COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF COARSE PERENNIAL GRASSES ALONG WATERSHEDS ON VARIOUS MILITARY BASES

Phragmites australis (Phragmites) is an invasive coarse perennial grasses species that have displaced native marshes in the Chesapeake Bay. Ecologically, this invasive can be problem plant because it is an excellent colonizer of disturbed soils and once established usually crowds out all other wetland plants. This reduces the ecological value of the wetland by displacing plant assemblages which have better value as habitat for stabilizing sediment, improving water quality through nutrient removal or providing foraging habitat for native avian and mammalian species. DOD, as a signatory to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, has agreed to control aggressive invasives in an effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. This Cooperative Agreement, hereinafter, referred to as this Agreement, implements, in part, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington's responsibilities pursuant to the Sikes Act Improvement Act (16 USC 670 et seq), meets the requirements of Executive Order (EO) 13112. It also supports the regional Chesapeake Bay 2000 (C2K) and the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act (CBRA) of 2000 requiring federal land holders to develop and implement management plans for invasive species within the Bay watershed.