North Country CISMA reports new invasive-plant finds in Wexford County, outlines outreach and roadside treatments

Zach (representing North Country CISMA) told the Wexford County Board that the regional cooperative covers six counties including Wexford County and that it continued partnership work with the county road commission on roadside herbicide treatments and invasive-species outreach.

The presenter said crews treated roadside Japanese knotweed and Phragmites as part of the partnership with the road commission and that outreach work included trail decontamination messaging to reduce spread of invasive species from equipment and vehicles. Zach also reported the first documented regional occurrence of black swallow‑wort within their six-county coverage area: one plant found on a roadside in Millbrook and a separate winter occurrence in northern Mecosta County between Nant and [Easek/transcription unclear]. He said swallow‑wort resembles milkweed but is toxic to monarch larvae and has seed pods that can disperse long distances; because the finds were localized the crew removed the plants and continued monitoring.

Zach described program funding as a mixture of state and federal grants plus self-sustaining revenue and an at-cost treatment program that assists private property owners for a fee. The CISMA also partners with local trail and recreation groups (mentioned in the record as "Cadillac Air and Bidders Group") to promote responsible trail use and invasive‑species prevention.

The presenter said the group engages both outreach (youth events, community tabling) and on-the-ground treatment. He noted the program is small-staffed and thanked Wexford County for its support.

Separately during administrative updates, a county or partner staff member reported personnel changes for related community services: the community nutrition instructor role was filled by Kendra Gibson and Heather Salas will join as an office manager. Those staffing updates were presented as staffing announcements, not board actions.

Public comment later in the meeting included a speaker who raised concerns about aerial spraying and related allegations; commissioners did not take formal action in response.

Why it matters: Early detection and coordinated roadside treatment for highly invasive plants can reduce long-term control costs and protect roadside infrastructure, native plants and pollinators. The CISMA reported a localized detection of a species that could harm monarch butterflies' larvae if it establishes more widely.

Next steps: CISMA staff and county partners said they will continue monitoring and outreach and will provide updates to the board as treatment and outreach events occur.