Jump to content
Michigan's Invasive Species Community

Jo Latimore

Full Members
  • Posts

    35
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Jo Latimore

  1. Hi everyone, We still have some dates available for bringing one of the MSU/DEQ Mobile Boat Wash units to your area! The units and crews of 2 trained MSU students are available at no cost to provide free boat washes, aquatic invasive species information and handouts to boaters *ANYWHERE* in Michigan. Learn more here. You can contact me directly to set something up: latimor1@msu.edu, 517-432-1491. The last date for events is August 13. -Jo
  2. You may be interested in this free webinar, open to all, highlighting citizen programs for aquatic invasive species prevention and monitoring in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. I'll be speaking briefly about the development of Michigan's inland lake Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch. January 18, 2017 - 3-4 pm Eastern. More information and registration here.
  3. Hi everyone, I wanted to reiterate the various resources, programs, and support that are available for aquatic invasive species efforts in Michigan. I mentioned many of these programs at the MISC conference earlier this month. There are certainly more, I'm sure - feel free to mention other resources in a reply! The Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch, part of the volunteer Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, engages volunteers in surveying for invasives in inland lakes. About 80 lakes have participated since the program began. The EAPW represents an excellent opportunity to partner with lakefront property owners for EDRR. This video describes the program and provides identification guidance for four target species: Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort, Hydrilla, and curly-leaf pondweed. EAPW volunteers also survey for Michigan watch list species. I can help connect CISMAs and other organizations with volunteers on lakes in your service area if you are interested in collaboration. Anyone - not just lakefront property owners - can participate in the program. A key resource for that program is "A Michigan Boater's Guide to Selected Invasive Aquatic Plants" from MSU Extension. It's available as a free PDF download, or for purchase online ($10; MSU Extension county staff may be able to provide a quantity discount). RIPPLE (Reduce Invasive Pet and PLant Escapes) outreach materials are available at no cost for preventing the release of aquatic plants and animals from water gardens, ponds, and aquariums. Orders can be placed online using this form. The Mobile Boat Wash program offered by MSU in cooperation with DEQ and the US Forest Service will again be available in summer 2017, at no cost to local hosts. Contact me if you would like to schedule this aquatic invasive species outreach program for boaters in your service area. Beth Clawson of MSU Extension oversees the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, a train-the-trainer program for empowering local volunteers to conduct their own boater education to stop aquatic hitchhikers. Finally, the Michigan Inland Lakes Partnership is looking for input on how we can help CISMAs address aquatic invasive species. I'm the facilitator - so feel free to contact me with ideas or questions. Please reply here or contact me directly with any questions or ideas. -Jo latimor1@msu.edu 517-432-1491
  4. MSU Extension Extension Educator – Michigan Sea Grant – Saginaw/Bay area Position Overview Michigan Sea Grant, a cooperative program of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, helps to foster economic growth and conserve Michigan's coastal and Great Lakes resources through education, research, and outreach. Sea Grant Extension educators are involved in planning, organizing, and implementing university-based educational programs that apply knowledge and understanding gained through research, and are members of the MSU Extension Greening Michigan Institute. Extension educators support Great Lakes stakeholders with information and tools to make informed decisions to conserve and enhance Michigan's coastal and Great Lakes resources and communities. Michigan Sea Grant Extension seeks to hire an Extension Educator, to be part of a collaborative team and provide overall leadership for the Saginaw Bay region, and sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues in other parts of the state, Great Lakes region and nation. This person will collaborate with other partners to support activities related to the conservation of Saginaw Bay coastal wetlands and nearshore habitats for water quality and fish and wildlife populations and a vibrant coastal economy. Also, the educator will engage in applied research and Sea Grant Extension activities that contribute to the sustainability of Lake Huron and its coastal communities. Specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to): · Enhance the stewardship of freshwater coastal wetlands, water quality, fish, wildlife, and nearshore habitats within Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, and the Great Lakes Ecosystem by working with natural resources agencies and other stakeholders to identify informational gaps and work to develop, conduct, and evaluate education and outreach; · Build and maintain a network of contacts interested in natural resource issues related to land-water interactions and facilitate better communication and interactions between stakeholders, including working with a variety of stakeholder groups that often have competing visions for the region, and pursuing additional resources that supplement Sea Grant/MSU Extension programming support; · Collaborate with coastal communities and other interested stakeholders on community planning, watershed management, and coastal community resiliency to promote best practices; · Additional responsibilities outlined in position announcement, please see the Application Process below, for further information regarding the posting. Qualifications · Master's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to freshwater coastal wetlands, fisheries or wildlife ecology, water quality, land use, planning, natural resources, or related field must be earned by date of hire; · 3-years’ experience in Extension program delivery or demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years preferred); · Proven ability to create and carry-out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up; · Experience with marketing/promotion of educational programs; · Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills; · Experience and proven ability working productively with a team; Application Process Applicants should include the names and contact information (including email addresses) of four professional references with the cover letter. Parties interested in this position should go to www.jobs.msu.edu and search for posting number 4076. Application deadline, open until filled. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.
  5. Hello everyone, MSU has two Mobile Boat Wash units with trained crews that are available for boater education events statewide this summer - for free. If you are interested in partnering on a boater education event in your area this summer, please contact me for more details, including available dates. Our season runs through mid-August. I've attached a flyer with more information. This program is in its third year, and represents a successful partnership between MSU, DEQ, and the US Forest Service. So far, we've washed hundreds of boats and talked with thousands of boaters and anglers about aquatic invasive species, answered questions, and demonstrated good cleaning practices. Happy summer! Jo Boat wash flyer 2016_FINAL.pdf
  6. Sharing on behalf of the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly: AIS Education Coordinator – The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly is seeking an independent contractor to lead Aquatic Invasive Species Education and operate boat pressure washer, for April-Sept. 2016, maximum 520 hours @ $15/hr. Must be motivated/dependable. Responsible for aquatic invasive species (AIS) activities in the Roscommon Co. area. Coordinator will recruit, train and organize volunteers in operating portable boat washing equipment, conduct education/outreach. Requires a reliable truck large enough to tow wash equipment. Preferably with trailer brake. For information, contact the MRWA at chambj16@ferris.edu . Email resume/references. MRWA is an EEO employer. http://mrwa.org/2016/04/wanted-aquatic-invasive-species-education-coordinator/
  7. Did you know that Michigan has a statewide, volunteer aquatic invasive plant monitoring program for inland lakes? The Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch is a component of the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program. The DEQ recently released this video (co-starring me - yikes!) that describes the program, gives identification tips for focus species, and provides an overview of the mapping and reporting process. We're looking forward to integrating with MISIN in the coming months. I'd be happy to provide more information on the program for anyone who is interested.
  8. I'll add that ANYONE who is interested in the Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch training at the Convention is welcome to attend. We'll show you how to identify and survey for some of the most troublesome invasive aquatic plants (for our program, that's curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort, and Hydrilla). If you just attend the training (and not the rest of the Convention), you are not required to pay the registration fee. Contact me with any questions. We recently worked with DEQ to develop a short video about the Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch, if you'd like to know more.
  9. Thanks for posting this, Kevin! We received quite a few applications. Now it's time to review them!
×
×
  • Create New...