MM-CISMA Celebrates Two Years of Partnerships!

by Erin Jarvie, Regional Invasive Species Coordinator, Ingham Conservation District

Since 2016, the Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) has been working to increase the capacity to manage invasive species by providing resources and assistance to partner organizations and citizens to prevent, detect, and control invasive species in Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, and Ionia counties. So far, Mid-Michigan CISMA accomplishments include:
 

• CISMA and partner organization treatments (chemical and mechanical) that addressed CISMA-priority species of black swallow-wort, Japanese knotweed, invasive phragmites, and other invasive species of interest by CISMA partners, totaling almost 400 acres, including a full lake treatment for Eurasian watermilfoil
• CISMA education and outreach events and presentations that reached over 9400 people directly, and newsletters, articles, social media, and a billboard campaign reached over 1,118,300 people in total
• Six AIS Mobile Boat Wash/Landing Blitz events held in Ingham, Clinton, and Ionia counties that reached over 150 recreationists about aquatic invasive species and washing 45 boats/canoes
• Three Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer training sessions and CBCW online modules that trained 36 people in the program
• CISMA municipal invasive species trainings, with four events that trained 58 participants in 2017 and 84 participants in 2018
• Promotion of statewide programs such as Reduce Invasive Pet and PLant Escapes (RIPPLE), Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch and Eyes on the Forest, as well as national invasive species programs including PlayCleanGo, Backyard Bark Beetles, and Don’t Move Firewood
   
  The Mid-Michigan CISMA has grown to a partnership of over 30 local organizations working together on invasive species issues while promoting sustainability and creating structure for the CISMA. Any organization interested in invasive species management, education, and outreach within the four-county area is invited to become a Mid-Michigan CISMA partner organization. Together, we can spread the word, not the species! Please contact the Regional Invasive Species Coordinator via email to erin.jarvie@macd.org for more information. The Mid-Michigan CISMA is funded in part by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program through the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural Development.