Phragmites: What We Do

Partnering to Restore Our Wetlands

Fishers Island Conservancy is taking decisive action against invasive Phragmites australis through a three-year treatment initiative in collaboration with The Pond and Lake Connection, a full-service aquatic management company based in Brookfield, Connecticut, with over 25 years of experience serving the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut

They specialize in comprehensive wetland and pond restoration, offering a unified, science-based approach that includes:

  • Site evaluation, permitting, and tailored treatment planning

  • Herbicide applications by state-licensed operators using EPA-approved, wildlife-safe products

  • Mechanical control using tools like the Marsh Master and roller chopping for dense Phragmites removal

This partnership enables the Conservancy to apply an integrated, effective strategy that blends mechanical disruption with targeted herbicide use, all guided by expert aquatic management principles.

Past Work: A Long Fight Against the Reeds

FI Conservancy efforts date back to 2004, when they secured a permit from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to combat Phragmites in a 1.5-acre wetland along Clay Point Road. That early project used mowing combined with controlled saltwater flooding, yielding gradual but meaningful habitat recovery. This historic pilot is chronicled in the Fishers Island Gazette, capturing the urgency and local resolve to tackle this invasive threat.

Read more about 2004 Phragmites/Fishers Island Gazette :

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Current Work

Building on the foundation laid in 2004, the Conservancy now leads a three-year, 8.2-acre restoration program on the West End of the island. Working hand in hand with The Pond and Lake Connection, the project employs:

  • Comprehensive site assessments and permitting

  • Mechanical removal, including Marsh Master and roller chopping

  • Targeted herbicide applications, applied safely by certified operators

  • Ongoing monitoring to assess effectiveness and adapt techniques over time

This project not only aims to restore critical marshland, but also serves as a replicable blueprint for other Fishers Island landowners tackling Phragmites infestations.