Prevention and Control of Aquatic Invasive Species: What Can a Citizen Do?

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Prevention and Control of Aquatic Invasive
SpeciesWhat Can a Citizen Do?

• Name
• Title
• Organization
• Date

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Main Topics

• Backgroundwhat they are, how they spread, why we
  care
• What Wisconsin is doing about the problem
• Volunteer opportunities for citizens
• AIS Grantsa potential source of funds
• Resources for more information

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What are invasive species?

• Non-native plants, animals and pathogens that can
  take over
• Successful because
• Few natural predators, parasites, etc.
• Out-compete native species

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How do they get here?

• Ballast water
• Stocking
• Nursery industry
• Bait industry
• Aquaculture
• Aquarium trade

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How do they spread?

• Boaters
• Anglers
• Other water users
• Natural dispersal

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Why do we care?

• Economic impacts
• Fishing industry, tourism, property values
• Ecological impacts
• Native fish, invertebrates, plants
• Recreational impacts
• Boating, angling, swimming

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Many already in WI

• Rainbow smelt Purple loosestrife
• Curly-leaf pondweed
• Rusty crayfish
• Spiny waterfleas
• Round goby
• Eurasian water-milfoil
• Zebra mussels

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And others may be on the way
A few of the potential threats
Asian Carp
Hydrilla
Water hyacinth
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Any questions at this point?
?
?
?
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Wisconsins Aquatic Invasive Species Program

• Goal Prevent introduction and limit spread of
  aquatic invasive species
• Document where they areMonitoring
• Educate boaters anglersWatercraft Inspection
• Raise public awarenessEducation Outreach
• Prevent introduction movementRules Regs
• Learn best ways to prevent controlResearch

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What You Can Do

• Boaters Anglers
• Inspect and remove aquatic plants and animals
• Drain all water from boat and equipment
• Dispose of unwanted bait in trash
• Rinse boat and equipment with hot/high pressure
  water OR
• Dry boat for at least 5 days

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What You Can Do

• Aquarium Water Garden Enthusiasts
• Never release pets or plants into nature
• Contact retailers or the DNR for alternative
  solutions for unwanted specimens
• Know what youre gettingavoid purchasing known
  nuisance species

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What You Can Do

• More Ways to Help
• Volunteer!
• Educate friends neighbors
• Protect natural shoreline native plants

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Volunteer Opportunities

• Clean Boats, Clean Waters
• Volunteer watercraft inspection program
• Trains citizens to educate boaters at landing and
  enforce law
• Citizens organize volunteer crews at local lakes
• Contact Erin Henegar

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Volunteer Opportunities

• Citizen Lake Monitoring
• Trains volunteers to collect data on lake health
  including aquatic invasives
• Data used to map extent of spread for species
• Contact Laura Herman

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Volunteer Opportunities

• Education Outreach
• Help spread the word!
• Resources available for local efforts
• Publications, displays materials, presentations
• Assistance planning educational events
• Contact Julia Solomon

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Volunteer Opportunities

• Purple Loosestrife Biological Control
• Trains volunteers to raise release control
  beetles
• Beetles available for freegreat school or family
  project
• Contact Brock Woods

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Any questions about how you can get involved?
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Aquatic Invasive Species Grants

• 1.5 million available each year
• State funds up to 50 of projectmay increase to
  75 in 2008
• Local governments given priority, but other
  organizations also eligible
• Volunteer time can be used as match
• Funds provided as reimbursement

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Aquatic Invasive Species Grants

• Three grant categories
• Education, Prevention Planning
• Early Detection Rapid Response
• Control of Established Infestations

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Education, Prevention Planning

• Deadlines February 1 August 1
• Up to 75,000
• Example projects
• Watercraft inspections
• Surveys and monitoring
• Prevention and control plans
• Outreach efforts
• Studies and assessments
• Goal is to prevent spread of AIS

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Early Detection Rapid Response

• Rolling applicationsno deadline
• Up to 10,000
• New pioneer stands
• Coordination with DNR requiredpermits needed for
  chemical treatment
• Goal is containment

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Controlling Established Infestations

• Deadlines February 1 and August 1
• Up to 75,000
• Management of non-pioneer populations
• Must be part of DNR-approved plan
• Goal is long-term population reduction

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AIS Grant Tips

• Good
• Multiple-lake benefit
• Ecological improvement
• Long-term focus
• Community support
• Bad
• Short-term nuisance control
• Routine maintenance
• Dredging

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AIS Grant Resources

• DNR grant specialists and lake coordinators
• More info at http//dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cfa/grant
  s/lakes/invasivespecies.html

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Resources for More Information

• Web addresses
• DNR site www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/aquatic/
• UWEX Lakes site www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/
• Staff contacts
• Julia SolomonGeneral questions, pub orders,
  information
• 608-267-3531 julia.solomon_at_wisconsin.gov
• Erin HenegarClean Boats, Clean Waters
• 715-346-4978 ehenegar_at_uwsp.edu
• Laura HermanCitizen Lake Monitoring Network
• 715-346-3989 lherman_at_uwsp.edu
• Brock WoodsPurple Loosestrife Biocontrol
• 608-221-6349 brock.woods_at_wisconsin.gov
• Carroll SchaalAquatic invasive species grants
• 608-261-6423 carroll.schaal_at_wisconsin.gov
• Jeff MaxtedUW Center for Limnology research
• 608-262-3088 jtmaxted_at_wisc.edu
• Ron MartinPolicy, budget program information

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Any questions? Thank you!