Let’s Go RRIP–It-UP! Menominee Conservation District Annual Meeting March 12, 2011 Why Should We Care About Invasive Plants?
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Let’s Go RRIP–It-UP! Menominee Conservation District Annual Meeting March 12, 2011 Why Should We Care About Invasive Plants? First of All, What is an Invasive Plant? It is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration Its introduction is likely to cause economic, environmental, or human harm. Invasive Plants Replace Native Wildflowers and Vegetation Invasive Plants Out-Compete Native Plants Prolific seed production Able to spread by rhizomes Produce new plant from tiny root & stem fragments Seeds remain viable in soil for many years Leaf out early & retain leaves late in season Secrete chemicals that inhibit growth of other plants Alter food and habitat that native wildlife depend on Mammals Birds Pollinators Invertebrates Insects Soil fungi Impact forest regeneration Impact recreational opportunities How do Invasive Species Get Here? How do invasive species get here? Wind Wildlife Vehicles Boots Boats Nursery Plants Slow the Spread by Sole & Tread! There is no place on earth like Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! What Does RRIP-IT-UP stand for? Rapid Response Invasive Plant Intervention Team In the U.P.! UP RC&D Council Received $150,000 to Combat Invasive Species in the Upper Peninsula $78,000 to UP Conservation Districts $10,000 to UP Tribes $7,000 Educational Projects $6,500 for Training RRIP-IT-UP is funded by a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation which includes funding from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. What are we trying to accomplish? Establish Rapid Response Teams in each of the 13 Conservation Districts in the UP Recruit and train a minimum of 100 volunteers Facilitate UP-wide invasive plant networking and communications among individuals & groups Institute invasive plant controls on at least 760 acres Educate members of the public about invasive plants by installing 6 highly visible demonstration sites Increase capacity of 5 tribes in the UP to deal with invasive plant issues Connect our work in the UP to Regional Efforts How can we maximize our success? Evaluate the problem in our individual areas Determine our objectives & what is important to us Prioritize our efforts - pick the right battles! Collaboration is the key to success Original Partners New Partners 1 more Conservation Districts Eastern UP Cooperative Weed UP RC&D Council 11 Conservation Districts 4 Federally Recognized Tribes Lake Superior State University MSU Extension MDNRE MDOT Hiawatha National Forest Ottawa National Forest Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore The Nature Conservancy USDA-NRCS Management Area Central UP Cooperative Weed Management Area Moosewood Nature Center Michigan Technological University Starbucks of Marquette Central UP Planning & Development Region Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Seney National Wildlife Refuge Common Invasive Plants in the Upper Peninsula Autumn Olive Garlic Mustard Non-native Honeysuckle Phragmites Purple Loosestrife Glossy Buckthorn Common Buckthorn Spotted Knapweed European Swamp Thistle Leafy Spurge Japanese and Giant Knotweed Autumn Olive Small tree or shrub (up to 20’) Leaves - untoothed, shiny on top, hairy below Flowers - 5 petals, clusters of 2-6, greenish yellow Fruit - red berries, abundant, viable in soil 2-3 yrs Found in pastures, fence rows, roadsides, woodland edges Garlic mustard Native to Europe First introduced to USA in 1868 First collected in Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 1938 Biennial herb Flowers late May to June Rapidly spreads in hardwood forest understory, replacing native spring flowers Exotic honeysuckle Honeysuckle Opposite leaves Large multi-stemmed bushes White or pink two-lipped flowers (4 +1) Red or orange fruits in pairs Branches are brown and hollow in the middle honeysuckle Glossy buckthorn Tall shrubs Entire, glossy leaves Fruits green to red to black No thorns Glossy buckthorn Seedlings Common buckthorn Shrub with peeling bark Dark green, toothed, opposite leaves Green to black fruits Thorn-tipped twigs Common buckthorn www.buckthornwatch.org Spotted knapweed U.P. knapweed biocontrol Phragmites Phragmites Japanese and Giant Knotweed Japanese knotweed Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Opposite Leaves Purple loosestrife Purple flowers in spikes Five to seven petals Clump-forming perennial Purple Loosestrife Galerucella Giant hogweed Craig leg Know your thistles! European swamp-thistle Eurasian water-milfoil Milfoil cards Impacts Replaces native aquatic vegetation Reduces quality of fish and waterfowl habitat Poor swimming, boating, and visual condition. Navigate Milfoil map Japanese barberry Japanese barberry Small spiny shrub Small spoon-shaped leaves Small egg-shaped green to red fruits Japanese barberry fruits spraying barberry Dame’s rocket Leafy Spurge Reporting in the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) accepts observation data from: MISIN registered and trained citizens Volunteer organizations and NGO’s State and Federal agency partners Go to: www.misin.msu.edu Future Challenges Collaborating more with MDOT and local road commissions Keeping the Dream Alive past 2011! The New RRIP-ITUP Plant-mobile Photo Credits Many thanks to: Marilyn Shy, UP RC&D Coordinator Brian Hill, NRCS Area Engineer Ian Shackleford, USFS Phyllis Higman, Michigan Natural Features Inventory Sue Haralson, HKCD Administrator Questions and Discussion What are your challenges with invasive plants? Are there ways that we can share information and experiences that would be useful to us all? RRIP-IT-UP is funded by a grant from the National Fish& Wildlife Foundation which includes funding from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency.