Mt. Clemens, MI - Six Rivers Land Conservancy was awarded a grant totaling $50,000 from the U.S. Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This grant will support ongoing invasive species management and initiate restoration activities along the Red Run Drain in the City of Warren and Sterling Heights.
The Lake St. Clair Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) will manage the two-year-project, which started March 1, 2022. Project stakeholders include Macomb County Public Works Office, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner and the Red Run Inter-County Drainage Board. Six Rivers Land Conservancy is the fiduciary for the Lake St. Clair CISMA.
This project will help reduce ecological threats imposed by invasive species, enhance wildlife habitat, educate surrounding landowners and restore resilient native communities along the 8.2-mile-long-stretch of Red Run Drain easement. The Red Run drains areas of both Macomb and Oakland counties and the entire drainage area is approximately 91,145 acres of southeast Michigan. The goal is to restore resiliency to Red Run Drain by providing invasive species prevention, detection and control which will help increase biodiversity and enhance watershed stability and wildlife habitat for species such as, the Great Blue Heron and Northern Map Turtle. This project heightens stakeholders’ ability to perform long-term invasive species control, monitoring, and restoration activities.
“As one of the stakeholders in this project, our office is eager to partner with Six Rivers Land Conservancy in its important efforts targeting invasive species. This project will improve the ecology of the Red Run Drain including water quality,” said Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice S. Miller.
In addition, this project will engage the local communities surrounding Red Run through education and outreach activities about invasive species identification, impacts, management and restoration. Outreach efforts will be focused on residents adjacent to project boundaries. Integrated best management practices, prevention and identification resources will be made available to keep a broader network of citizens engaged and knowledgeable in practical applications to strengthen their natural communities.
Chris Bunch, Six Rivers Land Conservancy’s executive director said: “Invasive species degrade natural habitat. Through its support of the Lake St. Clair CISMA, Six Rivers is improving the natural value of lands in southeastern Michigan. Thanks to this funding, the Lake St. Clair CISMA will continue to expand the reach of the program and educate the public about invasive species impacts.”
The state of Michigan and the U.S. Forest Service awarded a total of $5.5 million in grants to 47 projects across seven states to combat invasive species through the GLRI program in 2022. Specifically, the projects are expected to:
- Plant more than 118,000 trees and shrubs in urban and rural landscapes
- Mitigate invasive insect and disease species impacts on over 1,200 acres
- Support 10 locally-led projects to recover from emerald ash borer impacts
- Intercept an estimated 9 million gallons of stormwater annually
- Restore 1,500 acres of coastal, riparian and shoreline habitats
- Manage invasive plant infestations by treating over 1,800 acres and surveying 50,000 acres
- Reach over 16,000 people in education, training and stewardship activities
- Engage volunteers in an estimated 19,000 hours of service
About the Lake St. Clair CISMA
The Lake St. Clair Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (LSC CISMA) is a partnership of local and state governments, non-profits, and property owners founded in 2015. United in their goal to prevent, detect, and control priority invasive species, the CISMA operates within the vast boundaries of the Lake St Clair Watershed covering 2,100 square miles. The LSC CISMA is funded by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program (www.michigan.gov/invasives).
About Six Rivers Land Conservancy
Six Rivers Land Conservancy is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit located in Oakland Township whose mission is to conserve, sustain, and connect natural areas, lands, and waters that make the places we live special. We have currently protected over 2,800 acres in Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Lapeer, and Genesee Counties. If you'd like more information about our work, volunteer opportunities, or to make a donation, please visit https://www.sixriversrlc.org.