Spring Quarterly Newsle er 2021 - Manistee Conservation District
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Spring Quarterly
Newsle er 2021
Inside This Issue:
Updates from the Execu ve Director…………………….………..………….Pg 2
MCD District Staff & Board of Directors…………………….…………..…...Pg 4
District Programs & Services………………………………………..………….....Pg 5
Upcoming Events………………………………………………………………………..Pg 6
Another Rewarding Year for the Forestry Assistance Program!.….Pg 8
Natural Resources Conserva on Service Update…………..………….Pg 10
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network Update………...….Pg 12
Con nuing to Make Strides in Conserva on………..……………..…..…Pg14
Hello Everyone!
As we are s ll living in a covid world, our office remains closed to the public.
Our staff is s ll providing technical assistance through site visits, phone calls, Le ‐ Conserva on
and emails. We are also available for curb‐side service and pickup for products. Technical Assistant,
All of our available products can be found on our website. Tyler Dula, with 9&10
News reporter Ca e
Over the course of the last few months, we’ve said goodbye to a staff member Emery, learning about
and welcomed a new one. Michelle Jacokes, the former Produce Safety Techni‐
macroinvertebrates in
cian, has moved on to new ventures. We thank her for the work she performed
while employed at the Manistee Conserva on District and wish her the best of Bear Creek.
luck in her future endeavors. In March 2021, we welcomed Kendra Pollard to
our team as the Communica ons Administrator. Her role at the Manistee Con‐
serva on District will be to assist in the promo on and outreach of our pro‐
grams and services. Kendra will be working with the rest of the Manistee Con‐
serva on District team to help educate the public on the importance of natural
resources conserva on in Manistee County.
We have recently been approved for 2 grants that will help ensure the con nu‐
a on of our opera ons. We have been approved for the NACD TA 21 Grant in Right ‐ FAP Forester and Wildlife
the amount of $69,000. This grant funds our Conserva on Technical Assistant
posi on. Our Conserva on Technical Assistant, Tyler Dula, works closely with Biologist, Josh Shields, sor ng
private landowners to develop conserva on plans for their farm or forest lands, macroinvertebrates during our fall
and then helps them seek cost‐share for those prac ces through the USDA 2020 Steam Monitoring event.
NRCS Farm Bill Program. On page 11, you can see that the NACD Grant, in part‐
nership with the NRCS, brought in over $371,000 in cost‐share dollars to Manis‐
tee County and over $12,000 to Benzie County. The second grant we were Le ‐ tree packages
awarded was the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Maintenance Grant in the
ready for pick up at our
amount of $2,000. This grant will go toward our Stream Monitoring events
which we do twice a year. We are currently in the final nego a ons with the annual tree and shrub
Manistee County Planning Department and the US Forest Service for an addi‐ sale at Urka Farms. Our
onal agreement that will fund a part‐ me posi on for educa on and outreach tree and shrub sale
on aqua c invasive species, as well as monitoring ac vi es for 1 lake. took place on April 16th
and 17th this year.
It’s that me of year to be on the lookout for garlic mustard! See page 13 for
details on how to iden fy and take care of this invasive plant. For your conven‐
ience, we will have a dumpster available for garlic mustard disposal ONLY. Garlic
mustard should be pulled at the root before it goes to seed and double‐bagged
before disposing in the dumpster. We will have the dumpster available at the
Manistee Conserva on District office through the first week of June.
Right, Re‐seeding cover crops
Lastly, we are s ll looking for the right candidate to fill our Produce Safety Tech‐ in prepara on for our 2022
nician posi on. We will re‐open the applica on in May. Any interested appli‐
cants should reference our website for applica on instruc ons. pollinator plan ng at the office
property.
Take care and stay safe,
Renee Mallison
Executive Director
2 3
Manistee Conserva on District Staff District Programs & Services
Renee Mallison, Execu ve Director FAP (Forestry Assistance Program)
Renee.mallison@macd.org PSP (Produce Safety Program)
Josh Shields, FAP Forester USDA‐NRCS Program Assistance
Joshua.shields@macd.org
Annual Na ve Tree/Shrub Sale
Tyler Dula, Conserva on Technical Assistant
Tyler.dula@macd.org Annual Na ve Herbaceous Plant Sale
Public educa on on conserva on topics
Kendra Pollard, Communica ons Administrator
Kendra.pollard@macd.org Household Hazardous Waste disposal
Stream and Lake Monitoring
Natural Resources Conserva on Service
Water tes ng for Nitrates and Nitrites
Sco Hughey, USDA/NRCS District Conserva onist
Sco .hughey@usda.gov Plant Iden fica on
Insect Iden fica on
Manistee Conserva on District Board of Directors Pollinator and habitat informa on and educa on
Dave Wallace, Chair Conserva on‐focused farming and grazing methods
Erik Johnson, Vice Chair Invasive Species monitoring and control
Nate Grossnickle, Secretary Comprehensive development plan for the conserva on of farmland,
Rob Carson, Director forestland, and natural resources
Sharon Goble, Director Control and preven on of soil erosion within the district or other
conserva on districts
Regional Programs
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network
The MCD Board meets the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30pm. PUBLIC WELCOME!
Aqua c Invasive Species Pathways Program
*Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, mee ngs are currently held via Zoom. Contact the MCD
office for access. MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program)
4 5
Upcoming Events Volunteer Macroinvertebrates Stream
Monitoring Program for Manistee County
May 3 ‐ June 3, 2021—Garlic Mustard Dumpster at MCD Office
For your convenience, we will have a dumpster available at the Manis‐ Stream monitoring allows for early detec on of threats to our watershed,
tee Conserva on District office for your garlic mustard disposal. Please be sure alerts us to decreases in water quality, and can help ensure our water quali‐
to double‐bag the garlic mustard before disposing in the dumpster. ty remains excellent.
Volunteer teams monitor the water quality of wadeable streams two mes a
May 15, 2021—Stream Monitoring 9:00am‐3:00pm year—during the spring (May) and fall (October). Teams consist of 3 or more
Volunteers are needed for this event! No experience is necessary, and volunteers, including a team leader, team collector and at least one picker.
all training will be provided on‐site. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we are asking Prior to the outdoor field data collec on, volunteers receive specialized
all volunteers to drive separately to the various monitoring sites. We will meet training. Following the field ac vi es, volunteers and experts gather for an
at the MCD parking lot and formulate the teams from there. indoor iden fica on session. If you are interested in volunteering please
contact the Manistee Conserva on District at 231‐889‐9666 ext. 3.
June 11, 2021—Na ve Plant Sale at Black Cap Farms
MANISTEE CONSERVATION DISTRICT VOLUNTEER STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM DATA CHART
In partnership with Black Cap Farms and Plant It Wild. We will not be SITE ID BC01 BC02 BM01 BM02 BM03 BM04 LM01 LM02 LM03
taking pre‐orders for this sale, and all sales will be day‐of. The inventory is first SITE Bear Creek Bear Creek Adam Fletchers Hinton Big Six Mile Cool Creek Little
LOCATION Leffew Rd. Spirit of the Creek Creek Creek Manistee Bridge at Hamilton Maniste
come, first served. Woods Sickle e
Creek Johnso
n’s
June 26, 2021—Scrap Tire Event Hosted by Manistee County Recycles and FALL 2016 Excellent Excellent Good Good Good Good Excellent Good
Bridge
Good
Bay Area Recycling for Chari es 10:00am‐2:00pm SPRING 2017 Good Fair Poor Fair Fair Fair Good Fair Fair
Manistee County residents must present a valid ID. Limit 10 res per FALL 2017 Excellent Excellent Good Good Good Good Fair Good Good
vehicle per visit. The cost is $2.00 per re, cash only. The res must be clean SPRING 2018 Good Good Good Fair Fair Fair Good Good Fair
and off the rim. Standard passenger and light duty truck res only, no business‐ FALL 2018 Good Good Good Good Good Good Excellent Good Good
es or farms. SPRING 2019 Good Good Good Fair Good Fair Excellent Good Excelle
nt
FALL 2019 Excellent Good Fair Good Good Good Good Excellent Good
July 17, 2021—Manistee Conserva on District Annual Mee ng
Loca on TBD
August 21, 2021—Household Hazardous Waste
Located at the Manistee County Road Commission 9:00am‐1:00pm. You
can find a brochure on our website with more details regarding this event.
Please visit our website for event updates and addi onal informa on.
6 7
Another rewarding year for the Forestry Assistance Program!
By Josh Shields, FAP forester and wildlife biologist Bald eagle that is nes ng
in an eastern white pine at
It’s been another exci ng year for the Forestry Assistance Pro‐
the Manistee Conserva‐
gram (FAP)! During Fiscal Year 2020 (October 1st, 2019 to September
on District 40‐acre parcel
30th, 2020), I had the privilege of mee ng with 153 landowners (6,683
acres of land) to provide technical assistance and connect them with pro‐ in Kaleva. Photo by Tyler
grams to help them achieve their objec ves in my 2.5‐county service ar‐ Dula, Conserva on Tech‐
ea of Manistee County, Mason County, and western Lake County. This nical Assistant.
resulted in 226 referrals to the private and public sectors, whereby land‐
owners connected with professionals and programs to implement prac‐
ces such as ge ng a wri en land management plan, se ng up mber A major highlight from this past year was the implementa on of
sales, plan ng na ve vegeta on, and controlling non‐na ve invasive spe‐ addi onal habitat management prac ces at our 40‐acre parcel in Kaleva.
cies. I also helped landowners enroll in programs related to FAP – this As many of you know, in 2016 we worked with a consul ng forester to
included 2,108 acres enrolled in the Qualified Forest Program (a property get a wri en management plan; the parcel was then cer fied in ATFS and
tax reduc on program); six parcels assessed for the Michigan Agriculture verified in MAEAP FWH*A*Syst. Since that me, we have been working
Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Forest, Wetlands, and Habi‐ to enhance wildlife habitat and conduct experiments. For example, in
tat A*Syst (FWH*A*Syst; a habitat verifica on program); and 11 parcels 2017 we ini ated an experiment examining the use of cut stump treat‐
inspected by me for cer fica on in the American Tree Farm System ments using ready‐to‐use herbicides with lower concentra ons of ac ve
(ATFS). I was also fortunate enough to take lead on 17 outreach events ingredients than found with tradi onal recommenda ons, for the treat‐
reaching approximately 400 individuals, teaching and discussing topics ment of the non‐na ve invasive shrub autumn olive. We have also been
such as ecological forestry, tree marking techniques, conduc ng MAEAP killing autumn olive that are not part of the herbicide experiment, as well
FWH*A*Syst assessments, forest pests and diseases, invasive plants, tree as the non‐na ve invasive trees Scots pine and black locust. This past
and shrub selec on and plan ng techniques, na ve wildflowers and summer we ini ated a na ve wildflower and grass experiment with three
grasses, use of forest plants for survival skills, and stream monitoring plots comparing different methods of site prep and plan ng ‐ a) lling +
techniques. cover crop + spring seeding; b) lling + cover crop + fall seeding; c) mow‐
ing + herbicide + fall seeding. As a way to enhance species and structural
diversity, we plant le over trees and shrubs from our tree/shrub sales on
the parcel. Finally, this past December we placed trail cameras to collect
visual data of wildlife u lizing habitats on the parcel – we placed one trail
White‐tailed deer cap‐
camera in the red pine planta on and another trail camera in the mixed
tured on a trail camera deciduous forest.
at the Manistee Con‐ If would like to learn more about FAP, please contact Josh Shields
serva on District 40‐ at 231‐889‐9666 (Office Phone), 989‐220‐9236 (Mobile Phone), at josh‐
acre parcel in Kaleva. ua.shields@macd.org. Please visit the Manistee Conserva on District
forestry webpage at h p://www.manisteecd2.org/forestry.html and the
Mason‐Lake Conserva on District forestry webpage at h p://
www.mason‐lakeconserva on.org/forestry/.
8 9
Annual Report for Tyler Dula, Total Contacts for Fiscal Year 2020
Conserva on Technical Assistant (CTA) Manistee County Benzie County
Total Contacts 330 Total Contacts 54
The Natural Resources Conserva on Service Assistance Field Visits 54 Assistance Field Visits 10
(NRCS) has been partnering with county conserva on districts since the dust Assistance Inquires 35 Assistance Inquires 8
bowl era. As part of this con nued partnership, the Manistee Conserva on Dis‐
Planning Assistance 40 Planning Assistance 9
trict added a Conserva on Technical Assistant in October of 2019 to facilitate
Program Assistance 64 Program Assistance 11
NRCS Farm Bill assistance contracts in Manistee and Benzie Coun es.
The Bear Lake office contracted 25 applica ons, as compared to 14 in Prac ce Cer fica ons 7 Prac ce Cer fica ons 2
2019, for Farm Bill Conserva on Programs. 4 of those for Benzie County and 21 Technical Assistance 50 Technical Assistance 5
in Manistee County. The total dollar value of funded applica ons in 2020 is Other Assistance 80 Other Assistance 5
$371,328 for Manistee County and $12,988 for Benzie County. These dollars Applica ons Sub- 28 Applica ons Sub- 5
will be used by landowners to offset the cost of implemen ng conserva on mi ed mi ed
prac ces in Manistee and Benzie Coun es, all while being provided guidance by
District and NRCS technical experts. Of the 25 successful applica ons 9 were
Beginning farmers, all of which were also first‐ me customers with NRCS.
If you would like to learn more about NRCS and financial assistance FY 2020 Farm Bill Programs
through the Farm Bill, check out www.nrcs.usda.gov or contact the Manistee CD Total Obliga ons
for more informa on. NRCS and District field staff meet with landowners and
producers by appointment. To set up a me to meet and discuss your resource
concerns and conserva on goals, please contact the NRCS field office in Bear
Lake at 231.889‐9666 or email: tyler.dula@usda.gov or sco .hughey@usda.gov.
Highlights of prac ces amounts contracted in 2020 through the Bear Lake NRCS office:
Brush Management – 235 Acres
Tree & Shrub Establishment – 83 Acres
Wri en Forest Management Plans – 359 Acres
Pasture Fence – 15,504 LnFt.
Livestock Pipeline – 3,190 LnFt.
Prescribed Grazing – 110 Acres
Na ve Wildflower and Grass Plan ng – 22 Acres
Highlights of prac ces installed/ini ated in 2020
Cover Crops – 153 Acres
Windbreak Establishment – 19,759 LnFt.
Prescribed Grazing – 90 Acres
Nutrient Management – 336 Acres
Forest Stand Improvement – 50 Acres
Abandoned Orchard Removal – 22 Acres
Brush Management – 44 Acres
10 11
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network Update
By Emily Cook, Outreach Specialist, NW Michigan Invasive Species Network
As it was for most, 2020 was a unique and challenging year for the
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN). 75% of the budget was
paused in April due to restric ons in the Michigan Discre onary Fund, so ISN re‐
lied on the advocacy of many partners to exist at a basic level. When funding was
reinstated in August, staff were able to jump back into invasive species manage‐
ment and outreach, while also being humbled by the outpouring of support –
thank you!
Despite the struggles of the year, ISN’s planned projects were s ll suc‐
cessfully completed (or extended)! Surveys for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA)
were completed in the winter months and due to a grant extension, are con nu‐
ing in 2021. More than 110 sites and 1,200 acres were surveyed with no detec‐ (le ) Inspec on of a hem‐
ons of HWA. lock tree for signs of hem‐
In the world of treatment, garlic mustard season was deeply impacted by lock woolly adelgid (HWA),
COVID‐19 restric ons as our annual volunteer‐based workbees were cancelled. an invasive insect that
Regardless, sponsored dumpsters in each of our four coun es (Benzie, Grand a acks North American
Traverse, Leelanau, and Manistee) were very popular and 160 bags of pulled gar‐
Hemlocks.
lic mustard were reported by community members. Addi onally, top‐priority spe‐
cies were treated by our skeleton staff, including invasive knotweeds, black swal‐ Photo by Emily Cook
low‐wort, Chinese yam, Phragmites, Invasive bi ersweet, bu erbur, and giant
hogweed.
ISN’s outreach efforts moved online and in all, we contacted over 3,000
people one‐on‐one by phone, email, or socially‐distanced in‐person work. Over
half a million people were reached through social and tradi onal media efforts.
2020 did bring some good news in that our groundbreaking Go Beyond
Beauty program was also funded for expansion not only within our own service
area, but state‐wide! This included bringing on a new staff member, Shelly
Stusick, to specialize in the program. Stay tuned for progress on this project in
the coming three years.
ISN staff are approaching 2021 with an op mis c mind and are cau ous‐
ly planning for a more normal year. COVID‐safe events are being planned and a
treatment crew will be hired this spring for direct management of invasive spe‐
cies. If you have any ques ons, want to get involved, or wish to schedule a It’s that me of year to look out for garlic
presenta on to an interested group, please visit www.HabitatMa ers.org or con‐ mustard! This invasive plant crowds out
tact Ka e Grzesiak – kgrzesiak@gtcd.org or (@31)941‐0960 x29.
our na ve species, like spring ephemer‐
ISN’s work is funded in part through grants from the Great Lakes Resto‐
als, and affects the germina on and
ra on Ini a ve (administered by the US Forest Service and the Grand Traverse
Band of O awa and Chippewa Indians), the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Pro‐ growth of nearby organisms. Garlic mus‐
gram (www.Michigan.gov/invasives), and the Good Neighbor Authority (a part‐ tard is easy to remove and only requires some gloves and a trash bag.
nership of the US Forest Service and Michigan DNR), as well as cost‐share from It should not be le to breakdown, as the plants will o en re‐sprout.
landowners and generous dona ons from supporters.
12 13
Con nuing to Make Strides in Conserva on
By Jamie VanDerZanden, MAEAP Technician
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
(MAEAP) is a voluntary, confiden al program that recognizes and re‐
wards top stewards of the land. It’s a Michigan Department of Agricul‐
ture and Rural Development (MDARD) program & delivered by Conserva‐
on Districts statewide. Across the state, you can commonly see MAEAP
roadside signs on farms sta ng, “This farm is environmentally verified.”
There are currently more than 5,800 verifica ons across Michigan.
A farm can become MAEAP verified in one or more systems:
MAEAP cost share is commonly
Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock and Forest, Wetlands and Habitat. To be‐ used for concrete pads for fueling
come verified, farmers follow a three‐step process, which can start with or pes cide areas, to help contain
possible spills. Before (above),
comple ng an approved educa onal workshop online or in‐person. The
a er (right).
other step is mee ng with the local MAEAP Technician to complete an on
‐farm risk assessment and implemen ng risk reduc on management
prac ces to address poten al environmental risks on the farm. All re‐ “MAEAP really is about environ‐
quired improvements stay confiden al between the program staff and mental protec on for the farm.
the farm. Once risk reduc on management prac ces have been imple‐ It provides an environmentally
mented on the farm, the regional MAEAP Verifier for the state will visit protec ve dynamic to farming
as well. We have a unique story
the farm to verify that those prac ces have been implemented.
to tell here, and this is a big part
MAEAP is a great program to reward and recognize farms that are of it.” ‐ Dave Smeltzer, West‐
proac ve in reducing agricultural pollu on. The program can also provide wind Orchards, Bear Lake, MI
technical assistance and has cost share available for farms working to‐
wards verifica on. In fiscal year 2020, Mason‐Lake and Manistee Coun‐
es completed 10 repeat risk assessments,16 new risk assessments, 4
reverifica ons, and 12 new verifica ons in MAEAP with farmers and land‐
owners. Farms are con nuing to make strides in conserva on, even
through difficult mes. Here is what some local MAEAP farms had to say
about the program:
“I decided to become verified as I take great pride in being a stew‐
ard of the land, taking no more from it that what can be sus‐
tained. I think that it is important to let our visi ng customers
know that we are environmentally conscious and there is no
be er way to convey that message than having the MAEAP verifi‐
ca on.” ‐ Keaton Foster, BrixStone Farms, Bear Lake, MI
14 15
NON PROFIT
US POSTAGE PAID
ONEKAMA, 49675
PERMIT NO. 8
8840 Chippewa Highway
Bear Lake, MI 49614
231‐889‐9666, ext. 3
www.manisteecd2.org
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