Ch. 652

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Preamble

WHEREAS, Phragmites is a tall reedlike grass of the genus
Phragmites communis that has tall stems, creeping rhizomes, broad
flat leaves, and a large, bushy panicle or seed head; and

WHEREAS, Phragmites, which is widely distributed in moist
areas throughout most of North America, including the State of
Maryland, has the capacity to overwhelm tidal marshes, nontidal
marshes, wetlands, ditches, and other moist areas by completely
displacing other species of plants; and

WHEREAS, The neighboring State of Delaware has a program to
control phragmites; and under which a landowner of 5 to 200 acres
pays half of the cost, and the State pays the other half of the
cost, of spraying the phragmites with the systemic herbicide
"Rodeo"; and

WHEREAS, Rodeo has been shown in certain studies to be safe
when used near wetlands and other bodies of water; and

WHEREAS, Phragmites has little beneficial value as a food
source or otherwise as a plant, except as a buffer for shore
erosion or as a habitat for wetland birds and mammals; and

WHEREAS, Even though eradication may be impossible
logistically, the General Assembly finds that the State of
Maryland should institute a program to control the spread of
phragmites; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section(s) 9-501, 9-502, 9-503, and "Subtitle 5.
Penalties and Fines", respectively, of Article - Natural
Resources of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be
Section(s) 9-601, 9-602, 9-603, and "Subtitle 6. Penalties and
Fines", respectively.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of
Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

SUBTITLE 5. PHRAGMITES MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

9-501.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT THE GROWTH OF THE TALL,
REEDLIKE GRASS PHRAGMITES COMMUNIS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS PHRAGMITES,
MAY BE A PUBLIC AND COMMON NUISANCE ON LAND AND WETLANDS USED FOR
WILDLIFE HABITAT AREAS.

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