Environmental Commissioner Dianne Saxe says the province needs to take a more aggressive approach in tackling invasive species.
In her annual report, the commissioner says phragmites and Asian carp are two of the worst examples.
"The most important thing is to be really aggressive at the earliest possible moment," says Saxe. "It has proved successful in some cases to stop invasions if you get at it early. If you wait, the cost goes up dramatically."
Saxe says the Ministry of Natural Resources has left municipalities, community groups, conservation authorities and volunteers pretty much on their own to deal with the issues.
She says only $1-million is being allocated each year toward combating invasive species.
Saxe is calling for provincial leadership, more coordination and financial support.
Lambton County staff are currently working on their own report investigating a possible Lambton wide effort to treat the invasive plant.
The perennial grass is a problem in Sarnia-Lambton waterways, drains and ditches because it chokes out native plants and alters wildlife habitat.