USU student develops new way to monitor invasive grass species

By Shelby Ruud

Controlling phragmites, an invasive grass species that is destroying the Great Salt Lake wetlands, is an expensive problem for the state of Utah, costing approximately $5 million a year.

But are efforts to control phragmites working?

To answer this question, Evan Pool, a student at Utah State University, gathered statistics by studying phragmites plants last summer and has spent the last few months using the data to develop a method to monitor the effectiveness of phragmites management.

“The usual way of monitoring phragmites involves gathering samples, taking them back to the lab and conducting tests and measurement there,” said Pool, who is studying natural resources. “But with this new method, the measurements can be done right there in the field.”

Pool measured 2000 phragmites plants for basal stem diameter, stem length and stem weight. He created graphs with the data.

“Now you can use a set of calipers to measure the basal steam diameter, and from that number you can estimate the stem length and stem height,” Pool said. “This will save time and money.”

Rebekah Downard, another USU student studying the Great Salt Lake wetlands, recognized the value in Pool’s method.

“With phragmites being such a large problem, anything to save money helps,” she said. “Research like this has solid management implications.”

Pool said the information about the effectiveness of controlling phragmites is valuable to researchers.

“Researchers can ask, ‘Is mowing the phragmites working? What method is working the best to stop this plant? What will the next step be?’” Pool said.

Other Utah State researchers are beginning to use Pool’s method and Pool is planning to add to his study this summer with data from an additional 2000 plants.