graze it down, the Daily Herald in Provo reported this week.

Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Chris Brown and Mike Kolendrianos cut a swath through a dead stand of phragmites with the use of the Marsh Master. Phragmites take away food sources and nesting ground for wetland birds. The Marsh Master is a 6,000 pound amphibious machine that was gifted to The Nature Conservancyu2019s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. The vehicle's mower can grind down hundreds of acres of invasive phragmites to speed up the decomposing time.
Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Chris Brown and Mike Kolendrianos cut a swath through a dead stand of phragmites with the use of the Marsh Master.
See full article at Salt Lake Tribune