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Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. Battling Invasive Plants: A Brief Overview and Case Study 2013 Michigan Watershed Summit Elise Hansen Tripp
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
Battling Invasive Plants: A Brief Overview and Case Study
2013 Michigan Watershed Summit
Elise Hansen Tripp
Invasive:
Alien Species: not native to a particular
ecosystem (non-native, exotic, introduced)
Cause Harm
Economy
Environment
Human Health
Executive Order 13112, 1999
Photo: USFS
Negative Effects of Invasives:
Environmental
Reduce biodiversity and displace rare species
Alter hydrologic conditions
Alter soil characteristics
Alter fire intensity and frequency
Interfere with natural succession
Compete with pollinators
Poison or repel native insects
Photo: USFS
Negative Effects of Invasives:
Economy
Serve as a reservoir of plant pathogens
Difficult and costly to control
Impede industries (fisheries, forestry) and
threaten agriculture
Overall drain on the economy (estimated in
1998 at $13,000,000,000)
Negative Effects of Invasives:
Human Health
Reservoirs for disease (insects, rodents,
birds)
Example: West Nile virus in non-native mosquito
Food security
Water depletion
Helpful Resources: Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI)
MNFI Best Control Practice Guides
•Japanese Barberry
•Oriental Bittersweet
•Autumn Olive
•Glossy Buckthorn
•Japanese Knotweed
•Common Buckthorn
•Black Locust
•Swallow-Worts
Helpful Resources: MNFI
Helpful Resources: MNFI
Helpful Resources: Midwest Invasive Species Information Network
Helpful Resources: Midwest Invasive Species Information Network
•Training Modules:
The Battle Plan
Prevention
Surveillance
Control
©Merrily Harpur (harpur.org)
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Surveillance:
Early Detection and Rapid Response
Identify high threat species
Monitor entry points
Map and report occurrences
Photo: MNFI
Photo: FTC&H
Photo: FTC&H
Photo: State of Washington
Photo: ODNR
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Mapping Invasive Plants:
Surveillance:
Midwest Invasive Species Information Network
Accepts data from:
MISIN registered and trained citizens
Volunteer organizations and NGO’s
State and Federal agency partners
Control:
Know the species’ life cycle!!!
Mechanical
Pulling, Digging
Cutting, Mowing
Chemical (herbicide application)
On foliage
On cut stems or stumps
Photo: MDEQ
Photo: MDEQ
Control:
Prescribed Burns
Appropriate for prairie/meadow ecosystem to
remove woody vegetation
Need burn plan and burn permit
May stimulate some species
Photo: USFS
Control:
Biological Control
Species specific
Utilizes natural predators that are introduced
Photo: USFS
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
City of Caseville, Huron County, MI
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Cut-off Channel:
View to the East View to the West
Cut-off Channel:
At the water’s edge
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ogl-ais-guide-PhragBook-Email_212418_7.pdf
Phragmites Life Cycle:
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Phragmites Control Plan - Permitting
Obtain Certificate of Coverage for a general
permit: Aquatic Nuisance Control Activities for
Certain Non-Native Invasive Emergent Plants
$75 fee
Treatment map
List of adjacent property owners
Must submit application no later than August
15
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Notify the neighbors
Letters
Signage: Notice and
Treatment Map
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Applied glyphosate and imazapyr in September 2012
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Mowed\cleared dead vegetation in Nov/Dec 2012
Burned thatch
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Stockpiled soil/roots in an upland location
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
January 17, 2013
September 8, 2011
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Treatment Report, submitted no later than
November 30
Case Study: Pigeon River Drainage Improvements
Lessons Learned
A Great Lakes Shoreline Management
General Permit was not required for mowing
phragmites below the OHWM.
Don’t staple public notice signs to lathe
Aerial application, while expensive, is an
effective means of herbicide application
