St. Joseph County Conservation District

St. Joseph County Conservation DistrictSt. Joseph County Conservation DistrictSt. Joseph County Conservation District

St. Joseph County Conservation District

St. Joseph County Conservation DistrictSt. Joseph County Conservation DistrictSt. Joseph County Conservation District
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    • Home
    • Buy Online
    • Events
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    • SMIST CISMA
    • Site Content
    • Parkville Dam Removal

  • Home
  • Buy Online
  • Events
  • Resources
  • Donations
  • Contact Us
  • SMIST CISMA
  • Site Content
  • Parkville Dam Removal

SMIST CISMA

About Us

Southern Michigan Invasive Species Team (SMIST) CISMA was started in April of 2018 with grant funds from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program. SMIST CISMA goal is to increase awareness about invasive species impact and ways to combat them in Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph Counties. The CISMA is supported by Michigan's DNR, EGLE, MDARD, and a multitude of regional partners. We are always looking to increase our partnerships with organizations and citizens making an impact on our landscape. By working together we can help make our environment healthier. 

SMIST Conservation Districts

Branch Conservation District

St. Joseph Conservation District

Hillsdale Conservation District

Top level

387 N. Willowbrook Rd Suite F

Coldwater MI, 49036

517-278-2725 Ext 5

branchcd.org


Website

Hillsdale Conservation District

St. Joseph Conservation District

Hillsdale Conservation District

588 Old St Bldg #2

Jonesville, MI 49250

517-849- 9890 Ext 3

hillsdalecd.org

Website

St. Joseph Conservation District

St. Joseph Conservation District

St. Joseph Conservation District

693 E. Main St.

Centreville, MI 49032

269-467-6336 Ext 5

Website

Invasive Photo Gallery

    About SMIST CISMA

    What is an Invasive?

    About SMIST CISMA

    Learn more

    Strategic Plan

    What is an Invasive?

    About SMIST CISMA

    Learn more

    What is an Invasive?

    What is an Invasive?

    SMIST Priority Species

    Learn more

    SMIST Priority Species

    Other sources of information

    SMIST Priority Species

    Learn more

    Native Species

    Other sources of information

    Other sources of information

    Learn more

    Other sources of information

    Other sources of information

    Other sources of information

    Learn more

    About SMIST CISMA

    CISMA stands for Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas and is a program set up to bring non-profits, government agencies, tribal governments, businesses, and individuals together to deal with invasive species in their area. How the CISMA deals with invasive species depends on the direction of the region's CISMA program and that region's challenges. Services may include education on prevention, identification, and reporting/ mapping of invasive species, some CISMA's can offer management services for certain species.  


    Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph County fall under the SMIST CISMA. As a grant-funded program, services available will change based on funding year to year. At times SMIST may offer surveying/ mapping and treatment in various forms from the strike team, goats, and injector rentals in addition to education material and talks. 

    Strategic Plan

    Download PDF

    Strategic Plan Continued

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    What is an Invasive?

    Invasive species are nonnative organisms that are purposefully or accidentally introduced to an area that causes harm economically, environmentally, and to human health. Invasive species have several traits that allow them to out-compete native species, including lack of natural predators and life strategies that make them successful. According to the US. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2006 estimate the cost of economic damages and control measures cost the US 138 Billion dollar. This number is known over 10 years old and has since changed. 


    Invasive species also have substantial environmental damages.  In 2006 the US. Forest Service stated that invasive species have lead to a 49% decrease in species on the threated and endangered lists. At the same time, they reported that 133 million acres (size of California and New York Combined) have invasive species and this area increase by 1.7 million acres per year. The threat is not only in new plants but introduced insects, disease, mollusks, mammals, fish, birds, and crustaceans. Each invasive presents new difficulties in managing and treatment. Issues that can occur depending on the species include: changing natural water flow, increased erosion, decreased food sources, and more. 







    US Forest Service Invasive Species

    Other US Forest Service information:

    -Forest Service National Strategic Framework for Invasive Species Management

    -U.S Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Invasive Species Activities April 2015 

    - US Forest Service Invasive Species Quick Facts 

    Website

    10 Priority Invasive Species

    Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

    Black Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)& Pale Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Black Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)& Pale Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
    Find out more

    Black Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)& Pale Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Black Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)& Pale Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Black Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)& Pale Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Find out more

    Phragmites (Phragmites australis)

    Black Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)& Pale Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Chinese Yam (Dioscorea oppositifolia)

    Find out more

    Chinese Yam (Dioscorea oppositifolia)

    Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    Chinese Yam (Dioscorea oppositifolia)

    Find out more

    Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

    Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    Find out more

    Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    Find out more

    Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

    Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

    Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

    Find out more

    Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

    Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

    Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

    Find out more

    Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

    Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

    Japanese Stiltgrass (Mirostegium vimineum)

    Find out more

    Japanese Stiltgrass (Mirostegium vimineum)

    Japanese Stiltgrass (Mirostegium vimineum)

    Japanese Stiltgrass (Mirostegium vimineum)

    Find out more

    Photo Gallery Of Native Species

      Other Sources of Information

      Photo provided by Shaun Grace of PAMF giving a field demonstration on monitoring Phragmites.

      Michigan Invasive Species

      Michigan Invasive Species is the State web site for information on priority invasive species, laws, outreach, and more.

      Website

      MISIN

      MISIN is a service run by Michigan State University and is a great way to learn how to identify and report invasive species. 

      Website

      Play Clean Go

      Play Clean Go is a great program that aims to spread awareness of invasive species but not the species themselves. They have useful tips on how to avoid accidentally spreading invasive species to new sites, general invasive species information, and more. 

      Website

      Don't move firewood

      Don't Move Firewood is an informative website about invasive species that can spread when firewood is transported long distances. Some of the information they provide is invasive species information, firewood map, and more.  

      Website

      Ripple

      Ripple is a state program with information about helping to prevent the spread of Invasive species and Michigan laws about invasives. 

      Website

      Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!

      Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers is a program geared towards recreational users and how they can help stop the spread of aquatic invasives species to help keep our waterways clean. 

      Webstie

      Michigan Clean Water Corps

      Michigan Clean Water Corps is a volunteer program with EGLE that monitors water quality collecting data.

      Website

      Michigan Clean Boats, Clean Waters

      Michigan Clean Boats, Clean Waters is a non-profit that is dedicated to providing information on lake monitoring and invasive species education. 

      Website

      US Forest Service Invasive Species Quick Fact Sheet

      The US Forest Service Quick Facts on invasive species is a good source for seeing the economic and land impact of invasive species.

      Website

      Contact Us

      Better yet, see us in person!

      We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.

      St. Joseph County Conservation District

      St. Joseph County Conservation District 693 E. Main St. Centreville, MI 49032 US

      (269) 467-6336

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      08:30 am – 04:30 pm

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