Michigan’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program and Wetlands

Decontamination, BMPs, and Prioritization

Anne Garwood Great Lakes Coastal

Wetland Ecologist Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Coastal Wetlands

Great Lakes are extremely productive, and rare systems are critical to Michigan’s fish, wildlife, and migratory birds.

32 of 36 species of Great Lakes fish

depend upon coastal marshes for reproductive

success.

The vegetation of coastal marshes anchors sands of the beaches during high water periods, providing the most effective protection possible from the erosive impacts of the waves and ice of the Great Lakes.

At least 41 state listed, threatened, and endangered species of animals depend upon

wetlands at some point in their life cycle.

Michigan has approx. 3,288 miles of great lakes shoreline.

Some examples of Coastal Natural Communities:

Coastal Fen Granite Bedrock Lakeshore Great Lakes Marsh Interdunal Wetland Limestone Lakeshore Cliff

Open Dunes Sand and Gravel Beach Sandstone Cobble Shore Wooded Dune and Swale

Including approximately 275,748 acres of Great

Lakes Coastal Wetlands

Coastal Wetlands

Invasive Species Program

A species that is not native and whose

introduction causes, or is likely to cause,

economic or environmental harm

or harm to human health

• Department of Environmental Quality

• Water Resources (Sarah LeSage, Anne Garwood, Eric Bacon, Tom Alwin, Kevin Walters) • Office of the Great Lakes (Matt Preisser)

• Department of Natural Resources • Fisheries (Nick Popoff, Seth Herbst, Christina Baugher) • Wildlife (Sue Tangora, Kile Kucher, Ryan Wheeler) • Parks and Recreation (Alicia Ihnken) • Law Enforcement (Steve Huff) • Forest Resources (Roger Mech) • Marketing and Outreach (Joanne Foreman, Kevin Frailey, Jon Spieles)

• Department of Agriculture and Rural Development • Pesticide and Plant Pest Management (Mike Bryan, Cecilia Weibert) • Animal Industry (Steve Hussey)

• Department of Transportation (Tim Jones, Darwin Heme)

State of Michigan AIS Team established 2010

AIS State Management Plan

• Goal I: Prevent new introductions of AIS into Michigan waters.

• Goal II: Limit the dispersal of established populations of AIS into uninfested waters of the state.

• Goal III: Develop an early detection and rapid response program to address new AIS invasions.

• Goal IV: Manage and control AIS to lessen the harmful ecological, economic, social and public health impacts resulting from infestation of AIS.

Finalized June, 2013

Prevention by Pathways

o BMPs for AIS in Water Resources permits

o Support local governments by providing

information on AIS BMPs and encouraging

coordination

o Promote BMPs for landowners

o Coordinate with other groups and agencies on

training for contractors, consultants, landscapers,

etc.

Habitat Pathway – Strategic Actions

Habitat Pathway – Strategic Actions

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Dispose of Bait in the Trash

Do Not Release Fish and Aquatic

Plants

Clean, Drain, Dry

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

• Plan - Visit invasive species free areas first!

• Use one-piece rubber waders and boots – non-felt soled.

• Habit - Inspect your gear/attire between sites.

• If possible, try to avoid working in areas at times when risk is highest – e.g. when plants have gone to seed

• If possible avoid walking through infested areas

Be aware of vectors:

Equipment Land Disturbance Ornamental Ponds Shoreline landscaping Roadsides and Utility Corridors

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Decontamination

Boots and Waders

Field Gear/Clothing

Vehicles

Decontamination

• Inspect and remove all visible vegetation and soil from clothes and footwear – Use a boot brush and Adhesive Roller in the field – Wash clothes and footwear after use – HIGH RISK: Use a household steamer on footwear

• Rinse and Dry (2-5 days) equipment – Medium Risk: Use a bleach/water solution or Virkon

in spray bottle or sponge – HIGH RISK: Pressurized hot water (140 degrees)

• DEQ drafted a tool to help groups prioritize and allocate limited resources

• GOAL: more consistent and more successful management, statewide

• Reviewed and revised by the AIS Advisory Council, and the AIS Core Team

• Scoring tool that can be used to compare multiple sites

• Not for individual site decisions

• Maximum score of 57

Phragmites Treatment/Management Prioritization Tool

Audience: Land/resource management groups who are working at a local or regional scale (local, regional and state land managers)

• Compare potential treatment sites - rank many sites and focus efforts on the highest priority locations first

• Strategically allocate limited resources ($) • Guidance for watershed groups, land conservancies, cooperative weed

management groups, municipalities, etc.

Phragmites Treatment/Management Prioritization Tool

Three Categories of Criteria:

• Ecological Criteria • Human Values Criteria • Feasibility/Coordination of treatment

Phragmites Treatment/Management Prioritization Tool

Example Sites

Example Site A Higher Likelihood of Success

Less Strain on Resources (funding, personnel, equipment)

Example Site B Lower Likelihood of Success

Greater Strain on Resources (funding personnel, equipment)

Early Detection and Response

19

• Water lettuce and hyacinth • Oakland • Kalamazoo • Wayne

• European Water Clover • Wayne • Washtenaw • Oakland

• Yellow Floating Heart • Oakland • Kent • Wayne

• European Frog-bit • Kent • Saginaw

• Parrot Feather • Trenton Channel • Washtenaw • Jackson • Wayne

Monitoring and Aquatic Plant Response

www.michigan.gov/invasives

Anne Garwood Coastal Wetland Ecologist

MDEQ Water Resources Division

517-388-4472 GarwoodA@michigan.gov