Winter 2011
According to the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, an invasive is "any species, including seeds, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species . . . not native to that ecosystem, whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health."
Beaver Island has some of the highest quality natural areas in the State of Michigan and is ranked as one of the most biologically diverse islands in the Great Lakes, but invasive species if not controlled can change the natural diversity of our islands – and our economy. To attract visitors and new residents, we need to display our natural resources in their best invasive-free environment.
Right now there are less than a dozen invasive species on the Island, some a bigger problem than others. One of the worst, Phragmites, has been controlled by early identification and rapid response with support of the Michigan DNRE, townships, and private property owners, coordinated by the townships' Phragmites Administrator, Jacque LaFreniere. But we can't stop with Phragmites. New to the Island are European Swamp Thistle and Japanese Knotweed. In the next 20 years, Beech Bark Disease in our forests is predicted to kill 80% of our Beech trees. Thankfully, the Emerald Ash Borer has not been introduced to Beaver Island, and isolation from the mainland may make our Ash trees a future visitor attraction, since elsewhere in the Midwest they may be seen only in text books. Kevin McDonough's Ash tree stump at the boat dock with a notice to not transport firewood to Beaver Island is an example of effective individual attempts to protect our Island's forests.
We need to be vigilant to prevent or eliminate species that could forever alter Island ecosystems, including inland lakes, because once invasive species are entrenched it is sometimes impossible to restore habitat. The community must work together to keep Beaver Island as we know it. Here are some things you can do personally to protect your property and Island ecosystems:
- Continue to read local publications and visit BIA's website to learn about invasive species on the Island, and spread the word if you find one.
- Plant only native species; be sure plants you bring to the island aren't invasives; if transferring plants, remove most of the soil from the roots.
- Identify and control strange plants on your property that spread from original boundaries; web-search invasive species; visit www.invasive.org, or www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov.
- Use our access to Michigan Natural Features Inventory staff and other botanists to assist in plant identification.
- Clean boat or leave out of water four days before taking it to another body of water and don't release fish, plants, live bait or other exotics into the wild.
- For more information or questions, please feel free to call me or email mcgrass@ameritech.net
- or click on this link for much more information about Phragmites, http://www.glc.org/ans/pdf/GLC%20Non-native%20Phragmites%20Fact%20Sheet_Nov%202010.pdf
-Pam Grassmick
