• ISCCW employees inspected 1830 watercraft and power washed 370 boats; they also talked to 4331 boaters. Paid educators logged 700 hours of education, administration and training time. Paid boat washers logged 858 hours of boat wash operations.

• ISCCW hired a certified biologist to monitor and survey 13 area lakes. Three additional lakes were monitored by ISCCW volunteers.

• ISCCW sponsored two on-water training sessions to demonstrate the proper way to look for and identify Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM).

• ISCCW purchased 9 signs titled “Stop These Invaders” and installed them at area boat landings. To promote public awareness, several give-away items were developed such as placemats, bookmarks, license plates and brochures. A Watercraft Checkpoints Coloring Contest was sponsored for children.

• ISCCW provided a 50% match to eligible lake associations to assist them with their aquatic invasive species treatment expenses.

• ISCCW volunteers logged hundreds of hours doing such things as monitoring public boat landings, surveying for EWM, harvesting EWM, attending meetings, researching grant opportunities, website design, mailings and record keeping.

Funding for the 2009 projects came from several sources. ISCCW received a grant from UPPCO for $5000, a donation from Watersmeet Township for $5000 and one from Michigan DNR for $500. Funds were also used from a $40,000 National Fish and Wildlife Grant awarded in 2008. Dues and donations from 275 members brought in an additional $24,000. ISCCW met with the Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Chairman and made a comprehensive proposal for a cooperative effort to be funded with 2% money in 2010.

We continue to work with the Western Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area (WUPCWPMA), the US Forest Service, the Army Corp of Engineers, area lake associations and surrounding communities. Through our township officials we are making the Michigan Township Association more aware of the seriousness of the threat of invasive species. The ISCCW firmly believes that education, lake surveys and control measures for infested areas offer the best solution to protect the township against invasive species.