State awards $3.6 million for invasive species prevention and control

The state of Michigan today announced that 32 projects will share $3.6 million in funding through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program for efforts that address the prevention, detection, eradication and control of aquatic (water-based) and terrestrial (land-based) invasive species.

To date, over $40 million has been awarded to support 301 projects undertaken by units of government, nonprofit organizations and institutions.

The program – cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources – has four key objectives:

• Preventing the introduction of new invasive species.
• Strengthening the statewide invasive species early detection and response network.
• Limiting the spread of recently confirmed invasive species.
• Managing and controlling widespread, established invasive species.

Projects funded this year

Grant funds will support several early detection and response efforts for several watch list invasive species – those that pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan’s economy, environment or human health and either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution:

Surveying and treating hemlock woolly adelgid on the northern edge of the infestation in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Conducting surveys for hemlock woolly adelgid along the southern coastal areas of the Upper Peninsula. Using environmental DNA monitoring to detect hemlock woolly adelgid in high-priority areas and to better identify and predict the insect’s spread. Conducting survey and treatment of mile-a-minute weed infestations in Calhoun County. Tracking the progress of beech leaf disease symptoms to determine survival rates and possible resistant strains of American beech.

Funding also will support efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species:

• Improving the effectiveness of Eurasian watermilfoil chemical treatments by genetically screening milfoil populations to determine their response to commonly used and emerging herbicides.
• Building a network to enhance information about, prevention and monitoring of, and response to aquatic invasive species in northern Michigan lakes.
• Sustaining the Go Beyond Beauty program, which raises awareness of high-priority ornamental invasive species in trade, as it expands regional hubs in several cooperative invasive species management areas across the state.
• Continuing support for the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, including its grant program and mobile boat wash crew, to educate boaters and anglers on invasive species prevention actions they can take.
• Supporting continued public reporting of invasive species detections and a growing library of identification resources and training opportunities through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network, housed at Michigan State University.

Support in every Michigan county

This year’s grants also support 22 regional cooperative invasive species management areas, the network of partnership organizations working to manage and control invasive species, actively serving all 83 counties in the state. Each CISMA is eligible for $70,000 in annual support to provide education and technical assistance to landowners and up to $40,000 for tailored outreach and survey and treatment of high-priority invasive species. Grants to CISMAs represent nearly $1.8 million in this cycle ‒ approximately half of all MISGP awards.

Program progress

The program was initiated in 2014, when the state Legislature designated annual funding to address invasive species, with $3.6 million earmarked for grants. This support substantially enhanced Michigan’s Invasive Species Program for aquatic organisms, supported a formal program for terrestrial species and initiated the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.

Because of this program:

• More than 678,000 acres of land and water have been surveyed for invasive species.
• More than 56,000 acres have been treated for invasive terrestrial and aquatic plants.
• Through direct contact, including face-to-face interactions at boat washes, workshops, trainings and other events, 486,000 people have been reached with information about invasive species.
• An additional 49 million contacts were achieved through grantees’ indirect outreach efforts, including mail, newspapers, social media and handouts.

Over $8 million requested

The program began accepting grant applications for this funding cycle in September 2024. A total of 52 applications were received, requesting approximately $8.9 million in support.

The full list of grant recipients, project descriptions and award amounts is available on the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program website at Michigan.gov/MISGP.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes and Energy; and Natural Resources.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

• Sampling: DNR Forest Health Specialist Simeon Wright takes samples and photos of trees affected by beech leaf disease.
• Wash: A portable boat wash operating at Lake Ovid in Clinton County.