Monroe County, WI
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The Monroe County Invasive Species Workgroup is a cooperative effort led by Monroe County Land Conservation, DNR Forestry, Fort McCoy, and UW Extension.
For more information on the group contact 608-269-8975.
Mission Statement: To educate the public and private interests in Monroe County on the impacts of invasive species, and to conduct and promote the management of invasive species by interagency and private citizen action.
Vision Statement: Continuing to inform, promote and conduct the management of invasive species by interagency and private citizenry action. Using public and private collaboration to reduce or eliminate the impacts of all invasive species that affect the resources of Monroe County.
Management Plan: Click Here
Memorandum Of Understanding: Click Here
MCISWG Informational Brochure: Click Here
Monroe County Invasive Species Cost Share Program: Click Here
*Monroe County Contractor List - CRP/Habitat/Invasive Species*
Upcoming Events:
National Invasives Species Awareness Week Event on Friday, February 20th!
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30pm
Location: Sparta Floral, 636 E. Montgomery Street, Sparta, WI 54656
Details: "Plant Propagation, It's Complicated" by Mic Armstrong - Monroe County Invasive Species Working Group
"Creative Dedication with Native Vegetation" by Eric Ressel - NRCS Conservationist
Plus, there will be quizzes to earn door prizes!
Meeting will be held on April 30th!
Will be looking at brush bundles in a creekbank on Fort McCoy, followed by an educational meeting.
Details: TBA
Save the Date! Summer Field Day, Thursday June 11!
Time: TBD
Location: Fort McCoy - Whitetail Ridge and Pine View Campground
Details: TBA
Save the Date! Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference, October 6-8!
Time: October 6 - 8
Location: La Crosse
2025 Invader Persuader Award - Karen Williamson!
The MCISWG Invader Persuader Award goes to an individual nominated by their MCISWG peers for their work and dedication to reducing invasive species in Monroe County through management, education, and/or community involvement.
The 2025 recipient of the MCISWG Invader Persuader Award is Karen Williamson! Karen is a dedicated participant in MCISWG meetings and events, manages invasive plants on her property, volunteers with the Amur maple crew, and has worked on the Monroe County Highway Department’s invasive plant mapping project through the Renz lab. A dedicated citizen scientist, her enthusiasm and ideas are greatly appreciated by the working group! Congratulations Karen!
2024 Invader Persuader - Rikki Ratsch, leads the invasive species management team at Fort McCoy 
RESOURCES
Midwest Invasive Plants Network (MIPN) - 2023, 2024, and 2025 webinar series available to watch anytime. Themes include early detection, effective management, and emerging Midwest invasive plants. Presentations cover a wide variety of topics including safe pesticide application, species identification, and restoration strategies. There are 25 webinars available.
Invasive Plant Management for Pastures - University of Wisconsin Renz Lab
Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative (WIGL) - 28 woody invasive species regulated as invasive by at least one Great Lakes jurisdiction - ID, biological, and control information & links to state fact sheets
Species to Watch out for Presentation - Rikki Ratsch gave this presentation at the Monroe County Invasive Species Field Day on June 26th , 2025. Click on the link to learn more about invasive species to watch out for!
The Rotten Amur Maple: Identification and Control
Wisconsin Invasive Plant Identification
- This page contains key resources that showing users how to identify 114 of Wisconsin’s regulated terrestrial invasive plants, view national and statewide distribution, and differentiate each invasive plant from similar looking species. Additionally, to facilitate learning about this large number of species, we have separated the 114 species into 15 groups based on taxonomic relationships or similar traits. Each of the 15 groups has an overview of the group characteristics, including photos within referenced factsheets, and a Species Summary Table describing key traits of each species (leaves, flowers, etc.) to allow users to differentiate species within the group.
- In addition to these resources, we provide a certification test to document test-takers’ ability to identify regulated terrestrial plants in Wisconsin. Individuals who successfully pass the test will receive an Invasive Plant Identification Certification from University of Wisconsin — Madison Division of Extension.
Pesticide Safety for non certified mixers loaders and applicators
Buckthorn Removal Demo -- Watch on YouTube!
Midwest Invasive Plant Network
USDA Invasive Species Information Center
Wisconsin DNR Invasive Species site
UW Extension Invasive Species I.D. and Impacts at WI First Detectors Network