The Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (MM-CISMA) was established in April 2016 by the Ingham Conservation District through funding from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program. CISMAs seek to prevent and manage invasive species across municipal boundaries to create a more effective and unified approach. The Mid-Michigan CISMA serves Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, and Ionia countries. To see a map and contact information for other CISMAs in Michigan, click here.
Contact the MM-CISMA
Have you seen potential invasive species in your area?
Report invasives by contacting the MM-CISMA coordinator above or by using the MISIN online reporting tool or mobile app.
Upcoming CISMA Events
Please check the CISMA Facebook Page for upcoming events!
To sign up for our mailing list & receive our newsletters, please follow this link: https://mailchi.mp/306349162de6/mid-michigan-cisma-newsletters
Our Priority Species
While the MM-CISMA is concerned with all invasive species, our strategic plan has identified four invasive plants that pose specific risks to the region. If you have property with serious infestations of one or more of these species, contact the CISMA to be added to a working list for possible treatment.
Japanese knotweed is a aggressively-growing perennial plant with heart-shaped leaves and pink stems. It has the potential to cause serious structural damage due to its ability to grow through concrete and create thick, impenetrable colonies.
In the vast majority of cases, manual removal of Japenese knotweed should not be attempted, as it may exacerbate the infestation. Contact the CISMA for help removing knotweed or learn more here.
Black swallow-wort is a perennial vine in the milkweed family. It poses specific threats to monarch butterflies, who mistake the plant for native milkweeds. Swallow-wort leaves are toxic to monarch caterpillars, thus larvae mistakenly laid on the plant will die within days of hatching. Swallow-wort is shade-tolerant and an aggressive colonizer of forest edges, old fields, and other disturbed sites.
Most forms of manual control are ineffective on established populations of swallow-wort. However, removing and disposing of seed heads can be effective in limiting the plant’s spread. Contact the CISMA for help with controlling swallow-wort or learn more and report a population here.
Phragmites australis is an invasive subspecies of reed that is considered one of the most pervasive invasive species in the North America. It rapidly takes over wet environments such as roadside ditches and disturbed wetlands. Invasions of Phragmites leads to drastic reductions in species diversity, wildlife cover, and recreation opportunities.
Phragmites has an extensive network of underground rhizomes, thus manual removal is extremely difficult. Contact the CISMA for guidance on removing Phragmites or learn more and report sightings here.
European frog-bit is a free-floating aquatic plant that resembles a water lily.
Its leaves are much smaller than native water lilies however, at just 1-2 inches in diameter. It forms dense mats in slow-moving waterways that can choke out native vegetation and impede water travel.
This species was newly detected in the Mid-Michigan area in 2020 and is known at only one location. Please report any sightings of this species by contacting the CISMA or using the MISIN reporting tool.
Past Events
The Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) is a partnership of over 35 organizations including local governments, conservation groups, and nonprofits. Partners offer support via resource sharing, outreach, and financial match. Contact the CISMA Coordinator above if you are interested in becoming a partner!
This project is funded in part through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program (www.michigan.gov/invasives)
Invasive Species Resources
For information about the control of various invasive species, please check out the sites below: