News Release: Perth County Receives $25,000 to Combat Invasive Phragmites Along Rural Roadsides
PERTH COUNTY, ON - Perth County received $25,000 through the 2026 Invasive Phragmites Control Fund (IPCF) to expand its collaborative, county-wide initiative to identify, map, and manage invasive Phragmites along local roads. This new funding builds on a successful 2025 pilot project, which laid the groundwork for the County’s current landscape-scale eradication efforts.
This year, Perth County partnered with its local lower-tier municipalities, the Municipality of North Perth, the Municipality of West Perth, the Township of Perth East and the Township of Perth South to map infestations of invasive Phragmites australis along municipal rights-of-way, resulting in the targeted treatment of more than 350 sites. The initiative aims to halt the plant's spread, protect local biodiversity, and support the long-term ecological health of the county’s roadside corridors.
Invasive Phragmites is recognized as Canada's most damaging invasive plant species. This aggressive perennial grass can grow up to five metres tall and forms dense stands that choke out native vegetation and destroy wildlife habitats. Beyond environmental damage, Phragmites poses significant infrastructure risks: it impedes roadside drainage, encroaches upon driver sightlines, increases wildfire hazards, interferes with agricultural operations, and drives up long-term maintenance costs for municipalities.
Because Phragmites spreads rapidly across property lines and municipal borders, effective management requires a County-wide strategy. By working collaboratively, Perth County and its lower-tier municipalities are sharing resources, mapping data, and operational knowledge to strategically target infestations and prevent untreated patches from re-establishing.
“This grant from the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is incredibly valuable and enables the municipalities to pair provincial investment with the local knowledge and skills present within our County and municipal public works operations. Working together toward this shared environmental goal of invasive species reduction allows us to build a more resilient infrastructure network and protect our natural roadsides more effectively” said Hannah Cann, Resiliency and Stewardship Coordinator.
Successful Phragmites management is a long-term effort. By improving local mapping, coordinating treatment across municipal boundaries and integrating invasive species management into existing public works operations, this initiative builds a strong foundation for continued, sustainable management.
To learn more about this year’s ISAF recipients, visit www.ontariophragmitesaction.ca #InvasivePhragmitesControlFund
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About Perth County: Perth County is a vibrant upper-tier municipality located in Southwestern, Ontario. This rural region is comprised of 4 lower-tier member municipalities. To learn more information about our programs and services, visit: www.perthcounty.ca
Media Contact:
Hannah Cann, Resiliency and Stewardship Coordinator
519-271-0531 x420
hcann@perthcounty.ca
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