The Minnesota Conservation Corps crew at Whittlesey Creek NWR, Wisconsin. The crew is treating invasive plants on the Refuge. - FWS photo by Darienne McNamara

  Two Minnesota Conservation Corps (MCC) crews spent a week each at the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Wisconsin to help expand the Refuge’s Invasive Free area.  The crews also assisted the Rice Lake NWR and Sherburne NWR as part of an invasive-free-times-three project. 

The Invasive Free Zone concept was developed at the Whittlesey Creek NWR and adjacent Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.  The goal is to eliminate invasive plant species in a well-defined landscape area that crosses landownership boundaries.  The Whittlesey Creek Invasive Free zone includes Fish and Wildlife Service (Refuge) lands, U.S. Forest Service (Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center) lands, and 16 private in-holdings.  The process is systematic: mapping, planning to control, treating, monitoring, educating and conducting restoration.  Control methods range from biological to mechanical to chemical.

The MCC crew helped with several aspects of the project, including the release of purple loosestrife beetles, cutting buckthorn and honeysuckle in forested wetlands, and girdling large crack willows along Whittlesey Creek to allow native species regeneration and restoration in the riparian area. In total, 36 acres were treated with their help.