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The post Protected: What Drives Lake Winnebago’s Water Levels—and How to Read the Graph Everyone Talks About appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/04/02/reading-the-lake-winnebago-graph/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reading-the-lake-winnebago-graph

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

The NFL Draft is coming to Titletown! But before the picks are made… we’ve got some picking of our own to do. This Earth Day—Tuesday, April 22—join the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and NFL Green for the Fox-Wolf Watershed Cleanup Preseason Pick-Up, a trail cleanup along Green Bay’s Fox River Trail. We’re getting it ready [...]

The post The NFL Draft Is Coming to Green Bay. Let’s Clear the Field (of Trash). appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/04/01/preseason-pick-up-nfl-draft-cleanup-green-bay/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=preseason-pick-up-nfl-draft-cleanup-green-bay

Dan Beckwith

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The post Protected: Lake Winnebago Ice Out: The Last Ice Is Gone—Here’s What It Means appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/03/25/lake-winnebago-ice-out/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lake-winnebago-ice-out

Dan Beckwith

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The post Protected: Lake Winnebago: Keeping Everyone Afloat appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/03/19/lake-winnebago-water-level-management-stakeholders/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lake-winnebago-water-level-management-stakeholders

Dan Beckwith

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The post Protected: Why Does Lake Winnebago’s Water Level Change in Winter? appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/03/12/lake-winnebago-winter-water-level-management/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lake-winnebago-winter-water-level-management

Dan Beckwith

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The post Protected: Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin: A Powerhouse Waterway with a Changing Past appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/03/06/lake-winnebago-history-dams-impact/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lake-winnebago-history-dams-impact

Dan Beckwith

The Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team provides a collaborative opportunity for stakeholder representatives and experts to develop realistic and achievable water level recommendations and related goals that reasonably balance the top priorities of multiple system users and the health of the lakes. Meeting details: Date: Feb. 19, 2025 Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am [...]

The post WWLAT MEETING: Feb. 19, 2025 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/02/25/wwlat_2025_02_19/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wwlat_2025_02_19

Katie Reed

Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a real impact? Registration is live for Northeast Wisconsin’s largest volunteer trash cleanup, and we’re calling on you to help protect our beautiful waterways. Let’s come together and transform our local environment—one cleanup at a time! Event Snapshot When: Saturday, [...]

The post Fox-Wolf Watershed Cleanup: Registration Now Open – Join Your Community Today! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/02/24/fox-wolf-watershed-cleanup-2025-join-the-movement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fox-wolf-watershed-cleanup-2025-join-the-movement

Dan Beckwith

Startup Company Finding Ways to Deal with Invasive Plant Original Story: Tom Page, CNN Lake Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi, Kenya is becoming increasingly unnavigable. Water hyacinth, the world’s most widespread invasive species, is blanketing the lake, choking its fish and leaving people stranded. “Sometimes it becomes very serious,” says Simon Macharia, a local fisherman, [...]

The post Water Hyacinth Instead of Plastic Bags? Invasive Species Used to Regrow Forests appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/01/17/water-hyacinth-instead-of-plastic-bags-invasive-species-used-to-regrow-forests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=water-hyacinth-instead-of-plastic-bags-invasive-species-used-to-regrow-forests

Chris Acy

Help Stop The Spread Of Aquatic Invasive Species During Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons

Original Story: WI DNR

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds migratory bird hunters that they are essential partners in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in hunting areas and Wisconsin’s waterways. The steps hunters take before leaving a boat launch or access point are vital for protecting hunting habitat.

Invasives can hide in some of the most unsuspected places. Mud on your anchor can hide seeds, eggs or the larvae of tiny species, such as spiny water fleas. Water that collects in boats and decoys can carry diseases, and insects, snails and seeds can also collect under the vests of a hunting dog. Consider giving your dog a rinse with a jug of clean water or scrubbing them off with a brush while they go for a quick swim to prevent invasive species from hitching a ride to the next hunting spot.

Of particular concern to hunters is the Faucet snail. These snails carry parasites that can kill ducks if they eat them. Learn more about how hunters can help prevent the spread of invasive species and minimize these risks on the DNR’s Invasive Species Prevention webpage or by visiting the “Hunter Resources” tab on the Waterfowl Hunting webpage.

Members of Wisconsin’s Aquatic Invasive Species Partnership may be available in your area to provide presentations and other outreach for hunt clubs and other organizations. They and your Regional DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Biologist can answer specific questions about any aquatic invasive species where you plan to hunt.

Find your county Aquatic Invasive Species contact on the DNR’s website. Many of these folks will visit boat launches during the hunting season to provide on-the-spot education, boat towels and boot brushes.

Just a few minutes of preventative action can protect our hunting tradition for generations to come. Before launching into and leaving a water body, hunters should:

  • Inspect waders, boats, trailers, motors and hunting equipment, including boots, blinds and dogs, before leaving a boat launch or access point.
  • Remove all plants, animals and mud to the best of your ability. A special consideration for waterfowl hunters is to remove all seed heads and roots when using vegetation to conceal duck blinds. It is also important to note that it is illegal to use phragmites for camouflage in counties where the plant is prohibited by NR40. In general, these counties include the western half of the state.
  • Drain all water from decoys, boats, motors and other hunting equipment.
  • Never move plants or live fish away from a water body.

For more information about aquatic invasive species, including where they are prohibited and restricted in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Invasive Species webpage.

Photo Credit: Chris Acy, Wisconsin DNR

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on our Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Facebook page or @fox_wolf_watershed_alliance on Instagram! You can also sign-up for email updates at fwwa.org.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Waterfowl Hunters: What You Need to Know about Invasive Species appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/09/28/waterfowl-hunters-what-you-need-to-know-about-invasive-species/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=waterfowl-hunters-what-you-need-to-know-about-invasive-species

Chris Acy

Multi-Year Partnership Results in Water Hyacinth No Longer Seen on Lake Winneconne

A team from the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently monitored Lake Winneconne for the invasive species Water Hyacinth. The annual check for this invasive plant has been ongoing since October 2015 when water hyacinth was first found in the Winnebago System. After an extensive search, no hyacinth was found for the 5th consecutive year! According to the DNR, water hyacinth will no longer be listed as verified or observed on the System. While it’s very difficult to remove any invasive species completely from a lake or river, that has effectively been done for the Winnebago System with water hyacinth!

Water hyacinth has previously been found in local waterways in 8 Wisconsin counties, including in Lake Winneconne in Winnebago County. The plant was first reported to the DNR in October 2015 by a citizen volunteer. Due to its ability to quickly dominate a system, there is concern that the plant may be able to establish a population in the lake. With local partners, the DNR coordinated efforts in October and early November 2015 to remove all water hyacinth plants that were found. As a sub-tropical plant, there was hope that the cold Wisconsin winter would eliminate any plants that were potentially missed by the removal efforts. However, in September 2016, more water hyacinth plants were located in the same area of Lake Winneconne in residential channels and the Wolf River channel. Additional monitoring and removal occurred in September and October 2016, September and October 2017, July and October 2018, and September 2019.

Starting in 2020, no water hyacinth was found during the monitoring trips or by volunteer monitoring efforts. With each successive year, more support was given to the idea that the plant was being repetitively illegally released into the lake near the end of the growing season rather than fragments of plant surviving or seeds germinating each year.

Only with partnerships between WI DNR, local non-profits like Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, citizen volunteers is this story a success. From the first plant being found and reported by a concerned lake resident to the response and removal efforts, we at Fox-Wolf are proud to be part of the team that ensured our System remains free of waterd hyacinth!

Photo Credit: Chris Acy, Patrick Siwula

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on our Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Facebook page or @fox_wolf_watershed_alliance on Instagram! You can also sign-up for email updates at fwwa.org.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Water Hyacinth No More! Invasive Species Removal Success appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/09/26/water-hyacinth-no-more-invasive-species-removal-success/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=water-hyacinth-no-more-invasive-species-removal-success

Chris Acy

Protecting Northeast Wisconsin’s Waterways: Stormwater Management with NEWSC

At the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, we’re excited to highlight the great work being done by the Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium (NEWSC). NEWSC is dedicated to stormwater management and reducing pollution in our local rivers, lakes, and streams, like the Fox River and Lake Winnebago. By working with municipalities, businesses, and the public, they play a big part in keeping our waterways clean and healthy across Northeast Wisconsin.

Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium (NEWSC) is all about keeping local waterways clean and healthy by managing stormwater runoff. They work with municipalities, businesses, and the public to help reduce pollution that can end up in rivers, lakes, and streams.

NEWSC logo - Northeast Stormwater Consortium

Here’s What They Do:

  • Education & Outreach: NEWSC runs programs to help people understand how stormwater impacts the environment and what we can all do to help. This includes public campaigns, workshops, and simple tips for homeowners and businesses.

  • Technical Support: They help cities and towns with stormwater plans to make sure they’re following the rules and doing what’s best for the environment.

  • Collaboration: NEWSC brings different groups together to share knowledge and work on stormwater issues as a team.

Here’s Who they serve:

  • Municipalities that need to manage stormwater runoff according to regulations.

  • Businesses that want to be more environmentally friendly.

  • Homeowners and the public who can help by taking small steps like using rain barrels or reducing chemical use in yards.

  • Schools where students can learn about stormwater and how to protect water quality.

  • Municipalities, including cities like Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Appleton, that need to manage stormwater runoff according to state and federal regulations.

By working together as a region, NEWSC is able to take on stormwater challenges in a more impactful way. Protecting water quality helps reduce flooding, keeps pollutants out of our waterways, and preserves the natural environment in Northeast Wisconsin. Whether it’s cities, businesses, schools, or individual homeowners, everyone has a part to play in keeping our waters clean and healthy for future generations!

NEWSC’s efforts make a big difference in protecting our water resources and reducing the impact of stormwater runoff. By working together, we can all do our part to keep our waterways clean and healthy for future generations. Whether you’re a city, business, or homeowner, there are simple steps everyone can take to help protect water quality in Northeast Wisconsin!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on our Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Facebook page or @fox_wolf_watershed_alliance on Instagram! You can also sign-up for email updates at fwwa.org.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Stormwater Week 2024 | NEWSC appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/09/23/stormwater24newsc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stormwater24newsc

Dan Beckwith

Volunteer Efforts Raising Beetles Help Reduce Invasive Purple Loosestrife

Mid-summer means long sunny days and memorable weekends on your favorite waters. But it also means the start of the blooming period of the invasive plant purple loosestrife. You might be seeing some of these plants along roadways with bright purple flowers. While a beautiful plant, purple loosestrife makes over 2.5 million seeds each year. Very quickly, these plants can start to dominate landscapes.

Luckily, there is a beetle that only eats purple loosestrife plants. These biological control beetles help to control the size and spread of purple loosestrife plants. To help increase the chances of a large beetle population each year, Fox-Wolf volunteers help to raise beetles away from predators. By the middle of summer, the raised beetles are then brought back into the wild places that are suffering from too many invasive purple loosestrife plants.

Recently, raised beetles were ready to be released! Check out some of the photos below of these beetles in action! Want to raise beetles next year? Learn more on our Volunteer page!

Photo Credit: Chris Acy

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Biocontrol Beetles Help Bump Invasive Plant appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/07/17/biocontrol-beetles-help-bump-invasive-plant/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=biocontrol-beetles-help-bump-invasive-plant

Chris Acy

Double Check Those Lamprey; Wisconsin has Native Lamprey Too

Many Wisconsin anglers are catching fish left, right, and center as we near mid-summer. But sometimes with those fish, there are reports of sea lamprey attached to fish. Even in places where the sea lamprey isn’t known to have reached, including Lake Winnebago. But anglers are often surprised to hear that Wisconsin waters play host to native lamprey. Take a minute to learn how to identify our native lamprey so next time you catch a fish with a lamprey, you’ll know if it’s native or invasive.

Native Lamprey vs. Sea Lamprey

There are four native freshwater lamprey that can be found in Wisconsin. Of these four, two are parasitic and might be on your next fish. Each species of lamprey have different physical characteristics that can help you figure the lamprey you’re seeing. Check out the chart below to see how our native species differ from the invasive sea lamprey.

Click the image to enlarge

If you’re looking for key characteristics to determine if you’ve caught a sea lamprey, take a look at the top fin of the lamprey. If the long fin on the back of the lamprey is split into two (two dorsal fins), there’s a good chance you’ve caught a sea lamprey.

The most common lamprey in the Winnbeago lake system is the native Chestnut Lamprey. To learn more about this native lamprey, check out this Fox-Wolf Species Spotlight article.

To learn more about the invasive sea lamprey, Fox-Wolf’s AIS Spotlight has the info you’ll need!

Photo Credit: Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Surely a Sea Lamprey….right? appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/07/17/surely-a-sea-lamprey-right/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=surely-a-sea-lamprey-right

Chris Acy

4th of July and Aquatic Invasive Species

Happy 4th of July!

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is joining the international effort to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species this July 4th weekend! The annual Landing Blitz campaign runs June 26th – July 6th, 2024. Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) boat inspectors and educators will meet boaters at lake and river launches to remind them that by taking simple prevention steps, we all play a vital role stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra mussels.

Joining with the Great Lakes Landing Blitz, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance joins all the Great Lakes states and provinces to educate boaters that simple clean up steps and draining water from the boat and live wells can help to prevent the spread of AIS. Many boaters will be greeted at landings and access points by volunteers and regional aquatic invasive species prevention partners sharing the simple but powerful message: YOU can protect lakes and rivers form aquatic invasive species impacts.

“It only takes a minute to remove plants, animals, mud or debris from boats, trailers and equipment and to drain all water from bilges, livewells and bait buckets,” said Erin McFarlane, the Statewide CBCW Educator with Extension Lakes. “These simple steps help keep invasive species from hitching a ride from one lake or river to another.”

No matter where you launch, always remember before you leave the launch to:

  • Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plants or animals.
  • Remove all attached plants or animals
  • Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells and other equipment
  • Never move live fish away from a waterbody (out of water = dead)
  • Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash
  • Buy minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer
  • Only use leftover minnows when either 1) fishing with them on the same body of water or 2) on other waters if no lake/river water or other fish have been added to the container.

Following these steps ensures boaters comply with Wisconsin state law, which prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species.

Have a safe holiday weekend and thanks for helping protect our waterways!

Photo Credit: Sophia Koch

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Landing Blitz: Protecting our Waters appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/07/02/landing-blitz-protecting-our-waters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=landing-blitz-protecting-our-waters

Chris Acy

Over 70 Exotic Pets Surrendered, To Be Rehomed

Seventy animals were turned in at an exotic pet surrender event in Kimberly, Wisconsin, on Sunday.  Thirty seven people attended and there was a Facebook Reach of 13,000 people.  Included in the surrenders were a four parakeets, a ferret, three red eared sliders, and a 13 foot reticulated python!

The Exotic Pet Surrender Event was held March 18th, 2024 between 9 AM and 1 PM at the Kimberly Public Library.  J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue was accepting fish, invertebrates, reptiles, pet birds, small mammals, and plants — no questions asked.

In some areas, there are no rehoming options for exotic animals such as fish, birds, and reptiles. Some pet owners that are unable to care for their pet may think that releasing the animal is the right thing to do, however, releasing a pet is harmful for the animal and the environment.

This event brought together a collection of rehoming partners that provide responsible alternatives to release for exotic pet owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR) hosted the event with help from another area organization; the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Questions regarding the Exotic Pet Surrender Event or about future surrenders or events can be directed to John Moyles of J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue. He can be reached at adoptions@jraar.org

For information on future pet surrender events happening across the state of Wisconsin, visit https://www.jraar.org/

Photo Credit: Chris Acy, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Exotic Pet Surrender in Kimberly Gives Pet Owners Options appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/05/20/exotic-pet-surrender-in-kimberly-gives-pet-owners-options/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exotic-pet-surrender-in-kimberly-gives-pet-owners-options

Chris Acy

Article provided by: Wisconsin AIS Partnership

One of the many challenges facing a healthy waterbody is how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) to protect the ecological, social, and economic benefits that we so greatly cherish in Wisconsin. Prevention of AIS is key to the long-term sustainability of ‘lake life’ and needs to be at the forefront of any protection strategy. Simply put, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But if only it were just that simple. The variables and situations that can impact a waterbody may seem so limitless that it can be daunting to know where to start. As a lake resident, you might consider questions such as:

Does the boat launch near my house have an AIS prevention sign?
What if a new AIS is documented in our lake?
What are people doing upstream that could impact our lake?
Do they follow AIS prevention laws?
Where will the next visiting boat come from and will they have taken prevention steps?
What if they didn’t? What then? What next?…

The problem can feel overwhelming. The important thing is that each of us can do something. Big or small. Simple or complex. New or old. Every action counts and every action matters. As a lake resident, you are in a unique stakeholder position to do something particularly powerful and that is to flex your consumer power when it comes to services that you might need as part of your lake life. These might be services such as dock and lift installation/maintenance, shoreline construction work, etc. Any activity that involves installing, removing, operating, and transporting water-related equipment, structures, and gear presents a high risk of inadvertently transporting and spreading AIS without proper decontamination. While everyone is required to “inspect, remove, and drain” per Wisconsin State Statutes NR40, these steps might not always be 100% effective especially for high-risk users such as service providers who are often working on multiple lakes in a single day and interacting with lake water and sediment in ways that recreational users are not. These kinds of service providers need to follow the same prevention steps that we all do, but they are not required to take the extended steps, such as spraying equipment with a bleach solution, making it all the more important for consumers to advocate for their lake.

To flex your consumer muscle, here are some simple ideas to consider –

• Ask your existing or prospective provider what AIS prevention steps they take.
• Build ‘decontamination’ into the service contract. Ask that the provider implement at least one decontamination option (see figure) and provide you with documentation such as a video, logbook, or arrange to witness it in-person.
• Talk with your neighbor or lake group to discuss the possibility of hiring the same provider to reduce the number of providers coming to the lake throughout the season.

Thank you for being a steward of your lake!

Photo Credit: Steph Boismenue, McGhiever

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post How Lake Stewardship & Consumer Power Can Help Prevent the Spread of AIS appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/05/20/how-lake-stewardship-consumer-power-can-help-prevent-the-spread-of-ais/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-lake-stewardship-consumer-power-can-help-prevent-the-spread-of-ais

Chris Acy

Additional Monitoring Reveals No Other Spiny Waterfleas

Following up from a spiny water flea finding in Lake Winnebago in 2022, the WI Department of Natural Resources and local partners conducted extensive monitoring for spiny water fleas through the summer and fall of 2022. Biologists were searching for additional adult spiny waterfleas as well as eggs that would have been laid in the sediment of the lake. Following analysis of the samples collected, we are please to report that no evidence of spiny waterflea were found which includes not finding any eggs!

This is fantastic news for our waterways! Currently, there is no evidence that the spiny waterfleas found in 2022 were able to establish a population in Lake Winnebago. Ongoing monitoring by UW-Green Bay as part of the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) AIS Monitoring Program will continue to keep an eye out for spiny waterflea and other invasive species.

Remember- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s easy to help prevent the spread of all aquatic invasive species between lakes. No matter what lake or river you visit, follow these steps to protect your wild places:

Spiny waterflea on a fingertip

· Inspect equipment (boats, fishing line, etc.) for attached aquatic plant, animals, or mud

· Remove all attached plants or animals

· Drain all water from buckets and containers

· Never move live fish away from a waterbody (fish out of water = dead)

Photo Credit: Riley Schultz (UWGB), WI Sea Grant, Donn Brandstrator (UM-Duluth), Chris Acy

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Update: 2022 Spiny Waterflea Findings in Lake Winnebago appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/04/24/update-2022-spiny-waterflea-findings-in-lake-winnebago/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=update-2022-spiny-waterflea-findings-in-lake-winnebago

Chris Acy

Take your passion for native plants to the next level with the Wild Ones Fox Valley Area 50-hour Native Plant Certification! This unique program offers a comprehensive education in Wisconsin’s native flora, perfect for home gardeners, students, teachers, conservation professionals, and nature enthusiasts. Click here to learn more! Certification Program Highlights: Earn [...]

The post Earn Your Native Plant Certification with Wild Ones! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/02/17/wi-native-plant-certification-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wi-native-plant-certification-program

Katie Reed

Opportunities Abound; Volunteer While Doing What You Love!

The warmer weather and open water is calling! When you’re out doing your favorite activities this spring and summer, you could be helping protect your lakes and rivers! Learn about some of the volunteer opportunities at Fox-Wolf below. Our volunteer opportunities give you the flexibility to do what you love while protecting your waters!

Adopt-a-Launch

Join community members in helping improve boat launches ! Interested individuals will adopt a local boat launch and help remove plants from the launch area, pick up litter, and report issues with the launch. Volunteers also help protect our lakes by searching for aquatic invasive species at their launch!  Adopt-a-Launch program is a Fox-Wolf program that works to engage community members in taking ownership of their lakes by helping to search for aquatic invasive species and improve boat launchesGet involved today!

Project Riverine Early Detectors

Love to paddle, kayak, or canoe in rivers and streams? Help look for invasive species during this relaxing pastime! You will be trained on how to easily identify aquatic invasive species, some native look-a-likes, and how you can keep an eye out for them when you’re floating just around the riverbend!

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network

Join 1000+citizen volunteers statewide to collect high quality data on the lakes that you love! CLMN volunteers help monitor their lakes for a variety of things including water quality parameters, ice on/off, and aquatic invasive species! Volunteers help determine which topics they are interested in monitoring. The information gathered by volunteers is even used by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and university biologists and researchers, UW-Extension, and other interested individuals in projects that work to improve your lake! Help keep track of changes in your lake while being near your favorite Winnebago lake! This opportunity is easy to do from both the shoreline as well as your boat!

Purple loosestrife Biocontrol

Love to garden! This one’s for you! Help control harmful invasive species in our community! The invasive plant Purple loosestrife can quickly dominate a wetland and harm our native plants. You can help by raising a natural predator of Purple loosestrife (Galerucella beetles) on caged, potted, loosestrife plants in your backyard. Once released into local infested wetlands, the beetles only eat purple loosestrife, giving native plants a chance to re-establish. This DNR program, locally coordinated by Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, offers free supplies and does not require previous experience. Access to an outdoor space within reach of a garden hose is ideal, but we are also looking for volunteers to help with plant potting and beetle release events.

Clean Boats, Clean Waters

Love talking with people? Get involved in the effort to protect Wisconsin lakes and rivers by stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. As a volunteer watercraft inspector, you will take up the front line by conducting boater education at boat landings in your community. Inspectors perform boat and trailer checks for aquatic invasive species, educate boaters on how to stop the spread, and collect and report new infestations. Meet other anglers and boaters from across the Midwest!

AIS Statewide Snapshot Day

Want a single day event that’s fun for the whole family? During the statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day, join other water quality enthusiasts in searching for invasive species that harm our waterways. Learn how to search for invasive species that may affect the waters that are special to you. You can choose to search from the shore with binoculars and a rake or wade into friendly waters to get a better look! This event is fun for the whole family and really makes a difference in the fight against invasive species. AIS Snapshot Day occurs on August 10th, 2024.

How To Get Started

Give the greatest gift this year to your waters; your time! Whether you want a single day opportunity or want to help out throughout the summer, we will help you fuel your environmental passions at Fox-Wolf! View more of Fox-Wolf’s volunteer opportunities by visiting: https://fwwa.org/join-us/volunteer-with-fwwa/

Interested? Contact – Chris Acy, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance AIS Coordinator. chris@fwwa.org. (920) 460-3674

Photo Credit: Dan O’Connell, Chris Acy

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Warming Weather? Help Volunteer to Protect Your Favorite Places appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/03/13/warming-weather-help-volunteer-to-protect-your-favorite-places/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=warming-weather-help-volunteer-to-protect-your-favorite-places

Chris Acy

Oshkosh, Neenah Play Host Exotic Pet Surrender Events

Original Story: John Moyles, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue

In an effort to address the challenges of rehoming exotic pets and discourage the harmful practice of releasing them into the wild, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue hosted several successful Exotic Pet Surrender Events on January 13th and March 2nd, 2024. The event, held at the organization’s rescue center in Neenah, aimed to provide responsible alternatives and a judgement-free environment for pet owners who can no longer care for their exotic animals.

A staggering 460 animals, ranging from fish and reptiles to pet birds and small mammals, found their way to new beginnings through the event. Among the surrendered animals were fish, lizards, snakes, and even a colony of roaches, highlighting the diverse range of creatures in need of assistance.

The event was not only about surrendering pets but also about education and advocacy. Attendees had the opportunity to meet Animal Ambassadors and learn about their unique stories, reinforcing the message of responsible pet ownership. A photobooth with rescued pets allowed for cherished memories to be captured and shared, further fostering a sense of community and compassion.

Collaborating with regional rehoming partners such as Reptile Rescue of Wisconsin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Pet Advocacy Network, and University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue facilitated the surrender of four animals, including fish, a tortoise, and birds. This collaborative effort ensures that these animals are given proper care and attention.

All surrendered pets undergo a brief quarantine and evaluation period to ensure their health and well-being before becoming available for adoption. This meticulous process reflects the commitment of the organizers to find suitable homes for these animals and prevent any negative impact on the local ecosystem.

For those who missed the event, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue reminds the public that they can surrender pets at their Rescue Center in Neenah or find information about upcoming Surrender Events on their website: https://www.jraar.org/exoticpetsurrenderevents. With 29 events planned for the year there are ample opportunities for pet owners to seek assistance in rehoming their animals.

The success of the Exotic Pet Surrender Event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Ship Your Reptiles, Chemipure, Jellyfish Art, Reef Aquaria Design, and Festival Foods. Their support enables J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue to continue providing valuable services to the community and promoting responsible exotic pet ownership.

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on X! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Winnebago Waterways and Keepers of the Fox are Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance programs. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization working to protect and restore water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post 400+ Exotic Pets Rehomed, Mitigating Potential Releases Into Waterways appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/03/13/400-exotic-pets-rehomed-mitigating-potential-releases-into-waterways/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=400-exotic-pets-rehomed-mitigating-potential-releases-into-waterways

Chris Acy

This fall, travelers along the Highway 41 cooridor in Brown County were greeted with a conservation message flashing on digital billboards along their route:

At Fox-Wolf, we’re invested in making impacts to water quality from all sources – residential, commercial, municipal, and agricultural.  We partner with people and organizations from across all these sources to reduce the amount of the phosphorus and sediment that’s delivered to our local waters and downstream through the Fox River and into the bay of Green Bay.  Collectively, these impacts lessen the “green” (algae) in Green Bay.

That’s why education and outreach is key!  Each of us has an opportunity to contribute in our own way.  By sharing how our local farmers are investing in water quality by adopting conservation practices, our communities can see how agriculture is doing its part as well.

Cover crops planted in the fall keep soil in place throughout the winter

Cover Crops Keep Fields Green in the Fall and Water Blue in the Spring

As you drive by the many agricultural fields in the greater Fox Cities area, you may notice a variety of colors peeking out from the snow.  Some fields are still have green bits of vegetation, some have bits of corn stalks left poking from the ground, and some are bare soil.  In traditional farming, after the fall harvest of row crops, such as corn or soybeans, the soil surface of a field will be left bare until the next crop is planted and a new plant canopy is established. Here in Wisconsin, that next planting may be 5-7 months away. That’s a long time for the bare soil to be vulnerable to erosion caused by rainfall, snowmelt, or wind. For that reason, conservation-minded farmers utilize cover crops to have vegetation established and growing in the fall months and remain in place during the winter.

In the spring, cover crops are terminated and left on the surface as residue for conservation tillage or are incorporated into the soil.  Properly planned and executed, cover crops will protect soil during this vulnerable period. This topsoil is full of nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen, so by keeping soil in place, these nutrients are kept on the land where they benefit crops and prevented from running into waterways where they contribute to degraded water conditions and algal blooms.  Keeping soil in place also keeps pesticides, herbicides, and manure out of nearby streams, rivers, and lakes.

Cover crops do more than just improve water quality.  As a benefit to the farmer, cover crops can also:

  • Slow runoff from rainfall and snowmelt, reducing soil loss due to erosion
  • Increase soil organic matter, leading to improvements in soil structure that benefits plant growth
  • Increase soil quality by improving the biological, chemical, and physical soil properties
  • Store nutrients from manure until the following years’ crop can utilize them
  • Reduce or mitigate soil compaction as deep tap roots are able to grow in fall and spring
  • Provide a natural means of suppressing soil diseases and pests and serve as a mulch to assist in suppressing weeds
  • Provide high-quality material for grazing livestockand can provide food and habitat for wildlife, beneficial insects, and pollinators

Thank you conservation farmers!

The post Billboard Campaign Educates on Cover Crops appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/26/kof_billboard/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kof_billboard

Katie Woodrow

Interested in joining other stakeholders in ongoing discussions about water levels in the Winnebago System?

The Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team (WWLAT) provides a collaborative opportunity for stakeholder representatives and experts to develop realistic and achievable water level strategy recommendations and related goals that reasonably balance the top priorities of multiple system users and the health of the Winnebago System. This team is led separately from the Army Corps public input process by Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. Recommendations from the WWLAT are submitted to the Army Corps to help inform the Corps regulation of Lake Winnebago.

Visit the WWLAT website: CLICK HERE

The post Army Corps: Winter 2024 Call – Feb. 8, 2024 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/24/acoe-winter-2024-strategy-call-notice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acoe-winter-2024-strategy-call-notice

Katie Reed

If you would like to attend the Jan. 31, 2024 meeting either in-person or virtually, please RSVP to Katie Reed at katherine@fwwa.org or 920-851-6472 by 1/29/24. Thank you!

The Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team provides a collaborative opportunity for stakeholder representatives and experts to develop realistic and achievable water level recommendations and related goals that reasonably balance the top priorities of multiple system users and the health of the lakes.

Meeting details:
Date: January 31, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Facilitator: Katie Reed, Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, katherine@fwwa.org, (920)851-6472 & Jim Wickersham, Winnebago Waterways Program Director, jim@fwwa.org 
Where: Virtual and In person options – In Person at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance office in Appleton & Virtual Option (see agenda for details)

CLICK HERE for the meeting agenda

Check back here for the meeting notes and presentation slides after the meeting

To visit the WWLAT website for other meeting notes and updates, CLICK HERE.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post WWLAT MEETING: Jan. 31, 2024 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/22/wwlat_2024_01_31/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wwlat_2024_01_31

Katie Reed

Creating Landscapes Free of Invasive Plants Webinar; January 31st 2024 6:30 PM

Attention Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Garden Club Members and others advising home gardeners; this webinar is for you! Representatives from UWEX and DNR will join Melinda Myers to talk about current threats, available resources and ways we can all work together to manage invasive plants. To register for the free webinar, click the button below!

Melinda Myers is the author of numerous gardening books, including The Garden Book for Wisconsin, Small Space Gardening and The Midwest Gardeners Handbook. She hosts the “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. She offers free gardening webinars on her website at www.MelindaMyers.com.

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on X! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Winnebago Waterways and Keepers of the Fox are Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance programs. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization working to protect and restore water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Invasive Plants in Your Yard? Here’s What To Do appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/16/invasive-plants-in-your-yard-heres-what-to-do/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=invasive-plants-in-your-yard-heres-what-to-do

Chris Acy

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is implementing conservation projects to protect our waters for future generations. Help us prioritize future restoration projects and strengthen funding requests by telling us how you enjoy the lakes!

Please be specific – we are interested in the areas you use the most (we are looking to improve your spots, not steal them!). The map will be made public but your name will not be tied to the points you add.

To get started, please click the button “Take the Survey Now!” or use the QR Code on the right.

Once on the map, click the “Edit” icon located on the upper left corner underneath the search bar. The icon looks like a list with a pencil. Select the type of activity that you would like to add, then click on the map where you do this activity to add it.

Add as many points as you’d like, keeping in mind we are interested in the areas most important to YOU. Adding an area that covers a whole lake is not as helpful as adding three points of the areas you fish the most and the boat launch you use to access it.

If you enjoy our waters in a way not listed, please select the most similar activity or select “other”, and add a description of the activity in the notes.

Thank you for your help and participation!

Contact Katie R with any questions or concerns at katherine@fwwa.org

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Tell us where and how you use the waterways! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/15/recreationsurvey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=recreationsurvey

Katie Reed

Project Overview

In 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) developed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Upper Fox and Wolf River (UFW).  A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can absorb and still meet water quality.  The TMDL was utilized in the creation of the EPA’s Nine Key Elements (9KE). Within the 9KE there is a requirement for reductions in pollution to meet water quality goals.  The goals within this plan are to reduce Total Phosphorus (TP) which also relates to the reduction of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) such as erosion and flooding.

Approximately 34% of the reduction from the TMDL needs to come from the Winnebago Waterways Recovery Area with 51% of that reduction assigned to agriculture.  Alteration in farming practices and structural changes will help make reductions.

Currently, a missing piece in the TMDL and draft 9KE plan is streambank erosion. Streambank erosion is lumped in with agricultural loading estimates and required reductions in the TMDL. In some watersheds, we anticipate streambank erosion being a significant contributor to the total TMDL agricultural load. We need to inventory the streambanks in each HUC12 so that we can estimate potential TP/TSS reductions that could come from stabilizing streambanks to stop streambank erosion and to prioritize project locations. Stabilizing streambanks would be paired with efforts to increase infiltration on the land to reduce the volume and rate of flow that damages streambanks during storm events.

For this project, we will begin by completing streambank inventories in the four highest loading HUC12s located within the WWRA. The pollutant load from these HUC12s significantly contributes to water quality impairments of the streams within each HUC12, the Winnebago Lakes, and Lake Michigan. In addition to providing loading estimates from streambank erosion, this project also seeks to identify and prioritize potential locations for future restoration projects to help reduce nutrient loading and protect or enhance existing habitat. Going forward, this project will serve as a template for completing future streambank inventories for the remaining 28 HUC12s located in the WWRA.

Target HUC12 Subwatersheds in the 2023 Streambank Erosion Inventory

HUC12 to be Inventoried                                HUC12 Code                                Stream Miles

Town of Dale-Rat River                                      040202022102                                         60

Eldorado Marsh-Fond Du Lac River                 040302020204                                         63

Lake Poygan – Willow Creek                             040302022006                                          88

Pipe Creek – Frontal Lake Winnebago            040302020303                                          91

Project Timeline

In the Spring of 2023, a method was developed using GIS to determine streambanks to be physically inventoried as they are representative of the HUC12 they are located in. The method developed has been recorded in SOP#1: Streambank Erosion Inventory Desktop Review so it can be duplicated.

Fieldwork was accomplished in the summer of 2023. Streambank information from the desktop review was utilized to complete a physical inventory of these sections.

December 2023 – February 2024: Streambank Inventory Data Analysis was developed along with the extrapolation. These tools will allow an estimation of sediment loss and load & phosphorus loss and load for an entire watershed.

Project Funding & Partners

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Prioritizing stabilization projects using streambank erosion inventories in the Fox-Wolf River Basin appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/11/streambank-inventory/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=streambank-inventory

Katie Reed

The Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team provides a collaborative opportunity for stakeholder representatives and experts to develop realistic and achievable water level recommendations and related goals that reasonably balance the top priorities of multiple system users and the health of the lakes.

Meeting details:
Date: September 27, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Katie Reed, Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, katherine@fwwa.org, (920)851-6472 & Jessica Schultz, Executive Director, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, jessica@fwwa.org
Location: Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance office in Appleton (see agenda for address)

CLICK HERE for the meeting agenda

CLICK HERE for the meeting notes and presentation slides

To visit the WWLAT website for other meeting notes and updates, CLICK HERE.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post WWLAT MEETING: Sept. 27, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/10/02/wwlat_2022_09_29-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wwlat_2022_09_29-2

Katie Reed

When making conservation plans, producers and conservation professionals alike want to know the impact that farm practices have on our local water.  Through work funded by Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and Outagamie County have developed a Farm Progress Report to tell the story of conservation, one farm at a time.

The Farm Progress Report utilizes data from SNAP+, a program widely used by Wisconsin farmers, to generate modeled soil and phosphorus loss on each field based on soil type, phosphorus test results, and field management (tillage, manure management, crop cycle, etc).

This information is then compiled to create per field and per farm loss data, which is compared to the local conservation goal of 1 lb per acre per year of phosphorus loss and 0.5 tons per acre per year of soil loss.  This information is visualized in the Farm Progress Report through simple to read graphs that include the annual average compared to the community goal as well as tables that list the top ten fields to improve.

The Farm Progress Report has two purposes:

  1. Farm Knowledge: For farmers to understand the impact of their current farm practices on water quality, the goals for the community, and how they can make changes on their farm to improve their phosphorus and soil loss
  2. Communication: Farmers can utilize the Farm Progress Report to communicate with their local communities to show the positive impact they are having as well as to their processors to show that they have adopted conservation practices that may meet the processor’s environmental standards

A Farm Progress report was generated for each producer participating in the GLRI grant project and Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and Outagamie County LWCD met with each farm, along with their agronomist.  The Farm Progress Report was presented to each farm with an explanation of where the data was derived from, the community goal, and where their current farm practices compared to the goal.  Feedback was solicited from the producer and their agronomist on the information presented and the response was positive.  Producers understood the how the data was derived, how their on-field practices generated that data, and were interested in the potential of using the Farm Progress Report to communicate the great work they are doing to meet conservation goals in their watershed.

Further work will need to be done to streamline the data collection and input process and to ensure that the SNAP+ system is used consistently across the basin.  Overall, the Farm Progress Report was well received by farmers and they expressed interest in continuing to use it to watch their progress toward improving water quality.  Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance intends to continue developing the report and promoting its widespread adoption to producers outside of this project.

Questions? Contact us:

Basin Agriculture Coordinator: Justin Loehrke, 920.841-6938 or justin@fwwwa.org

Climate Smart Agriculture Project Manager: Katie Woodrow, 920.915.5767 or katie@fwwa.org

To receive periodic updates on these projects as well as many others, please subscribe to our newsletters: CLICK HERE

The post Farm Progress Report – A Tool to Tell the Conservation Story appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/09/29/farm-progress-report/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=farm-progress-report

Katie Woodrow

Interested in joining other stakeholders in ongoing discussions about water levels in the Winnebago System?

The Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team (WWLAT) provides a collaborative opportunity for stakeholder representatives and experts to develop realistic and achievable water level strategy recommendations and related goals that reasonably balance the top priorities of multiple system users and the health of the Winnebago System. This team is led separately from the Army Corps public input process by Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. Recommendations from the WWLAT are submitted to the Army Corps to help inform the Corps regulation of Lake Winnebago.

Visit the WWLAT website: CLICK HERE

The post Army Corps: Oct 3, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/09/29/acoe-fall-2023-strategy-meeting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acoe-fall-2023-strategy-meeting

Katie Reed

Original Story: Water Action Volunteers

On August 19th, 2023, water lovers of all ages gathered for a one-day statewide aquatic invasive species (AIS) scavenger hunt as a part of the 10th annual AIS Snapshot Day. This event is coordinated by UW Extension in partnership with River Alliance, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and Extension Lakes. Volunteers met at different local rendezvous sites across the state to learn how to identify AIS such as Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, and New Zealand mudsnails, and then searched for them in the field at pre-selected locations.  Initially focused on rivers and streams, Snapshot Day has expanded to include lakes and wetlands. Findings from Snapshot Day are uploaded to the statewide water quality database, SWIMS, where they can be used to track the spread of invasive species and develop management plans.

Every year, Snapshot Day provides a vast amount of AIS data to the WDNR to assist in management decisions, and this year was no exception! 145 participants gathered across 22 meeting locations and monitored 131 sites across 102 different waterbodies in Wisconsin. 48 of those waterbodies had no AIS detected. At 83 sites, volunteers located 15 different AIS species, including purple loosestrife, curly-leaf pondweed, Asian clams/freshwater golden clams (Corbicula), and faucet snails.

Snapshot Day’s community-based science approach maximizes the number of sites being checked across the state, and the free event allows volunteers to learn about their local waters and how to keep them healthy. As one volunteer stated, “I enjoyed the hands on learning approach. It was helpful to have well informed guides and samples of the invasive species to get a close look at. Once we had a good understanding of what to look for, it was fun to go out and collect samples of what we were finding.”

We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of the volunteers, partner organizations, and site leaders who made this event possible.

And don’t forget to follow Snapshot Day on Facebook for future updates! https://www.facebook.com/aissnapshotday

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (Fox-Wolf), Emily Heald (Water Action Volunteers)

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on X! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Winnebago Waterways and Keepers of the Fox are Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance programs. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization working to protect and restore water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post AIS Snapshot Day 2023; 115 volunteers Search 102 Different Waterbodies appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/09/25/ais-snapshot-day-2023-115-volunteers-search-102-different-waterbodies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ais-snapshot-day-2023-115-volunteers-search-102-different-waterbodies

Chris Acy

Thanks to a generous shoreline property owner, we will be touring a shoreline planting on his property in Menasha on September 9, 2023 starting at 9am. Interested in attending? Click here to learn more and sign-up! Please provide your contact info if you plan on joining us so we can keep you updated on any changes due to weather. Thank you!

Tom Mace, longtime supporter of the Winnebago Waterways Program and of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, has generously offered his property for a tour for interested visitors to learn about native shoreline plantings! Meet us at the property to learn about a shoreline planting seeded with native plants in fall, with growth seen in the following spring. The property also features an upland prairie planting that is very effective at attracting all sorts of pollinators. The property combines the native plantings with a more formal garden and a few orchard trees. Learn about the process of preparing, installing and maintaining these plantings and about the benefits to the property and water quality!

We expect the tour will last about an hour. If you plan on joining us, please dress for the weather and let us know to expect you by clicking the image below!

The post Shoreline Planting Tour in Menasha on Sept. 9, 2023 at 9am! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/28/shoreline-tour-sept_9_2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shoreline-tour-sept_9_2023

Katie Reed

Invasive European Frogbit Mapping and Control Work Ongoing

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance has partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Brown County, and other local partners to confront an invasive species in the Bay of Green Bay. European frogbit was first discovered in the wild in Wisconsin late last summer and the known general extent at that time ranged from the City of Marinette to the City of Oconto. Additional monitoring by partners found additional populations within and beyond that range reaching all of the way to the Brown and Door County.

To help reduce the population in the Green Bay area, Fox-Wolf is assisting in monitoring and control work for European Frogbit (EFB). Our aquatic invasive species coordinator Chris is joining partners on large group work days to find and remove EFB. One of the recent large group work days was filmed by Dan Larson from Com-Video Productions as part of a documentary on Green Bay; the same producer that brought you the documentary Power of the River. Check out his clip of our European Frogbit monitoring days below!

The free-floating European Frogbit is native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. It likes slow-moving habitats like sheltered inlets, rivers, and ditches. The plant resembles native water lilies but is much smaller and doesn’t root in the lake bottom. The plant forms dense mats that can interfere with boaters and shade-out native plants. If you see European frog-bit, take a few photos, make note of the location, date and time of the finding, and report to Amanda Smith, WI DNR Regional Invasive Species Coordinator.

Video Credit: Dan Larson (Com-Video Productions)

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance)

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Fox-Wolf, Partners Tackle Invasive Plant in Green Bay appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/22/fox-wolf-partners-tackle-invasive-plant-in-green-bay/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fox-wolf-partners-tackle-invasive-plant-in-green-bay

Chris Acy

Visitors to Marble Park in Winneconne, Winnebago County can soon stop by three native plant beds to enjoy beautiful native plants! Installation is scheduled to start on August 22, 2023. We anticipate needing volunteers to help the remainder of the week (Aug 22-23). If you are interested in volunteering to help install and plant these beds, please fill out the following form and select “Shoreline Planting/Work Crew”. We look forward to seeing you at the park!

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance partnered with the Village of Winneconne to install the native plant beds. The goal of this project is to increase the adoption and installation of native shoreline plantings around the Winnebago System. We are excited to see the project come together and watch the plants grow!

Shoreline property owners are eligible to receive reimbursement of up to $1000 to install this type of best management practice through a Wisconsin DNR Healthy Lakes and Rivers grant by partnering with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Come check out what this shoreline best management practice looks like, what the requirements are for the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Grant, and what shoreline property owners can expect from the process of planning, installing, and maintaining the native plant beds.

Under a Healthy Lakes and Rivers grant, native plantings must:

  • Total 350 contiguous square feet,
  • Be at least 10 feet wide in any direction,
  • Be adjacent to the shore,
  • Follow the Healthy Lakes requirement for number of native plants and species.

A Healthy Lakes native planting project can augment an existing area of shoreline vegetation under certain circumstances.

The demonstration site at Marble Park will meet all of these requirements, and is intended to give shoreline property owners a good idea of what to expect from their native plantings, while also educating visitors about how native plantings can improve wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and decrease runoff into the Wolf River.

The Demonstration Site will showcase three different plant lists: a low-growing bed showcasing species that grow <5 ft tall, a shoreline edge bed with species that thrive close to the water and a pollinator bed which will showcase species specifically intended to attract pollinators.

If you have any questions or are interested in installing a Healthy Lakes native plant bed on your shoreline property, please contact Katie Reed at katherine@fwwa.org or 920-851-6472.

Funding for this project was provided by the Winnebago Waterways Program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and the WI Department of Natural Resources. Project partners include the Winnebago Waterways Program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and the Village of Winneconne.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Volunteers Needed! Shoreline Buffer Demonstration Site Set To Be Installed at Marble Park, Winneconne appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/09/marble-park-demo-site/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=marble-park-demo-site

Katie Reed

Wisconsin residents invited to help search Wisconsin’s waters for invasive species on August 19th

Water lovers of all ages are invited to join the statewide search for aquatic invasive species (AIS) on August 19th, 2023. This fun, hands-on effort, known as AIS Snapshot Day, relies on participants to monitor streams, lakes, and wetlands at designated sites across the state, for signs of non-native plants and animals that pose risks to Wisconsin waterways and wildlife.  Volunteers have a choice to register at one of over twenty event locations hosted by local conservation groups.

Coordinated in partnership by UW-Madison Division of Extension, UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes, River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Snapshot Day is entering its’ 10th successful year. Information collected will be provided to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to inform and guide monitoring and response efforts. Volunteers are key to the success of the event.

“Projects like AIS Snapshot Day are a fun and simple way for volunteers to get engaged and for the local site leaders and DNR to collaborate” says Maureen Ferry, DNR AIS Monitoring Coordinator. “DNR has a long list of sites with suspected but unverified AIS that AIS Snapshot Day monitoring targets. This increases the chances of volunteers finding a species. Plus, each year, we make new detections.”

Last year over 150 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to monitor at more than 234 sites across the state making for a fun and safe event.

This is a free event. Recommended for ages 8 and up, minors must be accompanied by an adult.

LOCAL EVENT DETAILS:

Saturday, August 19th

8:30 am-12:30 pm

Pamperin Park, Green Bay

REGISTRATION:

Register and see all event details at: https://wateractionvolunteers.org/events/

Advance registration is requested to help Site Leaders build monitoring plans.

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (FWWA)

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post *CLICK* Snapshot Day Returns August 19th, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/07/19/click-snapshot-day-returns-august-19th-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=click-snapshot-day-returns-august-19th-2023

Chris Acy

Wisconsin residents invited to help search Wisconsin’s waters for invasive species on August 19th

Water lovers of all ages are invited to join the statewide search for aquatic invasive species (AIS) on August 19th, 2023. This fun, hands-on effort, known as AIS Snapshot Day, relies on participants to monitor streams, lakes, and wetlands at designated sites across the state, for signs of non-native plants and animals that pose risks to Wisconsin waterways and wildlife.  Volunteers have a choice to register at one of over twenty event locations hosted by local conservation groups.

Coordinated in partnership by UW-Madison Division of Extension, UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes, River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Snapshot Day is entering its’ 10th successful year. Information collected will be provided to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to inform and guide monitoring and response efforts. Volunteers are key to the success of the event.

“Projects like AIS Snapshot Day are a fun and simple way for volunteers to get engaged and for the local site leaders and DNR to collaborate” says Maureen Ferry, DNR AIS Monitoring Coordinator. “DNR has a long list of sites with suspected but unverified AIS that AIS Snapshot Day monitoring targets. This increases the chances of volunteers finding a species. Plus, each year, we make new detections.”

Last year over 150 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to monitor at more than 234 sites across the state making for a fun and safe event.

This is a free event. Recommended for ages 8 and up, minors must be accompanied by an adult.

LOCAL EVENT DETAILS:

Saturday, August 19th

8:30 am-12:30 pm

Pamperin Park, Green Bay

REGISTRATION:

Register and see all event details at: https://wateractionvolunteers.org/events/

Advance registration is requested to help Site Leaders build monitoring plans.

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (FWWA)

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post *CLICK* Snapshot Day Returns August 19th, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/07/19/click-snapshot-day-returns-august-19th-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=click-snapshot-day-returns-august-19th-2023

Chris Acy

Wisconsin residents invited to help search Wisconsin’s waters for invasive species on August 19th

Water lovers of all ages are invited to join the statewide search for aquatic invasive species (AIS) on August 19th, 2023. This fun, hands-on effort, known as AIS Snapshot Day, relies on participants to monitor streams, lakes, and wetlands at designated sites across the state, for signs of non-native plants and animals that pose risks to Wisconsin waterways and wildlife.  Volunteers have a choice to register at one of over twenty event locations hosted by local conservation groups.

Coordinated in partnership by UW-Madison Division of Extension, UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes, River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Snapshot Day is entering its’ 10th successful year. Information collected will be provided to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to inform and guide monitoring and response efforts. Volunteers are key to the success of the event.

“Projects like AIS Snapshot Day are a fun and simple way for volunteers to get engaged and for the local site leaders and DNR to collaborate” says Maureen Ferry, DNR AIS Monitoring Coordinator. “DNR has a long list of sites with suspected but unverified AIS that AIS Snapshot Day monitoring targets. This increases the chances of volunteers finding a species. Plus, each year, we make new detections.”

Last year over 150 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to monitor at more than 234 sites across the state making for a fun and safe event.

This is a free event. Recommended for ages 8 and up, minors must be accompanied by an adult.

LOCAL EVENT DETAILS:

Saturday, August 19th

8:30 am-12:30 pm

Pamperin Park, Green Bay

REGISTRATION:

Register and see all event details at: https://wateractionvolunteers.org/events/

Advance registration is requested to help Site Leaders build monitoring plans.

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (FWWA)

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post *CLICK* Snapshot Day Returns August 19th, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/07/19/click-snapshot-day-returns-august-19th-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=click-snapshot-day-returns-august-19th-2023

Chris Acy

Gardener Extraordinaire Melinda Myers Gives Insight into Japanese Knotweed

During last month’s National Rivers Month, Melinda Myers took a moment to highlight the over 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams in the United States. In addition to outlining the amazing things our waters do for us (including supplying water for drinking and for irrigating crops), Melinda brought attention to a riverside invasive species; Japanese knotweed. This plant was original brought to America as an ornamental but quickly spread through much of the United States. With bamboo-like stems, this invasive plant is known to choke waterways and hasten erosion. If you are one of the folks who has Japanese knotweed growing along your shorelines, there are great control options available.

To learn more, including control methods, check out this Japanese Knotweed brochure: https://widnr.widen.net/s/jzxjqrs867/wy0090?fbclid=IwAR2q36KUKGAJ4NJfAZ7N8S6MOeOgx-NPEV1T-LD3lzp6nMdXFvRWum-ssKQ

Photo Credit: Paul Skawinski, Melinda Myers

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Japanese Knotweed and our Rivers appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/07/10/japanese-knotweed-and-our-rivers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=japanese-knotweed-and-our-rivers

Chris Acy

Our wonderful water quality monitoring volunteers have kicked off the 2023 monitoring season!

Volunteers are monitoring sites located throughout the Winnebago Waterways Recovery Area. During the growing season, volunteers monitor once a month for physical, chemical, and biological data as part of the Winnebago Waterways Water Quality Monitoring Program. Their hard work and effort results in data that allows us to monitor the water quality from month to month and year to year. Already this season, they’ve faced dry, rainy, and smoky/hazy conditions. Thank you for all you do water quality monitoring volunteers!!

Read more about the Winnebago Waterways Water Quality Monitoring Program by clicking here!

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Water Quality Monitoring Season off to a good start! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/06/29/ww-wq-volunteers-2023-season-start/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ww-wq-volunteers-2023-season-start

Katie Reed

Education Team Welcomes You to the Boat Launches

Every summer, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and partner organizations across the state welcome new hires to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.  These new staff members help with the Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program and talk with water users at local boat launches. Thanks to a contract from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance was able to grow our aquatic invasive species program in the Winnebago Waterways by hiring five educators for Summer 2023! Take a minute to learn more about the seasonal team that is working directly to protect your local waters!

Tim – CBCW Coordinator

Tim joins the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance doing the Clean Boats, Clean Waters project as the project Coordinator. He is a junior at UW-Oshkosh majoring in Environmental Studies, with a minor in Geography. He loves to be in his garden and outside; plants are kind of his thing! In addition to being at the boat launches this summer, Tim will be coordinating the CBCW Program including making schedules, checking in on with the Educators, and getting our data uploaded correctly!

Leah – AIS Educator

Leah is joining the CBCW crew as an AIS educator for her first year. She is a senior at the University of Wisconsin and is studying to finish a degree in Environmental Studies with a Geology minor. She has always loved being outside in nature. Growing up, she went camping and hiking a lot with her my mom and she would always pick up garbage. She is now dedicating her life to advocating for the needs of the Earth and for all other beings. She is thrilled to start her position with the Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program to help conserve our local waters.

Mikayla – AIS Educator

Mikayla returns for her second year with the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance as an Aquatic Invasive Species Educator. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Biology Degree. She is excited to be back this summer and meet some new boaters! Mikayla also works at a local YMCA as the Building Supervisor!

Lisa – AIS Educator

Lisa joins the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and the Clean Boats Clean Waters Program team as a first year Educator! Originally from New York City, Lisa has called Wisconsin home for over 30 years! For the past two years, she’s been located on a canal on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh. Lisa ran her own Chiropractic office for 27 years. She is looking forward to working to protect her favorite place; the great outdoors!

Steve – AIS Educator

Steve Berholtz is working on his fifth year (!!) as a summer AIS employee with the main job of informing and educating boaters at various boat landings. Steve graduated in 1974 from UW-Oshkosh with a BS in Mathematics and a minor in Economics. He worked for 40 years for Canteen Vending and also put in 34 years in the Army Reserves. He loves to hunt pheasants in South Dakota and Wisconsin with his hunting dog, Skye. Steve wants to help improve and protect the Winnebago System for future generations!

If you’re a boater or angler, make sure to say hello if you see our team at your favorite boat launch!

Photo Credit: Tim Burns, Leah Fleury, Mikayla Wing, Steve Berholtz, Lisa Roth, Alyssa Reinke (Fox-Wolf), Chris Acy (Fox-Wolf)

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Meet Your 2023 Aquatic Invasive Species Education Team! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/05/24/meet-your-2023-aquatic-invasive-species-education-team-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-your-2023-aquatic-invasive-species-education-team-2

Chris Acy

Lifetime Business Member of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

A huge thank you to Rob and his team at Motto Inc. (pictured above), a locally owned and operated business, for their continued support of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance’s water quality initiatives in the Winnebago Waterways Recovery Area. Last year, Motto Inc. donated $18,262 to Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. This year they beat their own record by donating $25,000! Their donation will have an even bigger impact because a percentage was matched by the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation’s Give Big Green Bay program.

In addition to their generous donation, Motto Inc. has volunteered with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. Last winter, the Motto Inc. team volunteered to sow native plants and take care of them over the winter. These plants will be used in our shoreline restoration projects!

Motto Inc. is also a business member of 1% for the Planet, which connects businesses and individuals who pledge to give 1% of their sales back to the planet each year with approved environmental nonprofits around the world. This partnership will help Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance connect with more businesses who share the same values of promoting water quality and environmental stewardship.

Motto Inc. lives up to their commitment through quality branded products and their ongoing support of various causes that improve the community and environment. We invite you to learn more about this local business by visiting their website: www.mottoinc.com

Thank you to Rob and his Motto Inc. team for their continued support!

The Winnebago Waterways Program facilitates regional coordination and implementation of recovery efforts for the Winnebago Lakes and surrounding watersheds. Priority implementation projects are outlined in the Winnebago Waterways Lake Management Plan. Winnebago Waterways is a program of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent non-profit organization that works to protect and restore the water resources of the Fox-Wolf River Basin. We are focused on finding cost effective, science-based solutions. To meet our goals, we work with partners to maximize efficiencies, bringing resources to those who are already doing great work while utilizing our strengths to fill gaps when needed.

About 1% for the Planet

1% for the Planet is a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving. Through business and individual memberships, 1% for the Planet inspires people to support environmental organizations through annual membership and everyday actions. The organization advises on giving strategies, certifies donations and amplifies the impact of the network.

Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, their members have given more than $250 million to environmental nonprofits to date. Today, 1% for the Planet is a network of more than 3,000 business members, an expanding core of individual members and thousands of nonprofit partners in more than 90 countries.

If you are interested in learning more about 1% for the Plant and how to become a business partner, please contact Korin at korin@fwwa.org.

Questions? Comments? Send us an email at wwinfo@fwwa.org.

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on social media: Winnebago Waterways on Facebook and @WinnWaterways on Twitter!

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

The post Local Business Continues Support of Water Quality Initiatives appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/local-business-continues-support-of-water-quality-initiatives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=local-business-continues-support-of-water-quality-initiatives

Katie Reed

Information from the Butte des Morts Conservation Club – original post here: Butte des Morts Conservation Club Facebook

Terrells Island Trails will be open to the public starting Monday, May 8th, 2023. Trails are open from sunrise until one hour before sunset, unless otherwise posted.
Please Note: Trail is no longer a loop. There is a turn around.
*Frank & Alice Kachur Trail is 2.1 miles one way
*Schoolhouse Trail is 1.5 miles one way
  • Please throw away all trash in receptacle at trail entrances
  • Pets should be leashed and remove/clean up all animal waste
  • Anglers – no fishing from bridge-leave no trash behind
Enjoy!

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Terrells Island Trails to Open on May 8, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/04/25/terrells-island-trails-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=terrells-island-trails-2023

Katie Reed