Mt. Clemens, MI - Six Rivers Land Conservancy was recently awarded three state grants totaling $256,200. The funding will support its ongoing efforts in addressing invasive species through the work of two full-time invasive species coordinators—one covering Macomb and St. Clair counties and one in Oakland County.
The grants were provided through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, an initiative which encourages the development of Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs). CISMAs work collaboratively with partners to raise awareness about invasive species and advise partners and the public on best practices for invasive species management. Six Rivers Land Conservancy is the fiduciary for the Lake St. Clair CISMA in Macomb and St. Clair counties and for the Oakland County CISMA.
Continuing in the role as the Lake St. Clair CISMA Coordinator is McKenzi Waliczek. Hired in 2018, Waliczek supports CISMA partners and the public by hosting trainings and events, providing outreach materials, managing websites and social media, presenting to local groups and managing grants to control invasive species and restore native landscapes. Over the past two years, she has:
- Treated over 1,176 acres of invasive species
- Surveyed over 83,000 acres
- Reached 196,368 individuals through media, events and other outreach efforts
- Held over 20 free public events (mobile boat washes, MISIN mapping events, etc.)
- Managed contracts to secure and implement the control of Phragmites growing along road right-of-ways on Macomb County roads.
- Held monthly Steering Committee Member Meetings
“I’m glad to be continuing our efforts to raise invasive species awareness and help build a resilient landscape to strengthen our natural communities,” Waliczek said. “In 2020, we plan to increase our citizen participation in efforts to detect infestations that threaten our natural areas. We are especially concerned with a species called Fallopia japonica, or Japanese Knotweed. If you have seen this plant or would like to spend more time outdoors this summer learning plant identification, please contact the CISMA at
(Images of the Japanese Knotweed are available here.)
The Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program awarded $3.6 million in this year’s grant cycle, funding over 30 projects that aim to prevent new invasive species introductions and support the management and control of widely established invasive species, among other goals.
About the LSC 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 boundary of the vast, 2,100 square mile Lake St Clair Watershed. For more information, visit us online at https://www.sixriversrlc.org/lsc-cisma or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LSCCISMA/.
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 2,000 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.