Managing Invasive Phragmites at Swartswood State Park

This fall, Princeton Hydro’s field team has been hard at work at Swartswood State Park, supporting ongoing invasive species management efforts led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The work focuses on controlling Phragmites australis (common reed), an aggressive invasive plant that can rapidly dominate wetlands, displacing native vegetation, reducing habitat diversity, and altering natural ecological processes.

As part of a comprehensive management strategy that combines monitoring, treatment, and follow-up maintenance, Princeton Hydro recently assisted with a targeted seed-head removal effort designed to help limit the spread of existing Phragmites populations and support long-term wetland restoration goals.

Working plant by plant, the field team manually clipped and collected Phragmites seed heads before they could fully mature and disperse. While time-intensive, this proactive management technique helps reduce the spread of viable seeds to nearby wetlands, minimizing opportunities for reinfestation and improving the effectiveness of broader control efforts. Once removed, seed heads were carefully collected and properly disposed of to prevent the establishment of new populations elsewhere.

Successful invasive species management requires more than fieldwork alone. Long-term restoration depends on thoughtful planning, sound science, adaptive management, and strong partnerships committed to environmental stewardship. Princeton Hydro is proud to support NJDEP’s efforts to protect and restore New Jersey’s wetland ecosystems and help promote healthier, more resilient habitats.

Enjoy the photos below for a behind-the-scenes look at our field crews in action at Swartswood State Park:

Click here to learn more about our work in areas throughout the East Coast to address and properly manage Phragmites australis in order to restore natural habitats. 

• Climate Change
• Invasive Species Management
• Natural Resource Management
• Wetland Restoration