Bob Bultman on the Future of Door County Invasive Species Team
Posted on 07. Jan, 2010 by Bob Bultman in Invasives
“The West of which I speak is but another name for the Wild, and what I have been preparing to say is, that in Wildness is the preservation of the World. Every tree sends its fibers forth in search of the Wild. The cities import it at any price. Men plow and sail for it. From the forest and wilderness come the tonics and barks which brace mankind.” – Henry D. Thoreau
Bob Bultman
Dear DCIST Members and Friends,
As our primary funding grant for current DCIST programming wraps up and my contract to lead the Team ends, I wanted to sign off with a few words of encouragement and thanks. 2009 has been another dynamic year for the Door County Invasive Species Team. From shore to shore, tip to toe, lots of invasive species control work was accomplished this year in Door County.
There are far too many ongoing projects to list here, but I’d like to highlight one of three Boy Scout projects that were a big help in invasives control in the County this year: as part of his Eagle Scout Project, Boy Scout Ben Mitchell from Green Bay helped lead dozens of scouts and residents and members of the Clark Lake Advancement Association in phragmites control on the lake. Great work Ben and crew!
As you are well aware, there is plenty more effort that is needed to stem the rising tide of invasive plants and animals that threaten to disrupt the integrity of our County’s phenomenal native land and waterscapes. The invasive plants and animals already here do not take time off and with such ominous problems as wild parsnip, emerald ash borer, beech bark disease and asian carp on our doorstep, our native ecosystems are as challenged as ever. There is plenty to learn about, map, monitor for and control in the coming years.
Thank you for all your support and efforts. Logged volunteer hours spent countering invasives in Door County have once again provided crucial match for state invasive species funding. Over 1500 hours of time was logged this year controlling aquatic, wetland and shoreline invasives, and that translates to over $18,000 in match for the state funding in 2009 alone! This high level of community support has allowed the County Conservation Department to pursue and receive another grant for 2 years of coordinator funding, good through December 2011.
In the meantime, the Conservation Department and DCIST Steering Partners are in the process of evaluating the DCIST Program and will be issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Outreach staffing in the coming weeks. Until then, the Program will be on hiatus and no public DCIST meetings are scheduled at this time. I hope to return as the Outreach Educator, Weed Captain and spokesperson for DCIST.
Thank you for your patience and stay tuned! You, the engaged citizenry, are the heart – and muscle! – of DCIST. Your ongoing support is crucial for sustaining this effort. And, it does not go unnoticed. It has been and will continue to be an honor and a pleasure to work among the finest people of northeast Wisconsin.
All the Best in 2010. See you in the underbrush! Warm regards, Bob Bultman DCIST Outreach Coordinator p.s. If you need to reach me, call 920.421.2283 or email me at restoredoor@gmail.com.
RestoreDoor Ecologic Consulting & Restoration
PO Box 151
Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin 54202
Follow @doorcounty for instant DC Style news
 |
