How may times have you reached up to pull you canoe or kayak off the roof of your car and unexpectedly received a shower with water that has managed to hitch a ride in your hull? This water that rolls down your back is a threat, believe it or not. Paddlers and anglers can be vectors serving to spread invasive species from one waterbody to another when they fail to dry and clean their equipment. It only takes one invisible Didymo cell or one small piece of Eurasian watermilfoil to infect an entire watershed. Please take the following steps to prevent the spread before transporting your equipment. The health of your river depends on you!
Remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before tranpsorting equipment
Eliminate all water from equipment
Clean and dry anything that came in contact with the water (boats, trailers, clothing, dogs, etc.)
Never release plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of the that body of water.
Not only is it the right thing to do,it's the law. Wisconsin passes legislation in 2009 that requires that people take these preventative measures to avoid spreading invasive species before entering a waterbody or transporting equipment.
Anglers and water quality monitors, avoid using felt soled waders; they are particularly notorious for harboring invasive species because it takes them a very long time to throughly dry out. Read "Anglers, Have A Little Sole!" On page 10 of our Winter 2009 newsleter. If you do use felt waders, soak the felt in a 2% bleach solution after wading. The more stringentWisconsin DNR equipment disinfection protocol should be used when moving equipment, such as waders, from an infested waterbody.
Become a Clean Boats, Clean Waters Volunteer!
Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteers will be at four popular boat launches along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway this summer to educate boaters about the laws that prevent the spread of invasive species. These volunteers will also help us to gather very important information that will help us anticipate when and where the next invasion will occur along the river corridor. This project is a partnership of the River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, University of Wisconsin Extention, and the Wisconsin DNR. To learn more about our Clean Boats, Clean Waters program or to become a volunteer, contact Matt Krueger at mkrueger@wisconsinrivers.org.
Know What is Lurking in Your Watershed! Be an Early Detector!
The first step to understanding invasive species and the threat they pose to your river is being capable of recognizing the good from the evil. Study the species listed on our Species of Concern list. Grab your kayak, canoe, hip waders, or hiking boots and explore! Is purple loosestrife creeping into your wetlands? Is Japanese knotweed lurking underneath your bridges? The River Alliance will train your volunteers to be early detectors for free. Contact us for more information at (608) 257-2424 x110 and visit our Project RED page.
Volunteers record the location of Japanese knotweed on the Sheboygan River. Photographer: Denny Caneff, River Alliance of Wisconsin
Contain or Eradicate Infestations
Once you have identified an invasive in your river or along the riverbanks, it is necessary to determine if it is cost-effective to eradicate or contain the infestation. If you catch them early, there is a chance for eradication or at least to isolate them. It is important to prioritize your limited resources. Pick your battles; but don’t stall. Call us if you need assistance developing a plan of attack! There are funds available through WDNR Aquatic Invasive Species grants. SUCCESS STORY:The Friends of Badfish Creek were awarded an AIS control grant in 2009 to eradicate a stand of Japanese knotweed they detected during the 2008 Project REDpaddle.
Friends of Badfish Creek volunteers clear dead Japanese knotweed debris to allow new growth to be sprayed with herbicides this summer. Photographer: Laura MacFarland, River Alliance of Wisconsin
Spread the Message, Not the Invasive
Tell your friends and neighbors that you are concerned about invasive species in and along your rivers. Teach others to prevent the spread by posting signs at popular access points or through local media. Join the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers" campaign.
Photographer: Allison Werner, River Alliance of Wisconsin
The River Alliance of Wisconsin Can Help You With All of the Above: Visit our Funding and Technical Resources page to learn about free workshops and other resources available to your organization.
