Biodiversity Matters! Using Island Data to Inform Decision-making
Phyllis Higman Michigan Natural Features Inventory The Stewardship Network Conference, 1/17/20 Agenda
The island Project
Project Goals
Project Deliverables
Show and tell: ARCGIS application Project Goals
Assemble current state of knowledge about Michigan’s GL islands.
Provide more complete and current information to guide strategic implementation of actions at priority island locations.
Every Great Lakes basin plan has invasive species identified as a priority, but they all lack the tactical details to address them. Deliverables
Database of Spatial Attributes with metadata
Excel table of non-spatial resources - searchable
Categorized vector table for 93 species
Working lists of AIS/TIS currently on islands or likely to arrive and have significant impacts
ArcGIS application for Three Shores CISMA
MNFI Team: Helen Enander, Daria Hyde, Pete Badra, Kraig Korroch Steering Committee: EGLE, USFWS, DNR, including reps from the Core TIS/AIS Teams Deliverables
Preserving the Legacy of Michigan’s GL Islands
Examples of Prioritization Schemes
Case studies of Invasive Species Success Stories
Guidebook for Planning Invasive Species Action
Planning for Invasive Species Action on Les Cheneaux Islands Available at: https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/publications/reports Data Layers
Contact MNFI:
Helen Enander: [email protected]
Phyllis Higman: [email protected] Pop Quiz! How many spatial data sets did we gather?
178 primary spatial databases
23 secondary spatial databases related to vectors
Selected 112 suitable spatial databases
Created 189 columns of attributes for each island in the spatial database
Very few spatial resources met the criteria for ready mobilization How many islands are Michigan’s?
1709 island features 440 named islands • area 427,685 acres • area 425,950 acres (99.6%) • shoreline 1537 miles • shoreline 1323 miles (86%)
* Island complexes **included many navigational hazards What category has ownership of the most islands?
State Tribes Federal County NGO Private-Easement Local government Private Ownership
100% Non-private ownership: 747
State Game Area: 177
State Park: 55
NGO: 36 (probably incomplete)
University presence: 4
Largest private island: Big Saint Martin Island (821 acres) In Lake Huron, West of Les Cheneaux How many islands comprise 90% of the total island area? 14 islands (< 1%) make up 90% of island area Most are less than 1 acre in size. Top 14 islands by Area (in order)
1) Channel Island (Isle Royale) 8) Neebish Island 2) Drummond Island 9) Harsens Island 3) Beaver Island 10) South Manitou Island 4) Sugar Island 11) Grosse Isle 5) Bois Blanc Island 12) Garden Island 6) North Manitou Island 13) Marquette Island 7) Grand Island 14) High Island How many CISMAs have islands in their jurisdiction?
CISMA/CWMA Islands Acreage CAKE 69 48,480 Central Upper Peninsula 96 18,779 Detroit & Western Lake Erie 54 8,888 East Saginaw 268 2,310 Keweenaw ISMA 457 142,484 Lake St. Clair 33 12,475 Northeast Michigan 86 1.003 Northwest Michigan 9 24.176 Three Shore 637 169,090 How many islands have rare species or natural communities?
1970 total EO’s on islands
898 (53%) have EO’s
69 have federally listed plant or animal
Island EOs comprise 10% of total Michigan EOs, but islands are 1% of the total area of Michigan.
68% have not been surveyed in the last 20 years.
Surveys are one clear priority! Our challenge is to pick the right battles.
Thanks Ellen Jacquart and Suzan Campbell! Widespread awareness (many locations)
Detection (scattered locations)
Introduction Area invaded Area
Time Early detection- Prioritizing winnable battles. Prevention and response Control, contain, restore. To use this framework effectively, it is crucial to know:
What are you trying to protect? PLACES
Is the invader a real threat? SPECIES
What actions can we take? METHODS
Will that action be effective SUCCESS? long-term?
Thanks Ellen Jacquart! Northern Lake Michigan Islands Collaborative A shining example of using these data successfully! • collaboration of multiple interests • dedication • commitment • time – lots of it!
* intertwines social, economic & ecological factors The sum is greater than its parts! Every little action matters if it is documented! Zoom into Les Cheneaux area: https://www.michiganinvasives.org/managementareas/ https://www.michiganinvasives.org/docs/2019_ManagementAreaContactlist.pdf https://mnfi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9195a51ccc40ba81 286eea27174bf7
You are now the CISMA coordinator of Three Shores CISM - congrats! (Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce counties) Your job is to lay out a plan to begin dealing with invasive species for the Great Lakes islands in your jurisdiction. Remember, that’s 637 islands!