2D: Nudging wetlands toward recovery after invasion and impacts

Wetlands are a critical part of ecosystems in the West. Wetlands border Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, and Bear Lake and line rivers and streams throughout the state. They also form in some places where agricultural irrigation creates seasonal flooding. Wetlands play a critical role in supporting Utah’s wildlife, especially waterfowl, and help to protect communities from flooding, drought, dust, polluted water, and climate change.

Utah’s scarce wetlands have been greatly impacted by humans. Upstream diversions, pollution, and invasive species are all problematic. Another major threat to Utah wetlands is the non-native phragmites. This extremely tall, dense invasive grass crowds out native plants, degrades important habitat and reduces other benefits wetlands would otherwise provide. Phragmites is an extremely thirsty plant and depletes water from wetland areas— especially problematic during the current drought. Phragmites occupies many tens of thousands of acres along Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, and Bear Lake, as well as lining ditches along roadways, railways, and canals.

It isn’t an easy task to rid a wetland of phragmites, especially once they’ve been established in a spot long enough that native plants and their seeds are long gone. Eradicating them requires a multi-pronged strategy—herbicides, mowing, grazing, depriving them of water and chopping them down. Clawing back an invaded wetland is a long-haul battle, and one that requires intense cooperation and communication among land managers. Extensive efforts are underway to control this plant across the state and to prevent new infestations. Researchers from USU have partnered with numerous land managers to develop effective techniques for managing phragmites and for reestablishing native plant communities, including novel strategies for dispersing seeds, planting seedlings, and knowledge-sharing events.