Conservation District reports drop in tree-sale revenue, plans monitoring and events

Laurie, a Jackson County Conservation District representative, told the General Government Committee on March 10 that the district’s spring tree sale orders are down roughly 25% compared with last year and that the shortfall could affect the district budget.

“Tree sales are way down. I don't know why but they're down like 25% from last year,” Laurie said. She said the district would send email reminders, consider selling at the farmers market and continue other outreach to boost orders.

The district reported recent and planned activities: an electronic-waste recycling collection in December with a steady line from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a January annual meeting where Jill Yachshimer was re-elected to the board; training on mile-a-minute weed control; a winter stonefly survey that found stoneflies at the Kate Palmer Sanctuary but not at a Summit Township site; and plans to begin measuring water temperature and clarity to broaden aquatic monitoring.

On grants, Laurie said two grants ended at year-end: a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) invasive-species grant and an electronics recycling grant. The district received notice of a new invasive-species grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and said NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) had received 40 applications for assistance to date. She also said the annual countywide tire collection is tentatively scheduled for July 26 at the fairgrounds but that awarding of the usual tire-collection grant was delayed; the grant application was released the same day as the committee meeting, which the district said may complicate planning.

Upcoming events listed by the district include hosting the Region 6 Envirothon at the Dahlem Center (regional high school environmental competition), Project RED on April 22, Earth Day activities on April 26, Adopt-a-Stream on May 3, a community plant sale on May 17, and hazardous-waste collections in May, July and September.

Committee members asked about pollinator plantings and mosquito-repellent products. Laurie said the district’s invasive-species coordinator runs an annual milkweed seed collection that local participants plant in spring. On mosquito barriers, she said the product is largely a repellent composed mainly of garlic extract and is not intended to kill beneficial aquatic insects.

The committee moved to receive the conservation district report; the motion passed unanimously.