Phragmites, the invasive 12-foot-tall wetland grass, can dominate freshwater ecosystems—altering water flow, displacing native plants, and reducing habitat quality for wildlife. Herbicides or burning can reduce its spread, but these methods have environmental trade-offs.

Interestingly, phragmites also offer benefits: their root networks help protect marshes from rising sea levels, capture nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, store carbon, and even absorb legacy industrial pollutants.

The question remains—do the benefits outweigh the harms?

Read the full article on our website: The Pros and Cons of Phragmites