29-03-2025
Laketown Twp hosting invasive species informational day
LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Invasive species come in many forms. Identifying and dealing with them is the focus of a free program on Saturday on the lakeshore.
The Ottawa and Allegan Conservation Districts are partnering with Laketown Township to host an invasive species informational day at 10 a.m. at the Felt Mansion's Carriage House. Guest speakers will lead presentations covering the identification of woody invasive plants, focusing on the hemlock woolly adelgid — otherwise known as HWA — and possible treatment options.
HWA is a non-native invasive insect that affects eastern hemlock trees, causing mortality within four to 10 years. Eastern hemlock trees look like dark evergreen trees and provide crucial ecosystem support, especially near rivers, streams and sand dunes. There are an estimated 170 million of these trees in our state.
Experts began noticing the invasive HWA in 2015 and have tracked the spread north as far as the Leelanau Peninsula. The insects, originally from Japan, have an active crawling phase in the summer months when they are mostly likely to spread.
No matter your knowledge level, experts say the event is important information for everyone to have.
'It's going to be a lot of useful information,' Murielle Garbarino, a West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area coordinator, said. 'If you don't know anything about invasive species, you'll definitely learn what an invasive species is and why they're a problem. If you've already started on your journey of controlling invasive species on your property, you're going to get some more technical information about how you can do that safely and effectively.'
The invasives presentation today is a part of the first season of indoor programs sponsored by the parks commission. Next month's free event is called The Butterfly Garden and is being held at the Carriage House.
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