AmeriCorps member helping northern MI ecosystems

Abbigayle Broersma, an AmeriCorps member with Huron Pines, is serving with the Forest Service of Huron-Manistee National Forest and helping with the local ecosystems in a big way.

Abbie recently installed ten decontamination wader cleaning stations, which help limit invasive species within the aquatic ecosystems.

“Unfortunately, boaters and anglers can inadvertently move invasive species from one river to another when these ‘hitchhikers’ attach to boats or waders,” said Luca Adelfio, Abbie’s supervisor.

The spread of these invasive species can be severely reduced by cleaning gear properly, which is why Abbie designed and constructed the wader cleaning stations as a novel pilot project. She hopes that the cleaning stations increase public awareness of how severe an issue invasive species are and makes it easier for people to clean their waders.

Abbie installed all ten of these stations at the most popular angler access points along the national scenic section of the Au Sable River in time for the start of trout season. She is monitoring the stations throughout the summer and documenting their durability and use, hoping this project helps to combat the spread of aquatic invasive species both in the Au Sable watershed and beyond.