Arcadia Dunes, on the shore of Lake Michigan, was being invaded by invasive species. Work crews removed the invasives by manual and chemical means to protect sensitive dune species, such as the endangered pitcher's thistle, shown here in the foreground. 7/21/2008, Photo credit: Abby Gartland, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

Biologists Bob Kavetsky (East Lansing FO) and Heather Rawlings (Alpena NFWCO) received a tour of Arcadia Dunes, C.S. Mott Nature Preserve, from Abby Gartland of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (Conservancy) on July 21, 2008.  Several years ago (2003) the Conservancy was able to purchase a 5,853 acre tract of land including a large area of Lake Michigan coastline (Benzie and Manistee Counties).  Over 2,700 acres of productive farmland were placed under agricultural conservation easements and sold to local farmers, while the Conservancy retained over 3,100 acres of the property as a nature preserve.  This property was exemplary in two ways: 1) The coastline contained several plant species that are federally endangered and of state concern (Pitcher’s thistle, fascicled broom-rape, ginseng, American chestnut), and 2) The inland property, consisting of fallow farm fields and wooded lands, has high use from state concern migratory birds (grasshopper sparrow, northern harrier, western meadowlark) and several declining species (bobolink, eastern meadowlark, upland sandpiper, field sparrow).  All of the lands are threatened by invasive plant species, particularly the coastal grasslands and forest lands. 

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, working with a private consultant, devised a conservation plan for the property which consisted of slowly planting native grasslands on 350 acres of the inland properties, and manual removal by work crews of invasive species in the dune habitats.  Biologist Heather Rawlings assisted the Conservancy in preparing a proposal for the Service’s Coastal Program, and the project was successfully funded.  The tour on the 21^st was to highlight work conducted in 2008.  Forty-seven acres of native grassland was planted and sixty-four acres of dune habitat was removed of invasive species such as baby’s breath, garlic mustard, bladder campion, spotted knapweed, phragmites and white-sweet clover by the Conservancy’s summer work crew by manual and chemical removal.  This project is particularly exciting because the healthy, intact ecosystem has just recently been threatened by these invasive species.  Immediate action (removal) of these species insures these species will not gain a foothold in this particular area.  Conservation Organizations as well as the State of Michigan have taken this invasive threat seriously on the Lake Michigan coastline, and have joined efforts to combat these invasive species along the entire Lake Michigan dune complex.