Emerald Ash Borer Control

Check out this excellent video about Emerald Ash Borer infestations by the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University. We unfortunately have a large infestation in Midland County, including ash trees at Chippewa Nature Center. For more information about the City of Midland's recent efforts to fight this invasive parasite, visit their website here.

Come Pull Garlic Mustard!

Everyone is invited to help control invasive exotic plants at the Nature Center. We will focus on pulling garlic mustard, a very aggressive plant invading our woodland understory that can crowd out spring beauty, Dutchman's breeches and trillium. Our objective is to remove garlic mustard from especially sensitive areas before it completely takes over. We'll meet at the Temporary Visitor Center then tromp off to the woods to begin our work. Gloves will be provided. If weather conditions are unfavorable the cleanup will be canceled. Please call Phil Stephens at 631-0830 if you plan to come.


You can come to one or both sessions:

May 1 (Saturday) 10 a.m. to Noon
May 5 (Wednesday) 4 to 6 p.m.

Emerald Ash Borer Fight Continues

Two press releases in the same month! When this came in, however, we just couldn't resist. It details the most current effort to halt the destructive spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Michigan. Only time will tell if any Ash trees survive the onslaught of this invasive insect. EAB activity has been discovered at several places now at Chippewa Nature Center including the Wetlands Area, Bicentennial Forest and most recently in the Sugarbush.


Federal funds will help efforts to slow the emerald ash borer invasion in Michigan and beyond


EAST LANSING, Mich. -- All ash trees in North America could eventually be lost to the emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic pest from Asia first discovered in Michigan and Canada in 2002. At least 15 native ash species appear to be threatened by this invasive pest. In economic terms, scientists have estimated that at least $10.7 billion will likely be spent over the next 10 years simply to protect some of the ash trees in landscapes. That figure does not include the costs of widespread mortality of the ash trees that grow in forests and along streams, ditches and roads.

In an effort to develop strategies for managing recent infestations of EAB, state and federal forest specialists and researchers have been awarded $2.2 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for a pilot project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project, called SLAM, is designed to SL.ow A.sh M.ortality.

“The goals of the pilot project are to test ways to slow the rate of EAB population growth in a relatively isolated infestation,” says Deborah McCullough, Michigan State University (MSU) forest entomologist. “We may also be able to reduce the rate of spread of an EAB population in this kind of setting. Both of these goals will slow down the rate at which EAB kills ash trees within and beyond the project area.”

John Bedford, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) EAB project director, noted that the ARRA funding will help provide much-needed dollars to accomplish the goals of the project. “The strategies being developed can be used as models for other states that discover new EAB infestations, as well,” he says. “To date, EAB has been found in 13 states and Canada. We need to develop strategies that lower the overall impact of this pest.”

In addition to MSU and MDA, Michigan Technological University (MTU), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), the U.S. Forest Service and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are working cooperatively to do ash tree inventory and mapping, evaluate ash tree survival and death within EAB-infested areas, develop methods to use insecticides and explore other strategies to reduce EAB populations. The SLAM pilot project will be conducted in Mackinac, Delta, Schoolcraft and Houghton counties.

The ARRA money is critical in getting the work done for this project, according to Andrew Storer, forest insect ecologist at MTU. “Much of the work needed for the pilot project is labor intensive,” he said. “We need people out in the field to set up traps and trap trees, survey ash trees and assess forest health. In all, 38 full- and part-time jobs are being created or maintained with the ARRA dollars allocated to the SLAM pilot project.”

In addition, scientists at MSU and MTU will be analyzing data and developing models to help evaluate and plan program activities, and a communications specialist will keep the public informed on the project’s progress. Funds will also be used for the equipment and supplies.

Specialists from MDA and DNRE also play key roles in developing plans for monitoring EAB and for surveying ash across the project areas. The DNRE will be working with the communities of St. Ignace, Manistique, Calumet and Houghton in an effort to respond proactively to possible EAB infestations.

“The ARRA funding will not only benefit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’s forest resource, but the discoveries made during this pilot project will create a useful model to follow in other areas in the country where invasive insect species threaten our forests and woodlands,” Bob Heyd of the DNRE says.

The ARRA was passed by Congress in 2009 to create new jobs as well as save existing ones, spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic growth, and foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending. For more information about EAB and the SLAM pilot project, go to http://www.emeraldashborer.info/. For more information on ARRA, go to http://www.recovery.gov/.

Can we stop Asian Carp?

The Great Lakes are one of the natural wonders of the world and a treasure for us all. In Michigan, we depend on this largest freshwater system in the world for drinking water, food, transportation, recreation and unparalleled scenic beauty. In spite of their critical importance to all life, the Lakes have been heavily impacted by people throughout the past century. Water pollution and the introduction of invasive exotic species (such as Zebra Mussels and Sea Lampreys) have dramatically affected water quality, plant and animal life.

One of the newest threats facing the Great Lakes is the possible invasion of Asian Carp from the Mississippi River system. These fish grow up to 100 pounds and eat up to 40% of their body weight each day, devastating native ecosystems. Last December, DNA testing found that Asian Carp were in the Chicago River within a few miles of Lake Michigan (though no fish were found) and the barrier designed to keep them out may have been breached. One way to help prevent the invasion of these fish into Lake Michigan is to close the system of locks that connect the river to the lake, a move long-championed by environmental groups. With the support of Governor Granholm, Michigan's Attorney General, Mike Cox filed a lawsuit designed to force the closing of the locks. Since then, the states of New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and the Province of Ontario have joined the fight.

On January 19, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Michigan's request for a special injunction to immediately close the shipping locks on the Chicago River. It did not, however, rule on the separate request to reopen other court cases dating back from the 1920s dealing with water diversion from the Lake. Also in January, Federal officials said revealed that Asian carp DNA had been found for the first time in the lake at Calumet Harbor in Illinois. More testing is scheduled to occur in nearby Indiana waters this spring.

On January 21, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Dave Camp introduced legislation to the U.S. Congress in a new attempt to stop Asian Carp. Senator Stabenow's letter to constiuents about their actions read, in part:

Today, I introduced the CARP ACT in the U.S. Senate. This bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to construct additional barriers and immediately close the locks between the Chicago waterway and Lake Michigan to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. Congressman Dave Camp (R-Michigan) has also introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives...

I have been working to ensure that federal and state experts have all the tools they need to protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp, and so far, the efforts have been very successful. However, the recent announcements by scientists are a troubling development that requires an urgent response. Therefore, the bills that Congressman Camp and I introduced call for immediate action to:

Immediately close the barriers and locks into the Great Lakes

Expedite the installation of interim barriers in rivers where no barriers currently exist

Enhance existing barriers and monitoring systems to prevent fish from crossing into the Great Lakes

Grant full authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to eradicate the Asian carp and prevent them from entering the Great Lakes.

Is it already too late to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes? If not, acting swiftly seems to be the only chance we have to stop Asian Carp from invading our Lakes. To learn more about this issue and to sign an online petition in support of Michigan's lawsuit, visit: http://stopasiancarp.com/

Meandering down the River

Each year, Chippewa Nature Center offers a variety of programs designed for people to experience our local rivers. When you hop in a kayak or canoe and float down the current, you're quickly reminded how everything is literally connected to one another. Pollution upstream on the Pine River in the 1970s still affects all of us downstream today. Exotic species such as sea lamprey and carp have traveled up waterways and now live in our rivers. Plants such as Eurasian Water Milfoil grow in the river and Dame's Rocket, while beautiful, blankets the riverbanks and chokes out native vegetation. While it can be easy to focus on problems, riding the river gives us a chance to relax and experience nature at its own pace. Birds such as kingfishers, herons, ducks and eagles call our rivers home. Especially at dusk and dawn, mink and muskrat, deer and raccoons are commonly seen by quiet paddlers. Turtles and fish swim beneath you and insects, such as dragonflies and damselflies, alight with gossamer wings on your bow. If you see trash in the river, stop and scoop it up. CNC conducts a River Cleanup Workday each July, but you don't have to wait for us! While we'd love you to join us, every little act of kindness towards Mother Earth benefits all her creatures. Why not plan a river trip today and see how YOU can make a difference!

Earth Day for Everyone

The idea for Earth Day in the United States originated with Gaylord Nelson, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, in 1969. Senator Nelson envisioned a day which would become an "environmental teach-in" to promote human health and to safeguard the natural environment. About 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. This was an era before many of the environmental controls we enjoy today were in place. Rivers caught fire, Lake Erie was "dead" and DDT was poisoning wildlife. Also in 1970, President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Air Act was strengthened. In 1972, the EPA banned DDT, the Clean Water Act was passed and the U.S. and Canada pledged together to clean up the Great Lakes. While we've come a long way since then, old and new threats to our environment are still evident everywhere. On the first Earth Day, no one had ever heard the phrase "Global Warming" and Emerald Ash Borers, Zebra Mussels and many other invasive species still hadn't invaded our ecosystems. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems facing our world. At the same time, it's very important to remember that we live on an amazing planet, filled with grace and beauty! In that spirit, take time out this Earth Day to enjoy the natural wonders around you. Sit in your yard, go for a walk around the block or come to Chippewa Nature Center! This year, you can enjoy a special Earth Day Hike in the woods to take in the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Naturalist Karen Breternitz will lead this 1½ hour hike and talk about the trees, wildflowers and fungi that are getting ready for their busy season. For information about this and other Nature Center programs, just check out our website. Happy Earth Day!

The Garlic Mustard Blues

The middle of April marks the beginning of the woodland wildflower season. Soon, native flowers such as Large-flowered Trillium, Dutchman's Breeches, Bloodroot and Lady's Slipper will grace the forest floor. High above, trees are just starting to leaf out and the world is turning green again. If you look closely, you'll find that much of the spring green we see nowadays wasn't there twenty years ago. In recent decades, Garlic Mustard, an invasive exotic species from Europe, has swept like wildfire through America's woodland habitats. In some areas (such as large portions of CNC), a dense blanket of garlic mustard grows so thick and tall it chokes out most other native species, including tree seedlings. The problem has gotten so bad, in fact, that some land managers are calling Garlic Mustard one of the most harmful and difficult to control invasive plants in our region. The plants reproduce very rapidly and actually emit chemicals into the soil to prevent other species from growing near them. Garlic Mustard control on Nature Center property consists of pulling the plant in target areas, such as in the Oxbow Woods, in order to prevent it from spreading. What can you do? First, get to know this prolific plant and make sure it doesn't grow in your yard at home! Next, consider joining the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Challenge 2009. Last year, the challenge sponsored events which recorded a whopping 128,470 pounds of garlic mustard pulled! This year there are many places to volunteer to help reach their new goal of 200,000 pounds! Learn more about the garlic mustard problem by watching this great video. After you do, head outside and pull! Garlic Mustard Identification and Control from Barbara Lucas on Vimeo.