Invasive Species are Getting an Update in Shawano and Menominee Counties

As of at least 2014, both Shawano and Menominee Counties have had an Invasive Species Management plan (ISMP). These plans provide a structured and strategic approach to manage, maintain, and prevent potential new invasive species within the counties. To ensure compliance and proper implementation, ISMP’s are written in partnership with several organizations that do conservation work throughout the counties. Some of these partners for the counties include, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), Land Conservation departments from both counties (SLCD & MLCD), and Timberland Invasives Partnership (TIP). When working together, these regional partners with the help of local partners can produce the utmost efficacy in preventing the spread of and maintaining invasive species.

As with all environmental problems, invasive species are variable in their response to control. Some can be eradicated with only a few years of work whereas others can remain persistent after several years of control and maintenance. This variability and constant change brings about reason to update the known populations of invasive species within the counties as well as methods of control, maintenance, and monitoring. This important aspect is written into both ISMP’s for Shawano and Menominee.

With the new year coming up, there are several partners currently planning and indeed already making updates on the plans to be implemented in 2019. Of the partners there is a new partnership that is making a splash in the area. Connecting Our Waters (COW) is a project of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance (FWWA) in partnership with the Waterways Association of Menominee and Shawano Counties (WAMSCO). COW brings two new positions to the area; A Watershed Coordinator (Emily Henrigillis) and an Aqautic Invasive Species Coordinator (Brady Stockwell). Both positions have already made an impact in the area and will continue to provide organized efforts to restore and conserve the waterways of Shawano and Menominee Counties. COW has partnered up with existing orginizations such as Shawano LCD, Menominee LCD, and TIP to begin organizing and updating the ISMP’s of both counties. Several things need to be reviewed and discussed before a final draft of an updated ISMP can be implemented, however small changes can be made and followed during the process. A few updates to note include the following; Updates of existing partners and organizations in the region as well as new organizations that may be interested in invasive species prevention; Existing populations of current invasive species in the region and new populations that have since arisen; New methods of control and prevention that were not as accessible or non-existent in past years.

Overall, the environmental organizations in the Shawano and Menominee region are continuously working to advance and progress efforts not only in invasive species work but, conservation as a whole. With your support we can all work together to make our beloved natural resources pristine and available to future generations. Feel free to contact any aforementioned organizations at the links below to see how you can help. Thank you for taking the time to read and happy holidays.