Green burials, ash jewelry are a thing now in Michigan. Can state law adjust?

Part of the appeal of green burial is the lack of chemical embalming, which can cause health risks to mortuary workers. More...

​Smart waterfront plants to enhance your shoreline

​Plants that grow in, along, and just outside water play an important role in protecting water quality and providing habitat for many water loving critters. More...

Beautiful shoreline natural landscaping

Green ER highlights examples of native, natural style landscaping in Michigan such as this one featured in this MSU article

Michigan Investment Tracker

​The Infrastructure Investment Tracker* (image below) keeps you up to date on the state's overall progress. The tool displays information on funded projects by utilizing Michigan's data on BIL funding, promoting transparency in the state's deployment of infrastructure funds to projects across various neighborhoods. Additionally, it showcases the state's overall progress.

* Includes many green initiatives

Data Analytics in Forestry - Tree Equity Score Model

The interactive visualization tool below visualizes the density of the local tree canopy correlated with social factors. Unfortunately there is no data for Antrim County at this time but it's still very interesting - You can search for any city. Link to the visualization tool, just click on the map (or search for any city).

EGLE on You Tube

https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2023/01/25/by-the-numbers-egles-videos-on-youtube-reach-milestones-in-2022

EGLE’s most popular 2022 content on YouTube was:

1. Invasive Species the Basics
2. What is Green Chemistry?
3. Industrial Storm Water Annual Training
4. How to Flush your Home When Water Services are Restored
5. This is EGLE
6. ISWO Training 1/9
7. Invasive Species Stop the Spread
8. Storm Water Employee Training
9. Stormwater Visual Assessment
10. EGLE Classroom – Hazardous Waste 101

Antrim Conservation District Update

It's almost TREE & SEEDLING SALE time!! Watch the ACD Facebook, Insta, and website for details, the website ordering system will go live mid-February.  Order early, some species were tough to get this year but we do have some new species in the 2023 offerings we're sure you'll like! Sugar Maple Sweet Crabapple Red Mulberry Highbush Cranberry Viburnum Black Walnut Red Maple American Elm Chinese Chestnut Quaking Aspen Black Elderberry Buttonbush Red Osier Dogwood Flowering White Dogwood Common Lilac Alnifolia Serviceberry (Saskatoon) Winterberry Paper Birch Yellow Birch American Hazelnut Red Oak White Oak Sassafras Tuliptree Black Willow Pussy Willow American Plum Redbud White Cedar Dawn Redwood American Larch Mountian Ash Aztec Fuji Apple  Golden Supreme Apple Royal Red Honeycrisp Apple For detailed species information visit plants.usda.gov

​Tree Sale Questions??  Contact Melissa Z. directly at [email protected] or (231)533-8363 ext 1.

Michigan DNR New Forest Health Report

Image via Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Bad bugs and pesky plants: Forest health report covers threats to trees

Munching through the canopy, choking out seedlings or wilting backyard trees – invasive insects and plants and tree diseases threaten the health of Michigan’s forests.

Forest health experts at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources work every day to protect our trees and forests. They survey Michigan’s woodlands and teach foresters and land managers to look out for signs of harm. Monitoring outbreaks, managing infestations and preparing for future challenges ensure we will continue to have places for recreation, homes for wildlife, healthier waters and renewable forest products.  

The 2022 Forest Health Highlights report covers the status of key forest health issues including the first detections of beech leaf disease and spotted lanternfly in Michigan. The news isn’t all bad though – the report also showcases the latest university research revealing progress on some of our toughest battles, collaborative work between agencies to protect forests and techniques to guide landowners in caring for their trees.

Read the report ►

“Michigan’s 20 million acres of forests are an unmatched resource,” said DNR Forest Health Program Manager Sue Tangora. “Thanks to the collaboration of partners across the state, we are learning new techniques to protect trees and keeping watch for invasive plants and forest pests and diseases.”

Contact the forest health team at DNR-FRD-Forest-Health@Michigan.gov with questions.

Thanks to Antrim County, the 2022 Christmas Bird Count took place on Friday, December 16th, 2022.  Sixteen participants divided into seven groups spent an aggregate of 52 party-hours in the field and traveled over 303 miles in pursuit of our local birds.
 
A total of 50 species (3934 individuals) were observed on the count, as shown in the list below.  The most unusual species for the count were the Wood Ducks, the American Coots, and the Double-crested Cormorant.  The Double-crested Cormorant was found on the rocks in Elk Rapids Harbor, behind the power plant.
 

2022 Christmas Bird Count Results