
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is planning a series of webinars on invasive species and how any state resident can help to prevent their spread this summer.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources invasive species spokesperson Joanne Foreman tells us the DNR, MDARD, and EGLE all team up to fight invasives. The NotMISpecies Webinar Series will explore how agencies, universities, and local groups are working together to protect Michigan’s natural resources through the Michigan Invasive Species Program.
“We’ve got programs that we highlight that people can get involved in here in Michigan,” Foreman said. “We’ve also got research that’s going on like the one that’s coming up on hydrilla.”
Hydrilla is an invasive aquatic plant that was found in Berrien springs in 2023. Foreman says thanks to a quick state response, it’s been contained.
“What they have done is they’ve dredged the pond where the only infestations in the state were known to be. So for now, it looks like we’ve removed it. So we’re going to keep an eye on it over the next couple years, make sure that we don’t see it coming back.”
There will be four online sessions in the coming months, starting May 28 and ending on August 27. First up will be “What Lies Beneath: Detecting Invasive Plants in Michigan Lakes,” designed to help train new eyes to spot aquatic threats to the state’s environment.
The second session, on June 25, will be about hydrilla with an EGLE expert talking about how it’s been kept at bay.
July 29 will bring a session on how to spot the spotted lanternfly. Foreman says it’s been found in southeast Michigan.
Finally, the session on August 27 will be all about how climate change is affecting trees in Michigan. Foreman says changes in weather have made it easier for some invasives to spread.
Everyone’s welcome to sign up for the webinars so they can help EGLE and the DNR stop invasives. You can do so right here.