Ottawa National Forest Employee Receives National Invasive Species Award for Excellence

By john wigand on Mar 3, 2011

National Invasive Species Award for Excellence

Terrestrial and aquatic alien plants have met their match here on the Ottawa National Forest. Botanist Ian Shackleford has pursued them with ruthless and relentless dedication. Ian has done such a tremendous job that he was selected as the 2010 National Invasive Species awardee for Excellence in Innovative Control and Management.

Since Ian's arrival on the Ottawa National Forest in 2001, local Forest Service employees and the public have learned whom to call if there's a strange weed in their yard, timber sale, boat, or pet fur - Ian Shackleford! Part of his popularity is certainly his high level of expertise and local knowledge. But more importantly, it is the way Ian responds. His prompt, entertaining, and educational replies make us want more information and to rid our world of pesky invaders.

One of Ian's strengths is his ability to forge partnerships. These are as frequently with individual citizens as with large organizations and other agencies. He is able to effectively coordinate and collaborate with others, and to find creative, innovative, scientifically-sound solutions.

Ian has focused much of his time on aquatic invaders. Over the last five years, Ian has coordinated an Army Corps of Engineers research effort to test herbicide timing and effects on invasive Eurasian watermilfoil control and the aquatic ecosystem at a North Woods lake. Ian also spearheaded the Forest's purchase of four portable boat washers in 2010, using Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding. Three of the washers have been loaned to partners, with the Forest providing money for staffing and the partners hiring and supervising seasonal employees. The washers are staged at the area's most popular lakes - those that are also, unfortunately, popular with spiny water fleas, Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, and zebra mussels. The fourth washer is staffed by the Ottawa weed crew under Ian's direction.

The battle against terrestrial non-native invasives has been similar to that against aquatics, with the Forest Service often outmatched and outmaneuvered by the invaders. Using Forest Service efforts in other parts of the country as a guide, Ian successfully petitioned the State of Michigan to allow its first-ever Upper Peninsula release of knapweed weevils as a biocontrol.

Ian has successfully recruited volunteers for many tasks on the Forest. Almost single-handedly, he began organizing and running National Public Lands Day work parties on the Ottawa. His enthusiasm and networks serve him well in this regard, as he has been able to recruit increasing numbers of volunteers, with more than 20 volunteers now participating. One year, they donned protective clothing and sturdy gloves to spray, whack, and/or handpull Japanese barberry. Last year, they showed up to yank and lop glossy buckthorn from the Black River Recreational Area.

What's amazing isn't just Ian's skill at coordination - providing the proper PPE, briefing, and refreshments (morning snacks, coffee, and lunch, all at his own expense) - it's his ability to make the work so personally rewarding that the same people show up year after year, knowing they will return home like Avatars: smelly and slightly blue (from the herbicide dye). They love the Forest; they enjoy helping; they adore Ian.

Ian helped write the Ottawa Non-native Invasive Plant Control Project environmental analysis- the second such analysis in the Forest Service Eastern Region - which enables the Ottawa to focus on invasive weed control, not just prevention. Ian also devotes attention to NNIS control on non-federal lands. In a partnership he developed with the Gogebic Conservation District, the Forest provided supplemental funding for a Conservation District contract to treat garlic mustard and giant hogweed on private land. In 2006 and 2008 respectively, Ian persuaded the Ontonagon and Houghton County Road Commissions to change when they mow their roadsides. As a rule, County Road Commissioners aren't often inclined to accept advice from a federal agency. Ian's discussions were friendly, straightforward, and community-spirited. As a result, and with some incentive funding, he was able to convince them that a subtle alteration of their schedule would reduce the growing ability or seed germination of several non-native invasive species. On the 'road to recovery' for weed control, it is a small but significant success.

Ian makes public presentations at the Ottawa Visitor Center, attends County Commission meetings, helps Gogebic Community College staff eradicate NNIS in their arboretum, provides weed identification and herbicide application training for seasonal and fellow employees, writes articles for local papers and brochures, generates new signing at boat launches, and volunteers to be Smokey Bear at parades.

Have you ever played sports and had a game where you were in the "zone"? The real success of this story is found in Ian himself. He is in his "zone". What he does flows from who he is and his special gifts and special talents. He is doing what he is meant to do and it shows. Congratulations, Ian!

Submitted by Susan Trull, Ottawa National Forest