MWRPP Report 16.3: Seaford Wetlands Vegetation Monitoring Program: report on Phragmites expansion and control.

This report presents the third-year resurvey results of the Seaford Wetlands vegetation monitoring program established in 2013. It includes data from 24 permanent quadrats and six photo-monitoring points.Phragmites reed beds have remained relatively stable over the past year, following contraction during 2013-2015 in low-lying areas of wetland cell SCE2. Some expansion has occurred in elevated areas along the northern periphery of SCW1. These patterns reflect long-term climatic trends and water regime suitability at different elevations.The slashing experiment indicates that Phragmites control is effective only when followed by several months of flooding. In low-lying, flooded areas, Phragmites regrowth was minimal, while in elevated areas, recovery was almost complete one year after slashing.Photo-point monitoring revealed the need for controlling other invasive plants, particularly Acacia longifolia. Revegetation with appropriate woody species is recommended.Long-term Phragmites containment at Seaford will likely require regular control efforts, involving slashing of low-lying areas during dry periods, with success dependent on subsequent flooding. The long-term effectiveness of this approach in depleting Phragmites' rhizomatous energy reserves remains to be seen.