Webinar: Beauty or beast? Tackling invasive Himalayan balsam in the Upper Peninsula by Nick Cassel (UPRCD), Elise Desjarlais (L2L CISMA) and Michael Hindy (Three Shores CISMA) – November 20, 2024 9:00 AM
Invasive Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) isn’t well known across Michigan, but it has been detected in isolated regions of the Upper Peninsula. With showy, orchid-like blooms and high nectar volume, this plant is attractive to both humans and wildlife, so what’s the problem? Join Nick Cassel, Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council director, Elise Desjarlais, Lake to Lake CISMA coordinator, and Michael Hindy, Three Shores CISMA coordinator, to find out why Himalayan balsam is such a concern, what’s being done to manage it, and what landowners can do to help.
The 2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, Minnesota
Tuesday, November 12 – Thursday, November 14, 2024
This will be a hybrid conference with both in-person and online attendance options. We encourage in person attendance, so you can take advantage of the many exciting field trips and workshops being offered this year. Click here for Registration information.
Enrollment now open: Popular MSU Extension course Introduction to Lakes Online offered January 2025
Learn about Michigan’s inland lakes online from MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/everything_you_need_to_know_about_the_upcoming_introduction_to_lakes_course
Registration for the award-winning Michigan State University Extension Introduction to Lakes Online course is now open! This introductory six-week online class is designed for anyone interested in gaining a greater appreciation for inland lakes including concerned residents, decision makers, local leaders, and lakefront property owners. Course instructors include faculty from MSU Extension and state agency personnel.
The course covers a variety of topics including lake ecology, watershed management, shoreline protection, aquatic plants, Michigan water law, and community engagement. These topics are explored online through video lectures, interactive activities, and discussion forums. Additional resources are also provided for those looking to dive deeper. Participants communicate with each other and instructors through lively discussion forums and biweekly Ask-an-Expert webinars which include guests from organizations such as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Registration is open now through January 28, 2025. The cost of the course is $115 per person. Register by January 6 for an early bird price of $95 per person. A limited number of scholarships are available. Current individual members of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association are eligible to receive a $95 reimbursement upon successful completion of the course.
A certificate of completion is awarded to those who complete the class. Participants also can receive continuing education credits including 16 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Pesticide Applicator Re-Certification credits (8 commercial core and 8 aquatic) and educational hours in the MSU Extension Master Gardener, Master Citizen Planner, and Master Naturalist programs.
Learn more and register at www.canr.msu.edu/lakesonline.