invasive

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Plan Ahead: Know What to Do to Limit Invasive Plants this Spring

On: April 21, 2025

In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, garlic mustard, invasive, invasive plants, Melinda Myers, Outreach and Education

Original story: Melinda Myers Invasive plants can escape the boundaries of our landscape, moving into natural spaces and waterways. They outcompete and displace native plants, degrading natural habitats, increasing the risk of soil erosion, negatively impacting water quality, and so much more. Invasive plants, like this garlic mustard, outcompete and displace native plants, [...]

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Water Hyacinth Instead of Plastic Bags? Invasive Species Used to Regrow Forests

On: January 17, 2025

In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, invasive, invasvie species, Lake Winneconne, Outreach and Education, water hyacinth, Winnebago Waterways

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, [...]

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Menasha Lock Re-Opening Plans Put On Hold Indefinitely

On: July 2, 2024

In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Boating, Butte des Morts, Fox River Navigational System Authority, invasive, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, little lake butte des morts, menasha lock, Outreach, round goby, watershed, WDNR, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

Cost for Electric Fish Barrier Significant, Board Votes to Stop Project

Original Story: Fox River Navigation System Authority

The Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) board voted in late June to halt work on the Menasha lock re-opening project, with no set date for resuming development of an electric barrier in the lock channel.

The Menasha lock (located between Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Morts) had been the most-used lock in the system between Lake Winnebago and Green Bay. After the discovery of a round goby below the Neenah dam in 2015, FRNSA voluntarily closed the lock in an effort to keep the invasive fish out of Lake Winnebago. Since then, the round goby has become abundant in the Fox River and Little Lake Butte des Morts.

The FRNSA has spent more than $750,000 on a proposed electronic barrier which would have allowed boats to pass through the lock, but emit a DC current to repulse fish from entering the lock channel.

However, with an installation cost of $7 million, plus an annual operating cost of $300,000-$400,000, the FRNSA board voted to stop work on the project. Since 2015, FRNSA has been working with experts in aquatic ecosystem management to design a plan using a system of an electric deterrent barrier and water flow regulation at the Menasha lock. Board members indicated further work on the proposal was not within the organization’s budget.

Prior to closing the Menasha lock, it had been the busiest lock on the system; now the DePere lock is the busiest. The locks are the only way the Fox River is navigable—from Menasha to the Bay of Green Bay the river drops in elevation 168 feet. From the Menasha lock to the Rapide Croche lock the river has 17 miles of navigable water. On the northern end of the river from Rapide Croche to the Bay of Green Bay the river is navigable for 20 miles.

“Our goal has always been to restore navigation of the Fox River through the lock system, but we also want to ensure we are protecting the waterways,” Ramlet said. He added FRNSA has maintained a testing program for invasive species for years.

Photo Credit: FRNSA

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.

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Update: 2022 Spiny Waterflea Findings in Lake Winnebago

On: April 24, 2024

In: 2024, AIS, angling, aquatic invasive species, Boating, conservation, fishing, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, invasive, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Spiny Waterflea, waterflea, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

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!

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

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Waterfowl Hunting? Protect Those Places

On: October 18, 2023

In: AIS, aquatic invasive species, Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Hunting, invasive, invasive species, Keepers of the Fox, Outagamie, Outreach and Education, waterfowl, waterfowl hunting, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways Program

Take 5 Minutes Each Hunt for Invasive Species Prevention

Original Story: WDNR

Invasive species are nonnative plants, animals and diseases that cause great ecological, environmental or economic harm. Some have already been found in Wisconsin, while others pose a large risk of surviving and causing problems if they are introduced and become established here.

Just a few minutes of preventative action can help preserve and protect hunting lands for generations to come.

Before launching into and leaving a waterbody, waterfowl hunters should:

– Inspect waders, boats, trailers, motors and hunting equipment, including boots, blinds and dogs

– Remove all plants, animals and mud to the best of their ability

– Drain all water from decoys, boats, motors, livewells and other hunting equipment

– Remove all seed heads and roots when using vegetation for duck blinds

– Never move plants or live animals, such as snails, away from a water body

Lots of hunting spots have boot brush stations to help you clean off your gear (see picture). Want to have one installed at your favorite hunting spot? Contact Chris using the info below!

Learn more at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives and thank you for helping keep invasives out of our waterways!

Photo Credit: WDNR

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.

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Preparing Water Gardens for Winter

On: October 18, 2023

In: AIS, aquatic invasive, aquatic invasive species, Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Garden, invasive, Outagamie, Outreach and Education, plant, steward, water garden, Winnebago

Be Careful With Those Plants; Dispose but Don’t Release!

Original story: Melinda Myers

As we start see leaves drop, lots of folks are starting to prepare their homes and gardens for winter. If you’ve got a water garden, you’ll be starting to do the same thing! Water gardens make a great addition to any landscape masking unwanted noise, inviting songbirds to take a drink, and providing a beautiful oasis in any landscape. Fall is the time to prepare your water garden for winter. Tropical plants need to be moved indoors and aggressive or invasive plants should be removed and disposed of properly. Contact your local municipality for tips on disposing these and your local Department of Natural Resources for a list of invasive plants in your area that need to be removed. Eliminating invasive plants from our landscapes helps keep them out of our lakes and waterways!

With a history of popular water garden plants being released in our region, following these steps is an easy way to be a steward for your local waterways and your water garden!

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (Fox-Wolf), 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!

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

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Pet Rehoming Event in Green Bay Sees Eight Exotic Pets

On: September 25, 2023

In: 2023, aquatic invasive species, Bay of Green Bay, Exotic, fox-wolf, Green Bay, Habitattitude, invasive, invasive species, Lower Fox River, Outreach and Education, PET, surrender

Original Story: J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue

Eight animals were turned in at an exotic pet surrender event at the Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Brown County on Sunday September 24th. Included in the surrenders were fish and two yellow bellied sliders!

Area organizations were on hand 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. Pet Surrender events are now being held across Wisconsin help provide an avenue to pet owners to rehome pets without harming the pet or the environment.

There are multiple places that are currently tackling issues from illegally released domestic and exotic animals. The most well known example are the Burmese pythons that have had an enormous impact on the Everglades in Florida. However, multiple cases of released pets causing problems in our waters occur every year including an alligator found in Long Lake in Summer 2022! Released pets can easily become nuisance or invasive species if they start a breeding population.

The Pet Surrender event brought together a collection of area 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 October 30th event with help from several other area organizations including Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes.

Want to learn more about the Pet Surrender Network? Visit the J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue website at www.jraar.org.

Photo Credit: Chris Acy (Fox-Wolf), Marissa Kososki (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!

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

The post Pet Rehoming Event in Green Bay Sees Eight Exotic Pets appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Meet Your 2023 Aquatic Invasive Species Education Team!

On: May 24, 2023

In: AIS, ais educators, aquatic invasive species, Butte des Morts, CBCW, Clean Boats, Clean Boats Clean Waters, clean drain dry, drain, Fond du Lac, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, inspect, invasive, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, never move, Outreach, Outreach and Education, prevention, remove, seasonal, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways, Winneconne

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!

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

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What’s That Plant? Know What’s In Your Water Garden

On: May 11, 2023

In: 2023, aquatic, aquatic invasive species, Bay of Green Bay, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Garden, invasive, invasive species, Keepers of the Fox, Lower Fox River, Outreach and Education, prevent, Upper Fox River, water, water garden, water hyacinth, winnebago waterwas, winnebago waterway program, Winnebago Waterways

Ensuring Your Water Garden Doesn’t Harbor Invasive Plants

As you’re choosing your plants for your water gardens and backyards this spring, be sure you aren’t accidentally growing an invasive plant that could do harm to our lakes and rivers! But don’t take our word for it! Here’s some tips from Melinda Myers, nationally known gardening educator, horticulturist, arborist, author, speaker, and TV/radio host with more than 30 years of horticulture experience!

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!

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

The post What’s That Plant? Know What’s In Your Water Garden appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Watch out! Creepy kudzu coming?

On: April 26, 2023

In: CIGLR, Echo, invasive

Kudzo is on the list of plants and animals that pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan’s economy, environment or human health.

The post Watch out! Creepy kudzu coming? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/26/watch-out-creepy-kudzu-coming/

Guest Contributor

Invasive Tracking: Researchers trying to trace zebra mussel infestations

On: July 14, 2021

In: Feature Homepage, invasive, invasive species, Latest News, Minnesota, Research, Research, Data and Technology, species, zebra mussels

Invasive Tracking: Researchers trying to trace zebra mussel infestations

While initial populations of invasive zebra mussels were brought to the Great Lakes on boats and in freighter ballast water, a new source of the invasive species has researchers concerned — pet stores.

The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center has partnered with the University of Minnesota Genomics Center to genetically trace zebra mussels that have been found in aquarium moss balls in pet stores.