Projects

Knotweed Project

Learn about the work we have been doing to track, treat, and control knotweeds in the NCWMA region.  This information was in the poster displayed at the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference in 2018. 

Garlic Mustard Project 

Work on the two largest populations in Mellen and Hurley will continue, with monitoring, control, and analysis. Here are details on the work we do.

Clough Island Project

2019-2023

The NCWMA is assisting the Wisconsin DNR with buckthorn management on an island in the St. Louis River between Duluth and Superior.

Volunteer Work Days

Ongoing

These events are a great way to learn about invasive plants first-hand, help the environment, meet new people, and have fun!  We generally host volunteer work days monthly from May through October, focusing on different species at each event.  These free events are 3-4 hours with snacks and prizes for all volunteers.  Check our list of upcoming events if you would like to join us for one of these fun programs.  If you would like to co-host an event with the NCWMA, contact us and we'll be happy to work with you!

Education

Ongoing

As part of our mission, we conduct outreach programs to raise awareness about invasive species and their impacts on the environment, economy, and our health.  We have done this throughout northern Wisconsin in many different venues including county fairs, farmer's markets, birding groups, sportsman groups, and other local events.  If you would like us to give a presentation for your group or attend your event, please contact us.

Trainings

Ongoing

The NCWMA helps organize trainings for community members, right-of-way managers, natural resource professionals, and other stakeholder groups.  Some of these events have included: field days where local professionals shared their successes and failures managing invasives; a gathering of regional invasive species groups like ours from the northern part of the state; workshops for right-of-way managers; trainings by professional herbicide applicators on the latest tools and techniques.

Clean Boats, Clean Waters and Boat Wash Project

Each summer the NCWMA performs Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspection surveys at boat landings through out the NCWMA to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.  We also use a portable boat washing unit to powerwash boats and clean them of any aquatic invasives.

Private Landowner Outreach and Education Project 2013 - 2015

We received funding to hire a contractor to perform buckthorn management on private landowner property, along with funding for the NCWMA office space, tool shed supplies, and printing costs.

Roadside Inventory and Management

2011-2014

Ten local town and county road crews have partnered with the NCWMA in an effort to manage invasive plants on their roadsides. The NCWMA hired two interns to inventory nearly 1,000 miles of roadsides with GPS units in 2011.  They found 23 different types of invasive plants, and over 9,000 individual patches of plants. Using the data they collected, the NCWMA put together a management plan for each of the ten municipal road crews identifying priorities and management recommendations.  We toured each town with the road crews to show them the invasive plants, and then demonstrated different control techniques for each species.  For their part, participating towns and counties committed to 40 hours of control work to manage the invasive plants in their area.  This project is funded with Title II funds from the Resource Advisory Committee of the Chequamegon National Forest.  Click here to see all of the Roadside Invasive Plant Management Plans.

City of Ashland Shoreline Restoration

2010-2014

In a cooperative effort with many partners, the NCWMA is helping to restore two sections of the Lake Superior waterfront in the City of Ashland.  The project aims to restore plant communities to the way they might have been before the area was settled, with a diverse mix of native plants and animals.  To do this, thousands of small trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers were planted in 2011, but in order for them to succeed, the industrial debris and invasive plants must be removed first.  The NCWMA is working to remove invasives with help from community volunteers, specifically students from Northland College, College of St. Scholastica, and Ashland Middle School.  Visit the project website to find out more.  This project is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.