As more invasive species attack the state parks, more hands are needed to fight them.
Garlic mustard. Photo: Wisconsin Department Natural Resources
The Michigan and Indiana recreation officials are calling for volunteers to help remove invasive plants from the state parks and recreation areas.
“It is a great opportunity for families and friends to enjoy the outdoors, improve the conditions of parks and be engaged in its protection,” said Laurel Malvitz-Draper, stewardship coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Volunteers search for and pull invasive plants such as non-garlic mustard, Japanese bittersweet, shrubs, common buckthorn and vines.
Invasive plants can contain chemicals that kill native plants and limit the native species growing nearby.
According to Michigan Department of Natural Resources native insects, birds and other wildlife dependent on native plants can also be lost.
In 2011 in Southeast Michigan, the agency engaged more then 10,000 volunteers in rooting out invasive plants, said Malvitz-Draper.
“We have volunteers who come back to us every year. Some of the more experienced are taking leadership roles educating the new one how to identify the invasive plants and remove them.”
The volunteers record the invasive plants’ location and verify if the local insect population and native plants are affected.
The Indiana Dunes State Park located in Chesterton, Indiana is implementing a similar program.
Besides removing invasive plants, volunteers also monitor and mark their location on the park’s GPS system, said Brad Bumgardner, park interpretive naturalist.
“Its very helpful, volunteers are our eyes and hears on the ground when we can not be there and we use a lot of information they give us.”
Most of the parks in Michigan and Indiana are recruiting new volunteers.
So, if you willing to show dedication to the environment contact your nearby park or recreation areas.
In Southeast Michigan, the workday dates, times and locations (and counties) are as follows:
- Saturday, June 2 – Highland Recreation Area (Oakland), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, June 2 – Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, June 3 – Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 1 to 4 p.m.
- Saturday, June 9 – Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland), 9 a.m. to noon
- Saturday, June 9 – Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, June 10 – Algonac State Park (St. Clair), 1 to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 13 – Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, June 16 – Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland), 9 a.m. to noon
- Saturday, June 16 – Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, June 23 – Highland Recreation Area (Oakland), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, June 24 – Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston), 1 to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, June 24 – Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 1 to 4 p.m
- Saturday, June 30 – Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.