Habitat Awareness and Action

Treatment of the non-native invasive species Autumn Olive that exists along common Portage Ridge roadways took place in fall 2021 by volunteer Portage Ridge family residents. Approval was given by the Board of Directors (BOD). The technique used was the cut-and-treat method advocated by Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University Extension. Since fall 2021, year-round residents and visitors may have noticed the cut branches lying off roadside areas.

In early spring, this brush will be picked up by Portage Ridge volunteers and will be burned. If you could volunteer to help, please contact a BOD member. Habitat Awareness welcomes volunteers to join the team and help formulate plans to keep our beautiful dune free of invasive species.

It is highly likely that most, if not all, private properties have autumn olive to some degree.

Information about Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) is constantly changing, given that it is new to Michigan and new detections are being found. Some lot owners had their lots checked in February 2021 and nothing was found.

Here is a link to the State of Michigan page on HWA - https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002_71241-367635--,00.html#:~:text=Habitat%3A%20Hemlock%20woolly%20adelgid%20infests,park%20landscapes%20in%20many%20areas. This page has the most updated information about HWA and where it has been detected (thankfully not detected in Manistee County as of March 2022).