Mt. Pleasant Service Center

About the Program
DTE Mount Pleasant Service Center is located in north-central Michigan. The project team's overall goal is to reduce the overall amount of area that is mowed and provide a small urban oasis of habitat for migratory birds and local wildlife to ensure that quality habitat exists for these species in the future. To support this goal, the team manages three acres of native oak savannah.

Practices and Impacts

• Since 2007, the team has managed a three-acre oak savannah, containing red oak and white pine trees, which was planted exclusively with native plants. The oak savannah provides wildlife habitat while also filtering out stormwater runoff.
• The team employs hand-pulling to keep invasive species at bay, since no pesticides are used in this practice. Mowing is avoided to benefit pollinator species, as well as their larvae and eggs which benefit from plants such as butterfly weed. The no-mow policy also reduces the site’s fossil fuel usage. The team monitors the area for native and invasive plant species, as well as wildlife found on the property, and takes regular photographs for documentation.
• This project is aligned with both the Michigan Pollinator Initiative and the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge.