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Hello, We are wondering, what other CISMAs around the state are doing / promoting to road and drain commissions for decontaminating their equipment? Are you enforcing this protocol? If so, how? What equipment is best used for mobile decontamination of mowers / excavators / trucks? Have there been any suggestions to make this practice easier to implement so it is widely adopted? Thanks, McKenzi - Last week
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Common type of Mint?
Katie Grzesiak replied to Amos Ziegler's topic in What is it? Species Identification Help
Mints are hard! Check out https://www.michiganflora.net/genus.aspx?id=Mentha for true mints, and https://www.michiganflora.net/family.aspx?id=Lamiaceae for the whole mint family. You can also reach out to your local MSU Extension and/or Master Gardener program for help. If it does end up being something you want to keep, I'd suggest keeping it in a container to help save your other herbs. Avoid putting clippings in the compost, as this can spread the plant in your garden or in natural areas. -
Common type of Mint?
Byron replied to Amos Ziegler's topic in What is it? Species Identification Help
Yes. Thanks! This volunteered in my raised bed garden next to my basil, marjoram, and rosemary to the point of crowding them. Wondering if it is usable and for what or if I should remove. -
Byron joined the community
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Have a homeowner trying to determine the type of Mint this is.
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A brain-invading parasite has made nearly 100 people sick in Hawaii in the last decade. How worried should health officials be? View the full article -
Thanks, Katie! We're going to do at least some initial tests for Michigan to confirm the types we have. The DNA tests might also be able to tell us how many separate introductions/populations there are, which might be helpful. I'm hoping we can have this straightened out soon so that we would be able to verify the correct variety for anyone participating in the biocontrol study.
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DNA tests on knotweed
Katie Grzesiak replied to Erica Clites's topic in Terrestrial Invasive Species
No DNA tests that I know of in Michigan, but I was very heartened by a study shared at UMISC last year. Presented by John Gaskin (et al.) of the USDA and focusing on knotweed populations in the Pacific Northwest, the nutshell was that managers are pretty darn good at IDing the difference between Japanese, giant, and Bohemian knotweeds. He had folks send in samples and their guesses, and I don't remember the exact error rate, but it was REALLY low, to the point where he joked, "I guess you guys know your stuff!" Other people named in the study included Mark Schwarzlaender (U Idaho), Fritzi Grevstad (Oregon SU), Marijka Haverhals (U Idaho), Rober Bourchier (Ag & AgriFood Canada), and Timothy Miller (Washington SU). We have mainly Bohemian and giant knotweed (though I expect we'll find that we do have SOME Japanese if we look more closely) here in ISN's area, and we haven't noticed much of a difference in efficacy; they all die well in the first year of treatment (50-90%), then hang on bit by bit for the next few years, like mean jerks. I think this may be very different for the biocontrol study, however. -
Thank you!
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Thanks for coordinating and promoting the Mobile Boat Wash events, McKenzi!
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Erick Elgin and I are are teaching an intensive 2-day Aquatic Plant Identification course at Kellogg Biological Station, August 7-8. We'll cover native and invasive aquatic plants, with time split between lab and field. Cost: $250. Limited to 20 people. Register by August 2. We hope you can join us!
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I just shared this on the Michigan Inland Lakes Partnership's social media (FB/Twitter). Hope you get a great turnout!
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Hi all, Has anyone done DNA tests on knotweed to determine whether it is Japanese, Bohemian or Giant? I'm working with an Oakland University professor on this and just curious if anyone has tried it before in Michigan. Let me know if so! Also curious once we determine which varieties are present in our area whether the treatment effectiveness may vary depending on the variety. Any insights appreciated, thanks!
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Michigan State University Extension seeks a Water Resources Educator. The successful candidate will dedicate 50% of their time to implementing and expanding Michigan's RIPPLE (Reduce Invasive Pet and Plant Escapes) program, which aims to prevent introductions of aquatic invasive species from the pet and pond trades (http://bit.ly/miripple). Additional responsibilities will include developing, conducting, and evaluating innovative educational programs that meet current and projected needs with an emphasis on aquatic ecosystem protection and management. Location: Ingham County (Lansing area). Visit http://careers.msu.edu, search for posting number 585204. Application deadline: July 10. Master's degree required. -
Have you seen Jumping worm?
Erica Clites replied to Renee Zimmerman's topic in Terrestrial Invasive Species
Hi Renee, I'm not sure about management, but have you talked with Scott Tiegs of Oakland University about jumping worms? He's done some research on them. -
Some folks were interested in what to plant after removing garlic mustard, so we put this together. If it helps your landowners, please use it! GM replacement.pdf
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Hello all, One of our fantastic FAP Foresters (Dr. Josh Shields) did a (very very small) experiment on the efficacy of "over the counter" herbicides on autumn olive cut-stump and basal bark efforts. The results are attached here, but the short version is, some formulations work pretty well! He wants me to note that the sample size is FAR too small to be scientifically significant, but he's chatting with some university friends to see if they'd pick it up into a full-fledged study. He also notes this is probably fine for small homeowner projects where expertise is low, but that if someone was working with NRCS cost-share or the like, the real-deal BMPs would be the best bet. MCD-Shields cut-stump results.pdf
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Crown Vetch
Fallon Januska replied to Shelby Bauer's topic in Best Management Practices (BMP) and Treatment
Hi Shelby, I have not done treatment on crown vetch, but if glyphosate isn't working I would try triclopyr. https://www.entm.purdue.edu/iisc/pdf/plants/more/crown_vetch.pdf -
Knotweed miracle?
Elise Desjarlais replied to Elise Desjarlais's topic in Terrestrial Invasive Species
I'm not sure that this stand would follow some of the necessary conditions for a "retreat" - though that's something I actually hadn't heard of yet! We have no record of treatment here through the CISMA, and she still maintains that she's never given any permission for treatment to another entity. I hope there's not rogue treatments happening, that's not cool! I've let her know to keep me posted and if/when any sprouts come up to give me a ring, so we're keeping an eye on it. Still fascinating to see! -
Hello again! I have another request for information on managing crown vetch. This particular property has had an herbicide treatment done a couple of years ago using glyphosate (the property is on the shore of a lake so must be an aquatic approved herbicide) and now the vetch is back again. Hand pulling or mowing isn't really an option because the rhizomes are growing under cement and a lot of the plants are growing in between rock piles. What do others recommend for crown vetch management?
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Leafy Spurge Management
Shelby Bauer replied to Shelby Bauer's topic in Best Management Practices (BMP) and Treatment
Thank you Katie, I'll pass on the info! -
I am reaching out to my fellow CISMA people to hear about unique games or activities that have been successful in engaging specific audiences. I've seen a corn-hole type game where the bags represent seeds of native/invasive plants and the board is fertile soil. I've considered trivia-style activities for more adult groups. I've also debated modifying a "Plinko" style game to engage people but the educational relationship seems forced. Two creative classroom activities I've stumbled upon are: https://bb.myips.org/cms/lib8/IN01906626/Centricity/Domain/8123/Invasive_Species_Game_Lesson.pdf and http://kbsgk12project.kbs.msu.edu/blog/2012/03/19/invasive-species-game/ I feel it is sometimes a struggle to balance educational with interesting. If anyone has any ideas or recommendations I would love to hear them! Thanks.
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I have not seen in personally but I know that it is wise to assume that it might come back. Just as Nor said, a strong stressor can cause a temporary retreat for a year or two (there are reports of a three year retreat in the UK). I would also inspect last years growth for signs of infection that may have aided. Or Perhaps someone came in and treated without the homeowner knowing? This is interesting indeed. Studying the oddballs are always interesting and sometimes key to finding new tactics. Please keep us posted!
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lharrison joined the community
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That's crazy! I've heard in some cases that knotweed will "retreat" if it faces a large stress, not sprouting for a year or two. Could this have been the case? However, the only cases I've seen this in were really harsh mid-spring freezes, and after treatment. Unfortunately, the knotweed usually springs back up a few years later, sometimes a short distance away. Has anyone else seen this happen?
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Leafy Spurge Management
Katie Grzesiak replied to Shelby Bauer's topic in Best Management Practices (BMP) and Treatment
Hi Shelby, ISN's management is mainly working with Road Commissions to mow when it first starts flowering (now/a week ago) to prevent spreading by seed. That said, in a past life with the Park Service I used the herbicide Plateau (imazapic) to great effect; took a year or two (small patch), but left the grasses alone. It's not aquatic-approved. We use Plateau here at the Boardman River Nature Center to keep spurge out of the gardens, but don't do any larger-scale treatments.
