In early August of this year, the conservation community was
made aware of Michigan’s first population of Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), a notoriously
invasive sprawling grass introduced from Asia in the early 20th century when it
was used as packing material for fine china. The population is on private land
in Scio Township with important nearby natural areas and public parks from
which it could spread quickly throughout Michigan. Stiltgrass can grow in most
environments where it can quickly cover the surface and eliminate other
species.
Rather than wait for stiltgrass to arrive on their lands, staff
from Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, City of Ann Arbor Natural Areas
Program, Washtenaw County Parks Natural Areas Preservation Program, and
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum at the University of Michigan
worked with the Michigan DNR and two private landowners to eradicate all known
stiltgrass. Each organization was already part of The Stewardship Network
Huron-Arbor Cluster which allowed for the capacity of an immediate control
effort in combination with significant on-the-ground efforts by the landowners.
Bob Grese, Director of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, notes
“Japanese stiltgrass is a key example of a highly invasive species where we have a chance to pull together to identify and contain an
invasive species while it can still be controlled and before it negatively
impacts our native plants and animals.”
 |
| Japanese stiltgrass images courtesy invasive.org. |
While partners report that stiltgrass will have to be
controlled next year from seed that remains in the soil, they have halted the
expansion of the population. The organizations are working together to better
delimit the population, find it elsewhere, and determine how to restore
habitats that have been impacted.
Even if invasive species are first found on private land, prevention,
early detection, and quick response is the most cost-effective solution by local
governments in managing invasive species. These organizations contributed some
resources to the problem now so that they slow the spread, train employees, and
raise awareness to reduce the impacts of stiltgrass on lands in their
jurisdictions. “The most efficient way to deal with invasive species is to keep
them from getting established in the first place. If we can team up to quickly
eradicate this new infestation of Japanese stiltgrass, we may be able to keep it
out of Michigan, or at least out of Ann Arbor.”
The Jackson and Washtenaw County Conservation Districts and others
are heading up an effort to start a Cooperative Invasive Species Management
Area in Jackson, Washtenaw, and Lenawee Counties. This will make it even easier
to conduct surveillance and control of invasive species that seriously impact
the quality of our environment. “Finding and removing stiltgrass and other
invasive species is one of the best ways to protect our wetlands, prairies and
forests”, says Evan Pratt, Water Resources Commissioner for Washtenaw County
who is a partner in the effort.
