WESTERN PENINSULA INVASIVE COALITION (WePIC) IT IS ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIP! History….. The Western Peninsula Invasives Coalition formerly known as the Western Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area. WePIC was formed in 2006 when fourteen organizations that were interested in controlling non-native invasive species, came together to cover the Iron County, Gogebic County and the Ottawa National Forest. Hidden Picture: Gaining partners as we worked, in 2010 we added Can you find the Sue in Ontonagon County and changed the name. the Giant Knotweed? SERVING THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE UPPER PENINSULA Our goal is to control what is already here, and to prevent further spread into our area. By cooperating together, we can share resources and expertise across ownership and political boundaries to more efficiently manage invasive species. WePIC Partners cover over 2.6 million acres, including over 700 lakes, and 150 public boat launches. WePIC’s Federal & State Partners Iron Baraga Conservation District WePIC’s Regional, County, & Local Partners More WePIC Partners… Bass Lake Association, Iron Conservation District, Michigan Trails and Recreation Beaton Lake Riparian Association, Iron County Watershed Coalition, Alliance of Land and the Bergland Township, Iron Lake Property Owners Environment (Mi-TRALE), Bewabic State Park, Association, Ottawa National Forest, Chicagon Lake Association, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Perch Lake Owners Association, Cisco Chain Riparian Owners Superior Chippewa, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Association, Lac Vieux Desert Lake Association, State Park, Duck Lake Nuisance Aquatics, Lake Gogebic Improvement Runkle Lake Association, Fortune Lake Landowners , Association, Sunset Lake Association, Friends of Ice Lake (FOIL), Lake Gogebic State Park, Swan Lake Owners Association, Friends of Sylvania, Lake Mary Association, Upper Peninsula Resource Gogebic Conservation District, Langford Lake Riparian Owners Conservation & Development Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Association, Council (UPRC&D), Commission, Long Lake Property Owners USDA – Natural Resources Golden Lake Association, Association, Conservation Service Hagerman Lake Property Owners Many Waters LLC, USFS United States Forest Service, Association, Maplewood Timberland Assn., White Water Associates Inc., Invasive Species Control Coalition of Michigan Department of Natural Wintergreen Farm Watersmeet (ISCCW Lake Guards), Resources, Lynn Fleming of Lake Ellen, Michigan and Illinois took her interest with invasive species to a whole new level. Lynn went underground in her backyard in Illinois, and found a new invader! Jumping Worms. Now she works hard to keep WePIC Worker of the 2016 them away from the UP. Go WePIC!!! HOW CLOSE ARE THEY TO US IN the UP ? AMYNTHAS AGRESTIS Office: Lower Level WePIC is coordinated by the Iron County Courthouse Iron Baraga Conservation Crystal Falls, Michigan District. Our CISMA covers a three county area, but in whole we cover a four county area. Iron Baraga Conservation District and WePIC works with counties, local government and private landowners to address any issues they may have on land and in water. FUNDING FOR WePIC WORK IS PROVIDED BY: Grants Agreements Contracts Funding from a GLRI Agreement with the USFS has led to not just one but two portable boat washing units to serve Iron County, and the formation of a WePIC Weed Crew to serve Iron, Gogebic and Octagon Counties. Funding from the WE Energies Mitigation and Enhancement Fund has led to Watershed Invasive Mapping Control Work, and Training Events in Iron County. MISGP Grant funding has now allowed a multifaceted approach to invasive species identification, control and prevention. This project involves three key partners, and over 50 collaborators. From lakes to land, ATV trails to pet stores, we are working together to make an impact. On August 18th, Beth Clawson of MSU brought the Clean Boats Clean Waters “Train the Trainer Program” to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While many CISMA’s WePIC included have been involved in CBCW for at least five years, there has never been “Official” Training available in the UP before. WePIC holds around five trainings a season for CBCW from CISCO CHAIN training Lake Associations to Park Staff, to our own staff, we have RIPARIAN done it by the book. And I did mean by the book… OWNERS ASSOCIATION We loved having Beth Clawson here in the UP of MI. and we hope she comes back this way soon! Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz July 1st to July 10th 2016 Don’t Miss It! Clean Boats Clean Waters Our Clean Boats Clean Waters Program is five years strong, and we have CBCW staff that have been with us for more than three seasons. This year we received a second boat washer. People love to see a friendly face at the launch; and compliance is up to over 75%, and Iron Baraga Conservation District Boat Wash Staff washed 421 boats and passed the message to 7822 people at the launch and other places. Iron Baraga Conservation District held a record CBCW Training Classes in 2016, Eight so Far! Did you know that every summer WePIC’s Partner UPRC&D sends Hank Lotoszinski of MISIN fame to hold a MISIN approved training across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While we can not promise to always have Hank, we can promise that there are multiple MISIN mapping Workshops held by WePIC and other CISMA’s each year. Don’t have a GPS? Try the App! Take a Class! Summer brings field seasons and training time. This Aquatic Plant ID Workshop was held at Cowboy Lake; offered by our friends from Dickinson Conservation District and Wild River Invasive Species Coalition (WRISC) So many opportunity's to train volunteers and staff, build those partnerships! With the help of Rosie the Milfoiler, On June 21st, The Women of Iron County Lakes and Streams Partnership, taught “Aspiring Women” at Bewabic State Park, about the many threats that Aquatic Invasives pose to our lakes and streams. Prevention was key, as we flexed our zebra mussels, and shot our bleach solution bottles. As the shifts changed and more women wandered past out station…. The screams grew louder as we chanted: WE CAN DO IT ! WE CAN DO IT ! From our friends at Lake Ellen……… CLMP EXOTIC AQUATIC PLANT WATCH at Lake Ellen Angela DePalma and Erick Elgin from the Clean Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) trained Lake Ellen volunteers for the Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch (EAPW) on a rainy August morning. The Iron Baraga Conservation District was on site with their new boat washer and we picnicked on the shore so the usually quiet public landing was hopping with activity.. Lake Ellen Eurasian Watermilfoil ID & Hand Pulling Training The camp kids got into the act, and Thank you! Soon a competition Barb & Bill of Many Waters LLC! was born! The UPRC&D has been instrumental in controlling the Phragmities that has taken over many miles of lakefront in both inland and great lakes. This multiyear, multicounty project would not have happened, if not for Darcy Rutkowski of the UPRC&D. Darcy has coordinated many partners in her EPA and MISGP Project, and has helped Iron County along the way. Thank you! Ann Hurska of Dickinson Conservation District, Controlling Phragmities on Lake Ellen 2016 The Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MSLA) presented Perch Lake the Michigan Inland Lakes Riparian of the Year Award for 2016 Here is the containment field in place on Perch Lake For the past two years there has been a lot of activity out at Perch Lake in Iron County, Michigan. Jim Novitski has designed a new prevention device for Eurasian Watermilfoil. His system utilized a man made harbor of micro mesh to contain milfoil within the launch area. Time will tell if it will become a mainstream prevention, but it is looking good so far. Perch Lake, Iron County, Michigan Western Peninsula Invasive Coalition Multifaceted Invasive Management Project Western Peninsula Invasive Coalition Multifaceted Invasive Management Project Across Iron, Gogebic, and Ontonagon Counties staff and volunteers are in the middle of a two year MISGP Funded Project. Utilizing a multifaceted approach to prevent and mitigate the damaging effects of terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. This approach includes increasing volunteer participation in mapping and treating invasive species and expanding outreach through educational programs and activities to prevent the introduction and spread of invasives. We are using old ways with a new approach, and trying new things with old knowledge. Our goals are many, but we can accomplish many things, if we put our minds and bodies to work. WePIC MISGP Core Project Members Specializations & Experience Iron Baraga Conservation District 2 South 6th Street, Suite 15 Iron Baraga Conservation District Manager Crystal Falls, Michigan 49920 WePIC CISMA Coordinator (906) 875-3765 or (906) 367-1203 Grant Administrator, Pesticide Applicator, [email protected] Four+ years experience with many terrestrial Contact: Jennifer Ricker invasive species. Some experience with aquatics. Invasive Species Control Coalition of Watersmeet Chief Financial Officer for ISCCW Retired President of ISCCW PO BOX 725 Twenty-five+ years experience with aquatic Watersmeet, Michigan 49969 issues, Fifteen + years experience with aquatic (906) 544-2607 invasives, established a well rounded program [email protected] of prevention and control work with Eurasian Contact: Ken Wendt Watermilfoil utilizing mechanical, chemical and natural weapons. Friends of Sylvania PO BOX 6353 Senior Scientist Emeritus: Center for Climatic