2009 Invader Crusader Award Winners!
Professional Efforts:
Bill Moore – Ecological Woodland Management, Platteville
As a restoration ecologist, Bill works not only to restore the prairies and savannas of Southwest Wisconsin, but also to teach the landowners about the commitment needed to control invasive species and manage their land. He recommends that the landowners work beside him to learn the techniques for various control methods. With a great knowledge of native prairies and savannas, Bill is able to recognize rare, threatened, and species of greatest concern and their respective habitats, always doing his best to increase and protect these spaces.
He is a respectful and knowledgeable steward who easily communicates with a wide array of people, increasing the number of people who are positively affected by his work. Bill is also involved in watershed restoration with the Friends of the Platte River.
Nominated by Darcy Kind who is the Prairie and Savanna Biologist with the Landowner Incentive Program that is a partnership between Golden Sands RC&D and the Wisconsin DNR
Peter Layton – Tallgrass Restoration, Milton
In 2003, Peter purchased 220 acres with the intention to restore it and at the same time saving this land from development. Also has an additional 50 acres that he has also been restoring. He has worked on removing several aggressive invaders such as buckthorn, garlic mustard, sweet clover, honeysuckle, box elder and reed canary grass. Being within an important bird area in the Lake Koshkonong watershed, he has increased the quality avian habitat to 220 acres of grassland. He has also worked on continuing preservation of his other parcel of land due to at-risk species that have called it home. Tallgrass Restoration is next to Fair Meadows SNA and by clearing his land of invasive plants, Peter is also keeping invasive species from entering this protect land from his.
By reaching out to nearby property owners he was able to go past property boundaries to clear a railroad right-of-way of invasive species that are adjacent to his land and some nearby natural areas. Peter also hosts an annual prairie open house so the public can learn more about invasive plants, native plants, and restoration.
His land is benefiting future research on biofuels and the effect on bird and insect communities by having an agreement with Michigan Tech. Tallgrass Farms also has a conservation easement with The Prairie Enthusiasts.
Peter is also on the steering committee for the Invasive Removal Squad which is an establishing CWMA in Rock, Green, and Jefferson counties.
Nominated by Linda Yunker who works with Peter as the Grant Assistance Coordinator.
Gypsy Moth Suppression Program, Madison, Fitchburg, and Green Bay
Andrea Diss-Torrance, Bill McNee, Mark Guthmiller, Colleen Robinson-Klug
Formed in early 1990’s as a cost-share program for landowners and communities to suppress gypsy moths, this group has stayed committed to protecting our forests. Andrea Diss-Torrance has been the coordinator since it started, Bill McNee and Mark Guthmiller are regional DNR suppression program coordinators, and Colleen Robinson-Klug is the natural resource educator for the program. Thousands of acres of oak forests have been protected through their efforts which include not only providing financial support for suppression projects, but also educating communities as well.
They have designed an invasive insect education program that teaches children and adults about the biology and management of invasive insects. Andrea Diss-Torrance was a main instrument in developing the firewood rule and the rest of the team implemented the “Don’t move firewood” campaign material and presentations on the impact of moving invasive species.
A well informed public was generated due to efforts and programs that have been developed and the public that has taken ownership of their areas and are taking their own measures to suppress gypsy moths. Bill McNee and Mark Guthmiller have to work with land owners, county suppression coordinators, attend meetings and conduct aerial surveys to determine damage and coordinate sprays.
Colleen Robinson-Klug handles the hotline and concerned citizens. By offering calm, professional answers, she is able to ease the situation and offer reasonable solutions. Andrea Diss-Torrance and Colleen Robinson-Klug also head an educational program that teaches a variety of control methods that citizen groups, teachers, and local governments can use on the forefront of controlling gypsy moths.
Nominated by Jane Cummings Carlson who is the Coordinator of the Forest Health Protection Program for the Wisconsin DNR.
Voluntary Efforts:
Susan Kenney, Sauk-Prairie River PALS, Sauk City
For the first time, people walking the path could see the river. That was in 2006 when Susan started pulling garlic mustard in the spring and that fall where she was removing buckthorn. She researched plants that were native to the area and dedicated time to plant native seeds. Through Susan's dedication she has increased the habitat quality to welcome back birds that are now nesting there.
She started Garlic Mustard Festival in 2007 and SP River PALS has continued to host it for the last 3 years. In 2008, students from the local high school started to get involved and grade school kids are also helping to restore the area.
She has worked with local government to educate them with presentations. Sue is now working on her next project site.
Nominated by Gerry Clausen who is a fellow volunteer.
Roma Lenehan & Glenda Denniston, Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Madison
In addition to putting in hundreds of hours each field season, these two keep amazing records of control efforts and results over several years of controlling garlic mustard. They have also written articles for newsletters and websites to educate others.
Roma started the garlic mustard Pull-A-Thon to raise money for control. After spending hundreds of hours on garlic mustard, she turns her focus to other invasives for the rest of the season. Roma has been one of the forces behind the Friends group since about 10 years ago.
Glenda spends hundreds of hours wrestling with buckthorn, honeysuckle and bittersweet. She also designates time to plants natives to replace invasive plants and inhibit their return. Glenda has taken many photographs of the work she has done as well as written articles. She was the first Vice President for the Friends of Lakeshore Nature Preserve.
Nominated by Tom and Kathie Brock who have worked with the pair on many work parties and attended field trips that were put on by them.
South-Eastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Cooperative, Jefferson
Covers 8 counties (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha).
Organized in 2007, SEWISC is comprised of multiple public and private organizations. Plants are not the only main focus; insects, disease organisms and other invasive species are also priorities. By realizing that Southeast Wisconsin is the gateway for many invasive species into Wisconsin, this group has created a protocol for monitoring, prioritizing and containing species. SEWISC has also written grants to implement these plans.
They have hit the ground running with their efforts doing a lot in just 1.5 years. Trainings and workshops have been held to reach out to local citizen groups, nature centers, and local government agencies. SEWISC has also developed materials as well.
They have a goal to develop a template weed ordinance that can be used as a guide to other municipalities.
Nominated by Kelly Kearns who is the Plant Conservation Program Manager with the Wisconsin DNR.
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