COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AREAS: LOCAL COOPERATION EQUALS AREAS: LOCAL COOPERATION EQUALS LOCAL SUCCESS IN THE NORTHWOODS LOCAL SUCCESS IN THE NORTHWOODS Carmen Chapin, Northwoods CWMA
Northwoods CWMA CWMA Northwoods Began as the Northwoods Northwoods Weed Initiative Weed Initiative Began as the in 2002 with concern over leafy spurge in 2002 with concern over leafy spurge Started organizing as a CWMA in 2005 Started organizing as a CWMA in 2005 Formalized a MOU in 2006 Formalized a MOU in 2006
Signatories/Cooperators Signatories/Cooperators Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas & Bayfield County Lakes Forum Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas & Bayfield County Lakes Forum Iron Counties’ Iron Counties ’ Land Land Delta Area Lakes Association Delta Area Lakes Association Conservation Committees Conservation Committees Douglas County Association of Douglas County Association of Great Lakes Indian Fish & Great Lakes Indian Fish & Lakes & Streams Lakes & Streams Wildlife Commission Wildlife Commission Iron River Lakes Association Iron River Lakes Association Natural Resources Natural Resources Northern Native Plantscapes Northern Native Plantscapes Conservation Service Conservation Service Sigurd Olson Environmental Sigurd Olson Environmental National Park Service National Park Service Institute & Northland College Institute & Northland College The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy The Friends of the Bird The Friends of the Bird USDA Forest Service USDA Forest Service Sanctuary Sanctuary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Friends of the St. Croix The Friends of the St. Croix U.S. Geological Survey, Great Headwaters U.S. Geological Survey, Great Headwaters Lakes Science Center Lakes Science Center Town of Washburn Town of Washburn UW Cooperative Extension UW Cooperative Extension Upper St. Croix Lake Upper St. Croix Lake Wisconsin DNR Wisconsin DNR Association Association
Operations Operations Chair, Secretary, 9 active members Chair, Secretary, 9 active members Fiscal agent is Bayfield Land Conservation Fiscal agent is Bayfield Land Conservation Dept Dept Meet monthly for 2 hours Meet monthly for 2 hours “Donut discussions Donut discussions” ” followed by business followed by business “ meeting meeting
Education and Outreach Education and Outreach
NorthwoodsCWMA.org NorthwoodsCWMA.org
Control Efforts Control Efforts
Mapping and Data Mapping and Data
Professional Benefits Professional Benefits Household herbicide guides Household herbicide guides Development of mowing schedules Development of mowing schedules Sources of weed- -free products free products Sources of weed Sharing of technical information Sharing of technical information
Successes! Successes! Continued Continued momentum momentum Good communication Good communication with stakeholders with stakeholders Doing more with less Doing more with less Invader Crusader Invader Crusader Award WI Award WI
Challenges Challenges Volunteer recruitment Volunteer recruitment Funding Funding Community awareness Community awareness Dollar match from federal partners Dollar match from federal partners More weeds! More weeds!
What Worked What Worked Because of few $, responsibilities are on Because of few $, responsibilities are on members and not a CWMA coordinator members and not a CWMA coordinator Targeting individuals who have invasive Targeting individuals who have invasive species management as part of their job species management as part of their job duties duties Small geographic area, local community, Small geographic area, local community, well- -connected individuals connected individuals well
Lessons Learned Lessons Learned Just start!!!! Just start!!!! Choose a champion that can commit time Choose a champion that can commit time and energy and energy Different groups will come on board at Different groups will come on board at different times, build flexibility into your different times, build flexibility into your organization organization
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