Western UP Cooperative Weed & Pest Management Area Receives Eastern Region Honor Award

By john wigand on Jan 1, 2010

Group receives Forest Service, Eastern Region honor award for protecting ecosystems across boundaries.

Employees of the Ottawa National Forest, located in the western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in association with a local civic organization concerned with the invasion of unwanted species, has been awarded a Regional Honor Award.

The Forest Service Eastern Region Honor Awards are given annually within the Region to employees, volunteers, and partners. This award was in the category of "Protect Ecosystems across Boundaries."

It recognizes the efforts of the Western UP Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area (WUPCWMPA)to prevent and control non-native invasive species. The efforts of this group include public education, prevention, monitoring and integrated control efforts. Their work takes place across Gogebic and Iron Counties and includes border lakes on the Michigan/Wisconsin border. Ottawa National Forest employees helped work to establish this group and continue to contribute to the leadership, which is key to the organization's success. The WUPCWMPA is recognized for their successes in preventing and controlling non-native invasive species and in serving as a network for information sharing.

The mission of the Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Association (the CWPMA) is the prevention and management of invasive species.

Working together over the past several years, members of the CWPMA have leveraged federal, state, county and private funds to combat aquatic invasives on multiple lakes in several western Upper Peninsula counties. Grants received have gone towards inventory and monitoring work, treatment of invasives, staffing at boat launches to raise public awareness about aquatic invasives, training for volunteers, creation of brochures and publications to promote "Clean Boats/Clean Waters," and purchase of boat washing equipment for use at local area boat landings.

Through this partnership, counties, lake-owner associations, concerned citizens, and employees of the Ottawa National Forest pool their knowledge and resources to help achieve better control of non-native invasive species.

That which cannot be accomplished by one individual can be accomplished by a team of dedicated, energized people.

The CWPMA continues to work together to expand their programs and membership. They are already busy planning for another year of significant accomplishments.