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Protecting Northern Michigan's ​Water Resources

Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native species introduced to an aquatic ecosystem that causes environmental and/or economic harm. AIS can cause issues that impact our lakes, streams, and wetlands and are increasingly the focus of Watershed Council monitoring and management programs. Knowing how to identify AIS, how they got here, and what you can do to help prevent them from spreading is important.

Some invasive species are legally designated by the State of Michigan as either “prohibited” or “restricted.” If a species is prohibited or restricted, it is unlawful to possess, introduce, import, sell or offer that species for sale as a live organism, except under certain circumstances. Michigan’s Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act (Part 413 of Act 451) established the list of prohibited and restricted species, which is regularly amended by Invasive Species Orders. Other Michigan laws may apply to harvesting, possessing or selling regulated and unregulated species.

Credit: Prohibited and restricted. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/prohibitedrestricted

Watchlist

 

Invasive species on the watch list have been identified as posing an immediate or potential threat to Michigan’s economy, environment or human health. These species either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution.

If you think you have found any of these species in Michigan, please report the occurrence via the methods given below by clicking on an individual species name.

Credit: Watch list. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/watchlist

Prohibited

The term “prohibited” is used for species that are not widely distributed in the state. Often, management or control techniques for prohibited species are not available. 

Restricted

The term “restricted” is applied to species that are established in the state. Management and control practices are usually available for restricted species.

Some invasive species are legally designated by the State of Michigan as either “prohibited” or “restricted.” If a species is prohibited or restricted, it is unlawful to possess, introduce, import, sell or offer that species for sale as a live organism, except under certain circumstances. Michigan’s Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act (Part 413 of Act 451) established the list of prohibited and restricted species, which is regularly amended by Invasive Species Orders. Other Michigan laws may apply to harvesting, possessing or selling regulated and unregulated species.

Credit: Prohibited and restricted. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/prohibitedrestricted

Mobile Boat Washing

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council has been running a Mobile Boat Washing Station Program since 2020. We use high-pressure, heated water to wash invasive plants and animals off boats and trailers. We visit various Northern Michigan lake landings and wash boats for free throughout the summer. The Mobile Boat Washing event calendar and more program information can be found here.

Guide to Our Invasive Species

Alewife next to a penny

Alewife

This invasive species competes for plankton and aquatic organisms amongst native lake herring, whitefish, chubs, and perch, which

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Brazilian Elodea

Rapid growth leads to dense, monospecific mats on the surface of the water. These mats crowd out native

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Watchlist

Water-primrose

Invasive water-primrose species are aquatic plants that can thrive and spread in shallow water areas including wetlands and

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Prohibited

European Frogbit

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, better known as European Frogbit, is an aquatic, invasive species currently spreading throughout the Great Lakes

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Restricted

Flowering Rush

Flowering rush originated in Eurasia but can now be found throughout the Midwest, including in Southern Michigan, and

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Prohibited

Giant Hogweed

Giant Hogweed is a Federally listed noxious weed. Its sap, in combination with moisture and sunlight, can cause

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Prohibited

Golden Mussel

Golden Mussel is native to Chinese and south-eastern Asian rivers and creeks. It became established in Hong Kong

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Hydrilla

Hydrilla is a stocky whorled submergent plant with spiny leaves in whorls of approximately 4-6. It is well

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Invasive Carp

Invasive carp are a tremendous threat to the Great Lakes and could devastate the lakes if they enter

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Prohibited

Invasive Knotweed

Two non-native invasive plants that have been gaining a foothold in recent years in Northern Michigan are Japanese

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Prohibited

Killer Shrimp

Killer shrimp is an amphipod native to the Ponto-Caspian region that has recently invaded and spread throughout western

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Watchlist & Prohibited

New Zealand Mudsnail

New Zealand mudsnails compete with other native species for food, disrupting the food chain and threaten the health

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Northern Snakehead

As with many non-native and invasive species, snakehead fish have no natural predators in the United States. This

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Parrot Feather

Parrot feather is an aggressive whorled aquatic plant that is similar to watermilfoils, but emergent. Its stems can

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Restricted

Purple Loosestrife

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) is an invasive wetland plant that is beautiful, but dangerous. Imported in the 1800s

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Red Swamp Crayfish

Red swamp crayfish are considered invasive in Michigan because they compete aggressively with native crayfish species for food

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Prohibited

Round Goby

Round gobies originated in the Black and Caspian Seas. They were introduced into the Great Lakes by ballast

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Restricted

Rusty Crayfish

Rusty Crayfish are invasive crustaceans spreading to lakes, rivers, and streams in several areas of North America. They

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Sea Lamprey

Sea Lamprey are primitive, jawless fish native to the Atlantic Ocean. In 1921, lampreys appeared in Lake Erie

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Prohibited

Starry Stonewort

Starry stonewort is a submerged aquatic macroalgae with many irregular branches. It is native to Europe and was

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Water Chestnut

Water chestnut forms dense mats that shade out native aquatic vegetation, leading to a decrease in biodiversity. Decomposition

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Water Soldier

Dense mats of vegetation can form to crowd out native species and decrease biodiversity. Water soldier can potentially

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Watchlist & Prohibited

Yellow Floating Heart

Yellow floating heart can create dense mats that shade out native aquatic plants, decrease oxygen levels, increase mosquito

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Resources

 

Michigan Invasive Species List – https://www.michigan.gov/invasives

CAKE CISMA (Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska, and Emmet Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area) – https://www.cakecisma.org/

Huron Coastal Invasive Species Network – https://www.huronpines.org/hcisn

Huron Heartland Invasive Species Network – https://www.huronpines.org/hhisn

MISIN (Midwest Invasive Species Information Network) – https://www.misin.msu.edu/