Shiawassee Conservation District

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is yet another invasive insect that threatens our forests. This time, our eastern hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis) are the ones in harm’s way.  HWA was first detected in Muskegon and Ottawa Counties in 2015, and while it has only been found in seven counties so far (Muskegon, Oceana, Allegan, Ottawa, Benzie, Mason, and Washtenaw), conservationists are working hard to keep it from spreading to the rest of the state.  HWA is a bug very similar to aphids. They suck out the sap of hemlock trees through the needles, twigs, and branches, which stresses the trees. If a hemlock tree is fed on long enough – especially if it faces other problems, like drought – then the tree will likely die.  While hemlocks are not very common in Shiawassee County, they can still sometimes be found in woodlots or along riverbanks, and hemlocks are widely sold as landscape trees. But despite the likely limited number of hemlocks in Shiawassee County, HWA can be spread by...

Juvenile spotted lanternfly (nymph) Photo by: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State University, Bugwood.org Did you know that the invasive tree of heaven is the favorite host plant of the spotted lanternfly? It’s important to know the connection between these two species as they are quickly becoming a significant concern in our region. The tree of heaven is native to China and was introduced to the United States in the late 1700s. It was initially valued as a fast-growing ornamental species that tolerates a wide range of site conditions. Despite the species commonly being sold through nurseries, it fell out of fashion due to its weedy nature and foul odor by the mid-1800s. The invasive species continued to spread and affect native ecosystems across most of the country. Tree of heaven leaves, leaflets, and seed clusters. Photo by: Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Trees can grow 80 feet or more in height and up to 6 feet in diameter. The bark is light brown to grey and ...

Hopefully most people are aware of the dangers of pouring oil, pesticides and other products into our storm drains or dumping them into our rivers. Now that leaf raking season is fast approaching, remember storm drains and rivers are no place for leaves either. Some people may think that leaves are from nature, so it can’t hurt the environment if they washed into the storm drain or if they are left along the river banks – right? Wrong. Many leaves will naturally fall into the water, but we should never put the leaves that fall on our lawn in a creek, river or stream. Excessive decaying leaves use up the water’s oxygen, harming the animals that live in the water. Storm drains are designed to take away water runoff. They collect excess water from rain events and move the untreated water into waterways such as the Shiawassee, Maple and Looking Glass Rivers.   When leaves and yard waste collect in the drain system, they block pipes, resulting in the flooding of our roads, waterways...

What do you think is the most crucial component in any farming operation? Although equipment, seed, fertilizer, and other farming tools might come to mind, these can all be interchanged or replaced. The soil is the most crucial component. The one constant in any farming operation is the land being farmed. Most farmers strive to do their best to be good stewards of the land because their livelihood depends on the productivity of the soil. One practice that will improve soil productivity and health is no-till farming. No-till farming is a method of growing crops from year to year with minimal soil disturbance. Crop residue is left on the field after harvest, where it acts as a mulch to protect the soil during the winter. No-till farming helps to control soil erosion, keeping the valuable topsoil on the crop field. The following year’s crop is planted with a special planter that cuts a slot through the residue just wide enough to place the seeds in the soil. Conserving soil is not the...

Thriving fish and wildlife populations depend on the condition of their habitat. We, as humans, play a big part in that condition. It is our responsibility to take care of our natural resources so that wildlife habitats are protected. Conservation buffers can help us do just that. Conservation buffers are strips of vegetation that grow on the edges of fields and waterways. They are designed to intercept sediments and nutrients, reduce soil erosion, and protect the soil. They can be grass, trees, shrubs, or a combination of all three. Depending on their purpose, they can be 25 feet to hundreds of feet wide. From a wildlife standpoint, conservation buffers are amazing. They provide countless benefits including shelter and food. One of the most valuable things they can provide is wildlife corridors. Wildlife corridors are connections from one habitat to another. Most species experience high levels of mortality moving across open landscapes, such as harvested crop fields. Moving within...

  The beauty that comes with a fresh snowfall is unmatched. However, it doesn’t take long in Michigan for the temperatures to fluctuate and create rapid snow melt. Just like when rain falls during the rest of the year, melting snow turns into stormwater runoff too! Just as heavy rains wash across our yards, driveways, and parking lots, melting snow does the same thing. While washing across these surfaces, the melting snow picks up any pollutants it encounters and then is transported UNTREATED through storm drains into our nearby rivers, ponds, and lakes. So, any trash, oil, gasoline, or salt you notice on your driveway or local store parking lot can be swept away with melting snow and deposited directly into nearby water. Because of the time of year, snow melt has its own unique stormwater problems. The ground is often frozen at the surface, so the melting snow cannot infiltrate the ground like rainwater can. This creates a higher chance of flooding, either on your property or thro...