BECOME AN AIS MONITOR

Wisconsin’s rivers are vulnerable to invasion by a number of invasive species, from Eurasian milfoil to Japanese knotweed.

The key to successfully protecting your river is detecting invasives early when it is still possible to isolate or eradicate the infestation. The longer we wait to find them and fight them, the more money and time it will take. Volunteers like you are invaluable for early detection.

During a Project RED Training

During a Project Red Training you will learn which invasive species threaten your local rivers, how to differentiate them from native look-a-likes, and how to keep an eye out for them by canoe, kayak, or on foot. We will help you choose priority monitoring locations and a monitoring schedule that are convenient to you and your volunteers. We will also provide you with online data management tools available through the Wisconsin DNR SWIMS database. 

See the Project RED Manual for more details. This manual provides a general overview of our protocols and the species of concern, both of which we customize to meet the needs of your volunteers and river.

If you identify an invasive in your riparian corridor, the River Alliance of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin DNR can also help you take the next step of eradication or containment. Ask us about funding and technical resources available to you! We are here to help.

Over 200 individuals have been trained. Join us!

 

Why You Should Join Project RED?

  • Easy, fun and flexible protocols to identify species of concern
  • Engage new members/volunteers
  • Educate local landowners about invasive species
  • Online data management tools managed by the Wisconsin DNR
  • Species verification by professionals
  • Eradication and containment technical support
  • It’s free!

To attend or host a training in your area contact us via email.

 

Additional Resources: