Federal official have granted more than $2.5 million for projects that aim to combat invasive species in Michigan.
The amount was doled out from funds of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a program of the Obama administration that addresses the biggest environmental challenges that are faced by the waters within the Great Lakes Basin. The program is being coordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council will get $964,922 to combat invasive plants along 800 acres of wetland and coastal shoreline in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which include Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake superior watersheds. The council will work with local and regional partners in treating invasive phragmites as well as train local groups on how to detect new infestations and take up stewardship for long-term control efforts.
Wayne County Department of Public Services, along with its partners, including a student conservation corps, on the other hand, will receive $634,756 to implement a pest management program that will control the likes of Eurasian milfoil, phragmites, buckthorn and garlic mustard in the Lake Erie basin.
The Nature Conservancy will get $622,594 to remove invasive plants, including Japanese stiltgrass, phragmites, glossy buckthorn and wild carrot in the Oak Openings Region in Michigan and western Lake Erie watershed in Ohio, while the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission and its local partners will get $153,314 to control invasive species in shoreline wetlands in Lake Michigan basin.
Alger Conservation District, which will use manual, chemical and biological methods to control invasive species, will get $153,314.
The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council praised the doling out of funds. Although the group is not getting any amount from the grant, it said that battling invasive species is important.
"Invasive species have become more and more of a problem both land as well as water so funding to eradicate has become more important to the watershed and state of Michigan," said Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Executive Director Gail Gruenwald.
There were 15 GLRI grants amounting to over $8 million that went to regional projects in Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and New York.
"These Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants will be used to target aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in the Great Lakes basin," said Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman. "The projects will also help to prevent the introduction of new invasive species that pose significant risks to the Great Lakes ecosystem."
Photo: Matt Lavin | Flickr
