West Michigan CISMA

06/10/2026

It's PlayCleanGo Awareness Week! This week serves as a reminder to take simple actions that protect the places we love by preventing the spread of invasive species. Remember to use a boot brush to remove soil and potential invasive species from your shoes and equipment!

Learn more about what you can do based on your preferred recreation activities at https://playcleango.org/take-action/

06/04/2026

Photos from our annual Strike Team Treatment Training! We host this every year so staff at our partnering Conservation Districts can brush up on their invasive species knowledge and learn about the CISMA projects that they will be working on this summer. Staff from Ottawa Conservation District, Muskegon Conservation District, Kent Conservation District, and Allegan Conservation District attended and/or presented at the training. Thank you also to David, our guest speaker from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development! We love teamwork!

05/21/2026

Breaking news! Six species were added to the State of Michigan’s prohibited and restricted species lists, meaning it will become unlawful to introduce, import, sell, possess with intent to distribute, or intentionally propagate these species in the state. Learn more at the link below!

Six species added to Michigan’s invasive plant lists following MI Commission of Ag & Rural Development vote Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 05/21/2026 02:12 PM EDT Share or view as webpage | Update preferences News Release The following news release was issued as a b...

05/10/2026

Attention folks in Montcalm County!

Join us this Tuesday, May 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Comden-Towle Model Forest to pull invasive garlic mustard! Don’t forget to dress for the weather and outdoor work.

05/05/2026

If you want to learn more about West Michigan CISMA, check out this video that we created about our organization and the work that we do! Thank you to Thom Bell with BPS Video for shooting the drone footage, and a HUGE shoutout to Colleen Kellogg for the rest of the video footage, all of the editing, and for being flexible and great to work with.

This project was funded by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, so thank you to the State of Michigan, too!

The West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), is a partner-focused conservation organization that manages invasive species in seven...

04/16/2026

Today, we say farewell to our Invasive Species Specialist, Will. He has been in his role for over three years and is instrumental to the invasive species work that the CISMA does in all seven of our counties. Although he has had the biggest impact on the Ottawa Conservation District's invasive species crews, training them, helping troubleshoot equipment issues, always putting safety first, and being a good role model. We're gonna miss you, Will!

04/15/2026

We are now in the HIGH RISK period for oak wilt! That means you should wait until at least July 16th to prune your oak trees, but November 1st would be even better.

Oak wilt is an invasive fungal disease that kills red oaks. White oaks are more resistant to the disease. Oak wilt can be spread via connected root systems between trees, as well as by sap-feeding beetles that are attracted to pruned or injured trees. Moving firewood can spread oak wilt, so this is a good reminder of why we shouldn't move firewood long distances.

Learn more about oak wilt at www.michiganoakwilt.org

Oak wilt risk meter graphic from Michigan Oak Wilt Coalition

04/07/2026

West Michigan Partners! Report the great work you're doing to the Stewardship Network Spring Challenge. Be sure to choose the West Michigan Conservation Network as your "Member Community Affiliation" so your work counts toward our collective goals!

returns next week with an official kick-off during on April 8th! Now, we know that nature's caretakers aren't out there doing what they do for personal gain, but IF you were at this year and IF you coveted the super-sweet TSN hoodies our Member Community Coordinators were wearing, let's just say you're going to want to report early and often once that form opens up 😎 stewardshipnetwork.org/spring

04/03/2026

Ottawa Conservation District is hiring an invasive species specialist to work on CISMA projects! Learn more at ottawacd.org/job-opportunities

We’re hiring an invasive species specialist! We are seeking applicants with experience in invasive species management. Learn more at ottawacd.org/job-opportunities

Image description: Green flyer with the above text and two images. Image one shows a technician in waders pulling aquatic invasive species. Image two shows a technician injecting a hemlock tree. The flyer also features the logos for the Ottawa Conservation District and the West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.

04/01/2026

West Michigan CISMA is in the news! Check out this article from WKTV that features information about our award from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program. This award will fund the core functions of the CISMA for the coming year, as well as one invasive species management project.

A West Michigan CISMA technician pulls invasive yellow floating heart in Kent County, Mich. (Photo Courtesy, Ottawa Conservation District)