State of Michigan

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Lansing

JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM

governor

REBECCA  A. HUMPHRIES

director

 

 

 

BILL ANALYSIS

 

BILL NUMBER:

Senate Bill 557, AS INTRODUCED

TOPIC:

Removal of Yellow Flag Iris as Prohibited Plant Species

SPONSOR:

Whitmer

CO-SPONSORS:

Birkholz, Woerkom, and Gleason

COMMITTEE:

Agriculture

Analysis Done:

June 15, 2007

POSITION

The Department supports Senate Bill 557.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

When PA 77 of 2005 was passed, it included a list of plant and animal species that were either prohibited or restricted from possession and sale in the state.  The law’s intent is to slow the introduction of invasive species into the state.

As passed, PA 77 of 2005 included yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) as a prohibited species.  A review of available literature and reports on this particular plant by Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture staff has determined that this plant does not pose a significant invasive threat in Michigan.

Prior to its listing, yellow flag iris was sold by numerous plant nurseries in the state.  This listing halted all sales and distribution of the plant in the state.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

SB 557 removes yellow flag iris from the list of prohibited species, section 41301 (MCL 324.41301) of Public Act 451 of 1994.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

A review of literature indicates that yellow flag iris does not pose a significant invasive threat in Michigan.

It is widely used as an ornamental plant.

 

 

 

Con

Yellow flag iris has shown to be locally invasive in other areas of the country.  That is, it has spread within water bodies and along channels where it has been planted, but does not appear to spread easily between water bodies unless transported.

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

Are there revenue or budgetary implications in the bill to the --

(a)     Department

Budgetary:

There are no implications for the Department.

Revenue:   

There are no implications for the Department.

Comments:

None

(b)     State

Budgetary:

There are no implications for the Department.

Revenue:   

There are no implications for the Department.

Comments:

None

(c)     Local Government

Comments:

There are no implications to local governments.

 

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

The Michigan Department of Agriculture regulates the Nursery Plant industry and also supports removal of the yellow flag iris.

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

The Invasive Species Advisory Council established in Part 413 of PA 451 of 1994, in addition to recommending removal of yellow flag iris, the Council’s 2006 annual report recommended the addition of several species to the list of prohibited and restricted species and included the following:

 

 

            Prohibited Species

            Fish:

                        Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)

                        Tubenose goby (Proterorhinus cernuus)

                        Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

 

            Mammals:

                        Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

 

            Birds:

                        Eurasian collared dove (Streptopella decaocto)

 

            Mollusks:

                        Giant African snail (Achatina fulica)

                        Giant pond snail (Helix aspersa)

 

            Crustacea:

                        Rusty Crayfish (Oronectes rusticus)

 

            Restricted Species

            Mollusks:

                        Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

                        Quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis)

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None

 

 

 

_______________________________

Rebecca  A. Humphries

Director

 

_______________________________

Date

WLD