A community meeting will take place in Port Franks Tuesday evening to discuss the next steps in getting rid of an invasive species, rooted within the watershed.
Phase two of the remediation for invasive phragmites, within the Port Franks Wetland Restoration project, will take place this fall.
In the meantime, a meeting will be held at the Port Franks Community Centre from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group Chair Nancy Vivler said they have been involved in phragmites management in Port Franks for about 12 years.
"What has held us back from getting it under control was that we did not have a herbicide that had been approved by the federal government for use over water. Now, we have that tool so we're really excited because we're hoping this year we will be able to finally treat the special wetlands that we have in our community."
The group hopes to have the restoration work done by mid-October, however, the process is weather dependent. Vivler said getting rid of the invasive species has been an ongoing effort with several partners.
The first phase of the restoration project began at the beach in Port Franks several years ago but Vivler said the issue could not be fully resolved unless it was controlled in the watershed.
"Mud Creek and the Ausable River, the banks of the creek and the river were filled with phragmites so as long as that continued to grow, we would continue to have a problem on the shoreline," she said.
Vivler said phase one was completed last year. Once phase two is completed, the areas will require "touch-ups" in the future.
"It's going to take a number of years to totally get rid of it and we'll probably always have to be on guard," she said. "With the proper tools, in the first year of application, you can treat 95 per cent of it."
Tuesday's meeting will include a casual question and answer period and a short presentation.
The Port Franks Community Centre is located at 9997 Port Franks Rd.