Lake Erie Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Program
Surveying and Managing Invasive Plants
2025 update: 800 acres inventoried, invasive plant species removed from 199 acres
The Lake Erie watershed supports some of the most ecologically rich habitats in the state, but invasive plant species pose a significant threat to the biological integrity and diversity of those ecosystems.
Pennsylvania Sea Grant works with natural resource managers, state agencies, and individuals to develop and share resources, provide guidance, and deliver invasive species-focused technical trainings. One of those collaborative efforts includes leading efforts of the Lake Erie Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area (LEW-CWMA). This volunteer group includes state agency staff, non-profit organizations, volunteers, and public and private landowners who, together, help minimize the threats of invasive plants.
The primary functions of the effort include conducting inventories of existing invasive plants, coordinating control activities, and educating landowners and others about invasive species.
Each year, Pennsylvania Sea Grant works closely with partners of the LEW-CWMA to prioritize both plant species and locations for surveying and data collection. This information is then used to facilitate invasive plant control in locations where it will have the greatest ecological impact.
Throughout spring and summer 2025, the group inventoried 800 acres and removed invasive plants from 199 acres in the Lake Erie watershed.
Tom Cermak coordinates the LEW-CWMA and says,
“These milestones of success are the result of dedicated partners who have invested significant time and resources over the past decade. The collaborative efforts undertaken by the CWMA have provided a level of protection to the Natural Heritage Area’s within the region and preserved the rich ecology of the sites. Unfortunately, managing invasive species is not a one-time undertaking, it requires ongoing inventory, maintenance, and dedicated resources to protect these spaces.”
Since 2012, partners have managed invasive plant species across 2,435 acres within the Lake Erie watershed
Download the LEW-CWMA five-year plan.
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