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The Lower Wisconsin River is a corridor for the dispersal of aquatic invasive species that leads to the very heart of the State of Wisconsin. While a lot of attention has been given to the super spreaders to the east, the Great Lakes, many invasives are approaching Wisconsin from the west via the Mississippi River. The species of concern for the Lower Wisconsin include viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), western mosquitofish, Asian carp, zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, quagga mussesl, curly-leaf pondweed, and common carp.
The River Alliance has been awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to facilitate a technical advisory committee to guide the development of a Lower Wisconsin River Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Strategic Plan. We will be partnering with experts and stakeholders to meet the following objectives by the end of 2011.
Objectives:
- Implement Clean Boats, Clean Waters watercraft inspections and boater surveys to determine the potential sources and vectors of AIS conducted at public access points on the Lower Wisconsin in 2010
- Survey the extent of AIS signage at public access points on the Lower Wisconsin; determine where more signage is needed.
- Identify locations on the Lower Wisconsin that could provide habitat to AIS of concern for purposes of designing a monitoring plan
- Facilitate a community-based planning session with stakeholder groups in the Lower Wisconsin watershed
- Collate findings of the aforementioned activities, supported by input from technical advisory committee, into an AIS strategic plan for the Lower Wisconsin River
The Lower Wisconsin River has been identified by the WDNR as a priority for increased boater education. In “Recreational Boating in Wisconsin: The 2007 Survey” conducted by the WDNR Bureau of Science Services, the Wisconsin River was identified as the second most visited waterbody in the state by boaters. As a result, in 2009 the WDNR realized that there was a gap in the implementation of watercraft inspection on the Lower Wisconsin River. With funding and support from the Wisconsin Workforce Development, the DNR hired individuals to spend 131 hours at landings and inspect 147 boats. In 2010 the funds necessary to employee these individuals does not exist. To fill this need, the River Alliance and the Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) are training concerned citizens to be Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteers who will help to educate boaters at four popular boat landings in 2010 and 2011. To learn more about the CBCW program or how you can become a CBCW watercraft inspector contact Matt Krueger at mkrueger@wisconsinrivers.org.
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