What’s going on here?
This patch of land is currently being managed to remove the invasive plant, Phragmites australis, or common reed. More about Phragmites can be found here. Please do not disturb the plants here, even if they look dead – a research project is actively taking place!
The organization that placed this sign has received grant funding to participate in a research program to find the best ways to manage Phragmites. As part of this work, they are monitoring and managing Phragmites populations on this land following a set of standardized protocols. To meet grant requirements, no additional Phragmites removal, such as mowing live or dead stems, should be done in this area from June 2025 – July 2026. Unplanned removal can interfere with data collection and potentially slow down progress!
What’s the research project?
The Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF) is a research program that helps people manage Phragmites that anyone from the Great Lakes region can join. Participants share their Phragmites monitoring and management data with PAMF, which helps a predictive model learn which methods (e.g., herbicides, burning, flooding, etc.) work best to reduce Phragmites. The model then provides guidance on the best management techniques to use at each site for the coming year. This process happens yearly, using new data to improve the guidance each time. By working together and sharing information, we can find the best ways to control Phragmites faster than working alone. For more information on how PAMF works, watch our short videos on the PAMF Participant Cycle.
Where’s the grant funding coming from?
Grant funding for management at this site comes from the PAMF Active Adaptive Management Program (AAMP), which is an extension of the PAMF program that aims to speed the rate at which the PAMF predictive model learns, while also providing funding for managers to remove Phragmites from their land. Funding for this program comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Join PAMF
Anyone managing non-native Phragmites in the Great Lakes basin can participate in PAMF. Click the button below to get started!
Questions?
Please contact: Samantha Tank, Great Lakes Commission at pamf@glc.org