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| Michigan Invasive Species Program | |
|---|---|
| Name | Michigan Invasive Species Program |
| Formation | 2000s |
| Type | State program |
| Headquarters | Lansing, Michigan |
| Region served | Michigan |
| Parent organization | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
Michigan Invasive Species Program is a statewide initiative coordinating natural resource protection and invasive species management in Michigan. The program partners with federal agencies, tribal governments, non‑profit conservation organizations, academic institutions, and local municipalities to address threats to Great Lakes ecosystems, terrestrial habitats, and agricultural resources. It integrates prevention, rapid response, control, monitoring, research, and public outreach across multiple jurisdictions.
The program operates within a regulatory and operational framework involving the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and collaborations with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It addresses aquatic invaders such as zebra mussel, quagga mussel, Asian carp species like bighead carp and silver carp, and plant pests including Phragmites australis and garlic mustard. The program also engages with tribal nations such as the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and partners with universities like Michigan State University and University of Michigan for applied research and extension.
Origins trace to early responses to sea lamprey impacts on Lake Michigan fisheries and federal programs following the construction of the Welland Canal and expansion of the Erie Canal shipping network. Legislative milestones include coordination after state statutes addressing injurious species and cooperation under interstate compacts like the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Early 21st‑century developments aligned with national initiatives such as the National Invasive Species Council and regional plans coordinated by the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Program evolution reflects shifting priorities responding to invasions of Eurasian watermilfoil, round goby, and emergent pathogens affecting oak wilt and other forest diseases.
Administration is centered in state agencies with formal roles for the Michigan Natural Resources Commission and advisory input from scientific bodies like the Michigan Invasive Species Advisory Council and university extension programs at MSU Extension. Enforcement activities coordinate with the Michigan State Police and county sheriff offices for compliance with state quarantine measures and with federal partners such as the United States Coast Guard for ballast water and boating regulations. Interagency task forces link to regional entities including the Great Lakes Commission and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Priority aquatic targets include zebra mussel, quagga mussel, Asian carp (bighead carp, silver carp), spiny water flea, sea lamprey, and invasive plants like Phragmites australis, Eurasian watermilfoil, and hydrilla. Terrestrial and forest threats include emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, gypsy moth, and pathogens such as oak wilt and Phytophthora ramorum. Agricultural and horticultural pests of concern include brown marmorated stink bug and invasive weeds regulated under state noxious weed lists. The program assesses vectors including commercial shipping via the St. Lawrence Seaway, recreational boating on the Great Lakes, trade in live organisms, and overland transport along corridors such as Interstate 75 and US Highway 31.
Strategies emphasize prevention through regulations on ballast water coordinated with the United States Coast Guard and state statutes, decontamination protocols at boat launches modeled after guidance from the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, and inspections at ports and marinas. Rapid response frameworks draw on incident command structures used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to contain emergent invasions, with mechanical, chemical, and biological control tools guided by research from Michigan State University, NOAA Fisheries, and the USDA Forest Service. Restoration projects often coordinate with land trusts like the Michigan Nature Association and conservation NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy.
Monitoring systems integrate citizen science platforms and institutional surveys, linking datasets from the Great Lakes Information Network, the United States Geological Survey, and university research programs at University of Michigan and Wayne State University. Data standards follow protocols from the National Biological Information Infrastructure and reporting to national inventories maintained by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Molecular surveillance, including environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, is deployed in collaboration with laboratories at Michigan State University and federal labs to detect Asian carp and other cryptic invaders.
Outreach campaigns deploy messaging coordinated with partners such as the Michigan Sea Grant, the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network, and county extension offices to promote practices like "Clean, Drain, Dry" at recreational access points. Educational programming engages K–12 initiatives through partnerships with the Michigan Department of Education and nonprofit educators including Master Naturalist programs and nature centers like Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Ella Sharp Museum. Communication strategies use multilingual materials for communities in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and tribal territories, and leverage media outlets including public radio stations and local newspapers.
Funding is a mix of state appropriations, federal grants from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, USDA, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and private foundation support from organizations like the Crawlspace Foundation and regional philanthropic entities. Key partnerships include collaboration with the Great Lakes Commission, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, municipal governments of Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids, tribal governments, academic partners (Michigan State University, University of Michigan), and conservation NGOs including The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.
Category:Environment of Michigan Category:Invasive species