Maryland Department Of Natural Resources Offers Cost Share Assistance For Phragmites Control

Maryland Department Of Natural Resources Offers Cost Share Assistance For Phragmites Control
Select counties eligible for funding this fall

ANNAPOLIS, MD — In partnership with Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Weed Management Division, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service will offer both financial and technical assistance towards the control of Phragmites on private lands this fall.

Requests for financial assistance in the control of Phragmites must be made to the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service by Friday, Aug. 13, 2004.

Technical assistance in controlling Phragmites will be offered to all individuals wishing to control the invasive plant. However, the 2004 Phragmites Control Cost-Share Program will only be offered to landowners in Dorchester, Talbot, Worcester, Caroline, Wicomico, Somerset, Queen Anne, Kent, and Cecil counties. Priority will be given to individuals who own properties containing stands of Phragmites that significantly threaten the preservation of valuable wildlife habitats.

Also known as “common reed”, Phragmites is an invasive wetland plant species that spreads rapidly by rhizomes and seed in both tidal and non-tidal wetlands. Phragmites out-competes valuable wetland plants that provide both winter food and cover for a variety of wetland-dependent wildlife species.

Interested landowners should contact Donald Webster, Waterfowl Habitat Manager, at (410) 490-5744 or (410) 827-8612 for technical assistance and to determine eligibility for the Program.