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Phragmites sway in the breeze Thursday, April 18, 2019, along the northern shoreline of Utah Lake in Lehi.

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

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Flattened phragmites lie on the ground Thursday, April 18, 2019, along the northern shoreline of Utah Lake in Lehi.

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

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Utah County’s efforts to fight invasive plant growth of Phragmites Australis — the common reed — received a $113,088 boost from the state government. A grant from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food was approved by the Utah County Commission on May 10.

The plant is an invasive species introduced to American waterways in the 1800s while it began populating around Utah Lake and other Utah bodies of water in the 2000s.

Eminently visible across Utah Lake’s 75 miles of shoreline, the plants are known to compete with native vegetation for natural resources. According to Jake Johnson, Utah County weed control supervisor, their removal improves the area for wildlife and natural vegetation, improves access for recreation and eliminates a significant fire hazard.

“The primary focus will be on Phragmites Control which (includes) herbicide spot treatments and follow up mechanical treatment. The mechanical treatment is typically mowing which helps with future follow up treatments,” Johnson said in an email to the Daily Herald.

The state’s phragmites eradication program started in 2006 and has continued working today. Over the years, those working to exterminate the species around Utah Lake have used a variety of different methods including spraying herbicides, crushing and mowing them and allowing cows to graze them.

Utah Lake shoreline restoration work has been a focus since 2010, according to Eric Ellis, executive director of the Utah Lake Authority.

“Over 70% of the phragmites biomass has been removed and we are seeing a major shift in ecosystem health and biodiversity. The ULA runs an adopt-a-shoreline program to keep our access points free of refuse and debris; all 27 access points have been adopted,” he said.

The agreement for the Utah Lake shoreline phragmites removal and restoration will go into effect July 1 and expires June 30, 2024. The project, though, is ongoing and Johnson expects the county to re-apply in the future if a need is identified.

“It’s a prolific species and with dozens of tributaries feeding into Utah Lake; it’s unlikely that seed sources will ever be fully eliminated. As such, we anticipate continued funding needs to manage this and other invasive species around the lake on an ongoing basis,” Ellis said.

Other work continues to be done as well for the future and present of Utah Lake’s health. Ellis mentioned fisheries management, algae remediation, the nearing completion of the Provo River Delta Project and revitalization work at marinas and harbors across the lake.

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