Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge mapped more than 12,500 acres of Service and non-Service owned lands for four invasive species in Fiscal Year 2006, using the Weed Information Management System (WIMS). 

This mapping effort was made possible through the Service’s Invasives with Volunteers grant and Mapping with Volunteers program, in association with a partnership between the Refuge and the Minnesota Conservation Corps. 

As a result of this mapping effort, garlic mustard, purple loosestrife, leafy spurge and spotted knapweed infestations were inventoried and mapped on more than 95% of the Refuge utilizing WIMS and Geographical Information Systems. 

The maps created will be used to focus invasive species management activities for years to come, including but not limited to, a rapid response initiative to combat garlic mustard. 

As a byproduct of this mapping initiative, several dump sites were found, illegal tree stands were located, and several illegal marijuana grow operations were discovered.