Field
Season 2012 and Planning 2013
Article
submitted by MITW Environmental Services Department, representing the Invasive
Species Workgroup
This article is
intended to be an annual update on the progress made toward management of
invasive species that are threatening the environment on the Menominee
Reservation. A workgroup, which includes
representatives from the Tribe, Menominee
County, UW Extension and the Wisconsin
DNR, has developed an Invasive Species Management Plan (ISMP) that has been
approved by Menominee
County and Menominee
Tribal Legislature. MITW Resolution
09-30 led to the formation of this workgroup to draft an Invasive Species
Management Plan. The plan outlines strategies
for work to be done, issues that need attention, and summarizes work conducted
during the past year. This effort is
also consistent with the MITW strategic plan.
To this point Menominee Tribal Enterprise (MTE) has chosen not to
participate as a partner to the ISMP.
MTE has informed the workgroup that they will be reporting on work
accomplished and planning activities in a separate article.
Outlined below are the
2012/13 results of the workgroup and the management approach to develop the
collaborative working relationship that is identified within the ISMP. The workgroup is now using the plan as the
tool for the work being conducted by the entities named above. In addition the plan has provided excellent
outreach and training opportunities for the public as well as personnel
currently working within the Menomonee Reservation. Additional information can be found on the
MITW website at http://mitw-environmentalservicesdepartment.blogspot.com/
For questions
related to the ISMP, please feel free to contact the MITW Environmental
Services Department or any of the other resources contacts listed in the
sections below.
2012 Field Season Accomplishments
Aquatic Invasive Species
Eurasian water milfoil
In May of 2012 123.1acres of EWM were treated on Legend Lake
and 6.5 acres were treated on Moshawquit Lake.
Mapping was done again in October 2012 with 60 acres being mapped in
Legend Lake and 9.25 acres in Moshawquit Lake. Treatment and survey results have
been completed by Cason and Associates, expenses covered by the LLPOA. Hand pulling will also take place in those
areas shallow enough to do so.
Purple loosestrife
LCD identified several flowing plants around the shores of
Southeast Bass Lake in summer. Time
constraints and inadequate access to the shoreline with purple loosestrife
didn’t allow this to occur. Will try to
accomplish in 2013. River float surveys
and mapping were conducted by summer interns on the Wolf River covering the
river from the north line to Keshena.
Zebra mussels
LCD received a report that zebra mussels have moved into
Skice Lake. Zebra mussels are now found
throughout the Legend Lake chain as of 2012.
ESD sampled for veligers in LaMotte, SE Bass, Upper Bass lakes and the Neopit
Mill pond and we are still waiting to hear from DNR on the results.
Curly-leaf pondweed
CLP treatment took place on both Legend and Moshawquit Lakes
in 2012. In May of 2012 19.3 acres of
CLP were treated in Legend Lake and 7.6 acres were treated in Moshawquit Lake.
Both lakes were surveyed again in October with 27.9 acres being found in Legend
and 3 acres being found in Moshawquit.
Hand pulling will also take place in those areas that shallow enough to
do so.
Common Reed
LCD, ESD, and DoTR completed herbicide treatments with Rodeo
at four of five known locations of exotic Phragmites within the
county/reservation. The one location not
treated is along Highway 55 at the former Vigue Trout Ponds. This site is within the Wolf River Corridor and
could not be treated under current restrictions. Foliar treatments were very effective along
Highways 47, M, and VV. The treatment
appeared to be less effective along Rainbow Falls Road. All sites will be monitored in 2013 and
retreated as necessary. Three additional
sites were found: one along CTH M, one
at Rushes Lake, and along Minnow Creek Road.
These three sites were determined to be native reed and not the exotic
reed. In cooperation with MITW-Environmental Services and Menominee
Co.,
Terrestrial Invasive Plants
Japanese barberry
Extent
LCD found several (around 10) scattered barberry plants
throughout the lakes area in 2012 and cut and stump treated any that were on
public land. MITW planning is underway
to treat the areas within the village of Keshena. Additional plants were
located behind the basketball course on top of the hill in Keshena. About 5-7 plants were identified during
wildfire suppression.
Garlic mustard
Treatments by LCD included herbicide treatment with
glyphosate along the same 13 spots on highway 55, the area near Silver Canoe
Road by Legend Lake, and the small area in Zoar. Two new locations were found in 2012, the
first being along Old South Branch Road near Bent Tree Path, and the second
being along Lawe Avenue in Neopit. The
site along Old South Branch Road was herbicide treated and the site in Neopit
(along with the Shotgun Eddy site) was hand pulled and all plants were burned
at the MTE mill in Neopit. Approximately
1/3 of the Shotgun Eddy site was also herbicide treated to keep the plants away
from the driveway and parking areas to avoid spread by campers and
rafters.
Spotted knapweed
LCD treated 30 spots totaling approximately 12 acres around
Legend and Southeast Bass Lakes. Areas
treated ranged in size from small patches with 50 plants to 5 acres around the
Legend Lake Dam #3. LCD used glyphosate
for all treatments of knapweed. Many
mature plants in later summer were hand pulled, bagged and disposed of
properly.
Leafy spurge
A few plants were again found again in 2012 along Old South
Branch Road and treated with glyphosate.
A new patch about 10 feet by 80 feet was located along Rushes Lake
Road. This site was also herbicide
treated with glyphosate in 2012. Both
sites will be revisited in 2013.
Cypress spurge
The spurge along STH 55 was herbicide treated in 2012 and
monitoring in 2013 will determine if follow up treatments are required.
Wild parsnip
The wild parsnip along CTH M was herbicide treated early in
2012 to address the plants before they grew large. By fall, no plants were detected in this area
and monitoring will in continue in 2013 for additional treatment. A new site of wild parsnip was identified by
the county highway department along St. Joseph Church Road. This site is along the eastern ditch and
extends for 100 feet or so.
Exotic honeysuckles
LCD took GPS coordinates of all remaining honeysuckle found
within the lakes area in fall 2012. No
treatments were completed by LCD in 2012.
MITW ESD located and acquired GPS location of a very large stand near
the Middle Village area within sustained yield forest.
Reed canary grass
No active management in 2012.
Buckthorns
LCD cut and stump treated about 12 saplings and trees as
they were encountered on taxable lands in 2012.
A new stand of buckthorn was located in Tribal Office Loop Road.
Norway maple
No controls done to date.
All agencies need to keep watch for potential areas on routine survey
activities. Forest
infestations of Norway maple will most likely occur nearby homes and yards.
Tansy
Several areas have been found within the sustained yield
forest lands since 2010. Two of the
sites were treated by MTIW Community Development, but it has not resulted in control
of the invasive due to the mechanical method used and this will also require
further monitoring to detect additional spread that may have resulted due to
inadequate treatment methods. Other
sites should be treated in the upcoming 2012 field season, but limited
resources may be an issue. The sites
continue to be monitored but no treatment was completed in 2012.
Japanese knotweed
The knotweed at the LLPOA yard waste site did not receive
herbicide treatment in 2012. All mature
plants were scraped and dug out mechanically and all debris placed on the burn
pile to be burned in early 2013. Follow
up monitoring in 2013 will provide information on what treatment will be needed
in 2013.
Forest Insects
Gypsy moth
Numbers of egg masses have increased slightly. No treatments will be required in Menominee
in 2013. Egg mass surveys in fall 2012
indicate a low probability for defoliation in spring 2013, as well
Invasive basswood thrips
MTE observed that early spring damage to new leaves by this
small insect were very minor during general forest health surveys
Emerald ash borer
MTE deployed purple prism traps and visually searched for
signs and symptoms of the wood boring beetle.
Results were negative for adults, larvae, or damage in 2012.
Forest Pathogens
Oak wilt
30 prevention permits written out by LCD to landowners
needing to cut oaks for construction or hazardous circumstances.
