The Battle with Invasive SpeciesAround Walloon Lake

The Battle with INVASIVE SPECIES

Around Walloon Lake

By Jac Talcott, Watershed Stewardship Coordinator

For decades, the Walloon Lake watershed has fallen victim to invasive plant species that plague the entire Northern Michigan area. Invasive species, or “invasives,” are defined as organisms that are not native and cause harm to their surrounding environment. Many organizations and residents dedicate large amounts of funding and time every year to fight the spread of these aggressive species. However, the true key to winning this battle is by increasing the knowledge of invasives in our community so we can learn to identify and remove these plants before they settle in. Let's take a moment to learn about our most common invasive species and what must be done to prevent their spread around the Walloon watershed.

Ornamental plants are the most common types of invasives around Walloon Lake. For the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy (WLAC), the three most abundant species we deal with are Autumn Olive, Japanese Barberry, and Tartarian Honeysuckle. All three were first imported from Asia in the 19th century to be used as decorative lawn shrubs that emit wonderful garden smells. An aspect these importers failed to identify was the plants’ ability to produce massive amounts of seeds that are easily dispersed by birds.

When these plants reproduce they can create small, bushy infestations that can only be treated with mechanical tools and pesticide spray. If left unmanaged, they will become major infestations that cover acres of meadows and forests with impassable shrubs. This is the worst case scenario for wildlife and property owners alike as it typically takes years of aggressive management to remove and suppress the plants.

The WLAC’s land stewardship team has recently found major infestations in our Wildwood Harbor Nature Area and Howell-Zimmerman Preserve. Last fall, the WLAC worked with a restoration company to remove invasive infestations on these preserves. We will have to remain vigilant in future years to ensure the properties stay invasives free. Thank you to all of our volunteers who came out on Earth Day this spring to help identify and pull invasives on the Howell-Zimmerman Preserve.

To combat the resiliency of these different invasive species, the WLAC is working with CAKE CISMA, the regional invasive species management organization, to develop long-term management plans on these two properties. The treatment plan will include a mixture of chemical, mechanical, and biological methods that will require strategic timing and effort to continue fighting the invasives.

As we continue the war on these invaders of the Walloon Lake watershed, we need your assistance. Listed are a few of the different ways you can help us battle invasive species:

AUTUMN OLIVE

JAPANESE BARBERRY

TARTARIAN HONEYSUCKLE

BEFORE AFTER

1 Avoid purchasing plants that are not native to the Northern

Michigan area.

2 Check clothes and footwear for plant material prior to going on a hike to prevent spread.

3 If available, use boot brushes that are often placed at trailheads.

4 If you think you’ve found an invasive, take clear pictures of any flowers/leaves/stems and email it to wlac@walloon.org. 5 If you have identified an invasive plant, contact CAKE CISMA at 231-533-8363, ext. 5.