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In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, great lakes restoration, invasive species

The U.S. House and Senate recently passed a significant budget package that rejects steep cuts proposed by the White House that would have slashed many federal programs essential to the health of our lakes and the people who depend on them. Ultimately, members of Congress from both parties came together to support hard-won investments, following a tradition of bipartisan support for the world’s largest freshwater resource that sits at the center of our region’s economy.  

This does not happen by chance; it is the result of decades of work to increase the Great Lakes region’s influence in the Congress. The Alliance for the Great Lakes, our supporters, and numerous regional partners raised our collective voices to make this win possible. 

Impact of cuts 

Canada Geese swim on lake water that stretches far into the horizon.

After a comprehensive analysis of the cuts proposed by the President and in subsequent appropriations bills in the House and Senate, we sounded the alarm about the potential impacts of slashing funding that protects communities from flooding, sewage backups in homes, and lead pipes. We highlighted the value of science and research to monitor water quality, support fishery management, and prevent harmful algal blooms. And we called out the necessity of protecting the federal agencies that administer these critical Great Lakes programs. Our supporters sent over 7,000 messages calling on their senators and representatives to protect the lakes. 

Funding to protect the lakes 

To their credit, our elected representatives in Congress listened. When it came time to vote on the FY26 budget, many fought back drastic cuts, redoubled their commitment to the Great Lakes, and passed bipartisan bills that notably include: 

  • A $1 million increase for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative ($369 million for the year). 
  • Steady water infrastructure funding, including for State Revolving Funds (Clean Water: $1.639 billion; Drinking Water: $1.126 billion), and nearly $100 million for disadvantaged communities, lead service line replacement, sewer overflow mitigation, and workforce training. 
  • Modest increases for Clean Water Act programs that control water pollution and support public water systems supervision. 
  • Funding for specific U.S. Army Corps projects, including for Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan. 
  • Flat funding to the Department of the Interior for fish and wildlife restoration, Great Lakes science, and invasive species work.  
  • Increase for the Integrated Ocean Observing System, which includes the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS).

You can find a detailed analysis of Great Lakes provisions in the FY26 appropriations bills from the Northeast Midwest Institute here. 

These investments will provide real, direct benefits for 30 million people who rely on a clean and thriving Great Lakes region – for their health, local economies, and continued enjoyment of these precious natural resources.  

Looking ahead 

Now Congress will need to ensure that appropriations are spent by the agencies as directed, with no more “pocket recissions” or slow walking the release of funds. We must also recognize that funding alone is not enough; it takes federal workers to ensure that programs are implemented successfully. The federal government lost over 220,000 workers last year (a ten percent cut), with the potential for more Reductions in Force on the horizon. Congress will also need to stand up against regulatory pullbacks and reduced enforcement on clean water protections and permitting, holding agencies like the U.S. EPA accountable to their core mission. 

So while we celebrate our region’s success in holding the line on Great Lakes funding so far, this is also a moment to reflect on the bigger picture: where we want to go as a region, and how that vision informs our funding needs to the future. We are facing big questions like:  

  • Whether the shifting federal landscape – marked by the most significant rollback of federal Great Lakes institutions and policies since the early 1970s – changes the roles that federal agencies and States should play in Great Lakes protection and, if so, how? 
  • Clean water should be available for all. Is our region adequately prepared to make the $290 billion in water infrastructure investments the EPA estimates is needed for critical stormwater, wastewater and drinking water projects over the next 20 years – particularly as we exhaust the one-time infusion of federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and as escalating extreme weather pummels the region?   
  • Under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), we have seen major progress on restoration work to clean up legacy contamination over the past two decades. Having nearly achieved this initial purpose, what should the vision be for collaboration to address today’s most significant ecological challenges and community needs, especially in places most burdened by pollution? 

In the months ahead, the Alliance for the Great Lakes will be watching for the President’s FY 2027 budget blueprint and how Congress responds, as well as monitoring the ways federal agencies implement funded programs and use their regulatory and enforcement powers. We will continue to collaborate with elected officials and partners from across the region to develop a future-forward vision for the Great Lakes in preparation for mid-term elections in 2026. 

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The post Congress protects Great Lakes programs from proposed cuts appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2026/01/congress-protects-great-lakes-programs-from-proposed-cuts/

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In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, auger, Bay of Green Bay, cold, conservation, curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, fishing, For Fun and Recreation, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Green Bay, ice, ice fishing, icy, invasive species, Keepers of the Fox, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Lower Fox River, Outreach and Education, Projects and Programs, Recreation, shanty, spear, stary stonewort, Upper Fox River, watershed, WDNR, WI DNR, winter

Do you have your auger and shanty ready? The ice is firming up. It's calling anglers throughout Wisconsin. In fact, several folks are already getting out in our area! Be careful on that ice! Help protect our lakes and rivers this winter with a few easy steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive [...]

The post Ice Fishing? Even Icy Wisconsin Waters Host Aquatic Invasive Species appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/12/10/ice-fishing-even-icy-wisconsin-waters-host-aquatic-invasive-species/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ice-fishing-even-icy-wisconsin-waters-host-aquatic-invasive-species

Chris Acy

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In: Asian carp, Chicago, Feature Homepage, Illinois, invasive species, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research
Illinois one step closer to keeping invasive carp out of Great Lakes

By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, WBEZ

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/10/illinois-one-step-closer-to-keeping-invasive-carp-out-of-great-lakes/

WBEZ

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In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Bowen St. Fishing Pier, Community & Events, Event - Non-FWWA, fishing, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, goby, invasive species, Lake Winnebago, monitoring, Outreach and Education, round goby, WDNR, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways

Fish Caught Off of Bowen St. Fishing Pier in Oshkosh In June, an angler caught a round goby in Lake Winnebago at the Bowen Street Fishing Pier in Oshkosh, the first known detection there. The invasive fish is about 3 to 6 inches long with bulging frog-like eyes and a fused fin on their [...]

The post Round Goby Discovery in Winnebago Update; Assessment Ramps Up appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/09/26/round-goby-discovery-in-winnebago-update-assessment-ramps-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=round-goby-discovery-in-winnebago-update-assessment-ramps-up

Chris Acy

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In: Authors, Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, I Speak for the Fish, invasive species, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, native fish, News, Science, Technology, Research
I Speak for the Fish: Swiping right on native fish

I Speak for the Fish is a column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor Kathy Johnson. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS. Check out her previous columns.

There’s a fish project in Northern Michigan that is exciting researchers from around the world. 

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/i-speak-for-the-fish-swiping-right-on-native-fish/

Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

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In: Agricultural runoff, Combined sewer overflows, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Lead service lines
Donald Jodrey headshot.
Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations

On July 4th, President Donald Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” or “OBBBA.” Now that OBBBA is law, the focus in Congress turns to funding the government and passing legislation that is required to renew, or “reauthorize,” federal programs in the new fiscal year that starts October 1st.  

On the funding side, the President’s proposed budget recommends deep cuts that would threaten the health of the Great Lakes and the people who depend on them. Congressional Republicans are unlikely to accept the full cuts, as some in their leadership have spoken out against some of the proposals, but important funding is still likely to be scaled back. Among the cuts would be funding to replace dangerous lead pipes, fix leaky pipes, and stop sewage overflows from entering our lakes and people’s homes. 

On the fight to reauthorize key programs, there are some potentially positive signs, though some of the renewed programs may end up with less funding. Programs up for reauthorization cover fisheries management, water infrastructure, managing invasive carp, and on-the-ground restoration projects, from wetland restoration to cleaning up toxic hot spots. 

At the Alliance, we’re following these developments closely and working to ensure that federal programs and policies protect and restore the clean, fresh water of the Great Lakes in a manner that promotes a sustainable economy and environment for Great Lakes residents. 

The administration’s budget proposal threatens the Great Lakes, our public health, and our environment 

The first order of business is Congressional action on the 12 annual spending bills that Congress must enact before the end of September, when the new fiscal year begins and current government funding runs out.    

The FY 2026 President’s Budget that was submitted to Congress this spring proposes sweeping cuts to many federal agencies that significantly reduce domestic discretionary spending. For the Great Lakes, the proposed cuts risk the health of residents who rely upon the lakes as a source of drinking water because the budget proposes to eliminate nearly all of the $3 billion in water infrastructure funding that is provided annually to states. These steep cuts would make it difficult for Great Lakes states to address water infrastructure backlogs, replace lead service lines, address contaminant issues such as PFAS, and provide principal forgiveness for disadvantaged communities that struggle to construct expensive drinking and wastewater infrastructure because they may lack the tax base to do so. These are just a few of the problems with proposing to eliminate nearly $3 billion in annual federal funding that supports water infrastructure needs nationally. Information gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that the national backlog of water infrastructure needs is growing, not diminishing, over the next 20 years.  

Although Congressional Republicans solidly supported the President in passing OBBBA, Congressional Republicans are unlikely to accept the proposed FY 2026 proposed budget cuts, as key Republicans in leadership positions have spoken out against some of the proposed cuts. As a result, on the House side where the individual appropriations subcommittees have begun to “mark up” the annual spending bills, the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree with the Administration to eliminate water infrastructure funds to states for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (“SRFs”).   

Notwithstanding this opposition to the Administration’s proposal, they did propose significant cuts totaling $661.9 million, or approximately 24%, of the funds for the nation’s primary source of water infrastructure funding. This means that the Great Lakes States will collectively lose $137.1 million. This loss is ameliorated by the fact that some Members of Congress from Great Lakes states pursued “Community Project Funding” where they directed funds from within these large federal appropriations to water infrastructure projects in their districts. If a Member of Congress secured such community-specific funding, the overall loss to their state is less than it would have been. The 24% cut to water infrastructure funding combined with the Community Project Funding would result in the following changes to water infrastructure funding compared to last year: 

StateChange in federal water infrastructure funding
Illinois + $800,000
Indiana – $20,200,000
Michigan – $2,100,000
Minnesota + $28,800,000
New York– $53,200,000
Ohio – $23,500,000
Pennsylvania– $34,200,000
Wisconsin – $33,500,000

Although House Republicans are not fully embracing the Administration’s proposed cuts to water infrastructure funding, SRF funding to states under the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up is less than last year, which is problematic for the reasons discussed above.

Similarly, Congressional Republicans on the House side are also not accepting the Administration’s proposal to eliminate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (“NOAA”) Office of Atmospheric Research, which funds numerous research facilities around the country and also in the Great Lakes, including the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (“GLERL”) in Ann Arbor, MI and the related research organization housed there known as the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research or “CIGLR.” CIGLR is a public-private partnership of 10 research universities throughout the region, non-governmental organizations, and local governmental partners who tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the Great Lakes. These challenges include the monitoring of harmful algal blooms, or “HABs,” which are produced by agricultural runoff. CIGLR monitors HAB outbreaks, which occur during the summer months, to ensure that the Great Lakes drinking water in areas affected by HABs is safe to drink and to protect swimmers and fishermen from the effects of HABs – which can be fatal. Although the details are not yet available, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science marked up its bill this week and proposes to only decrease NOAA’s Office of Atmospheric Research by $257 million, which leaves intact most of these functions. We have yet to determine whether GLERL or CIGLR is fully funded and able to maintain the functions it provides to Great Lakes States. 

On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate has only started its process to develop the 12 annual spending bills and two senior Senators, Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine (who voted against OBBBA) and Interior Appropriations Chair Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have expressed doubts about supporting the Administration’s proposed cuts. The Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science has begun to consider its bill funding NOAA programs, but halted its markup this week where it added back approximately $650 million for NOAA’s Office of Atmospheric Research. No further details are available on the Senate markup as it is not complete, but Senate Republicans are also not fully on board with the Administration’s funding proposals. 

Although there is a great deal of uncertainty over how Congress will resolve its differences with the Administration on the FY 2026 budget, and the Congress must also consider a package of “rescissions” recently proposed by the Administration (canceling prior year spending), it is clear that the House and Senate are unlikely to pass any of the individual spending bills before Congress recesses in August. After Labor Day, Congress will devote its time to issues associated with enacting a budget for FY 2026 that begins on October 1st. Given this attenuated schedule, it is possible that there will be one or more continuing resolutions for FY 2026 which just extend current levels of annual funding for a period of time. We will closely monitor these developments and let you know how the annual funding process is unfolding. 

Bipartisan support for continuing Great Lakes programs

With respect to other legislative issues affecting the Great Lakes, including reauthorization for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, reauthorization for the Great Lakes Fishery Reauthorization Act, reauthorization for the Clean Water Act’s State Revolving Funds, and the implementation of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project in Joliet, Illinois, that is intended to halt invasive carp from getting into Lake Michigan, there are some positive developments. 

First, President Trump has publicly announced his support for both the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (or “GLRI”) as well as the Brandon Road Project. For GLRI, which the Administration proposes to fund at last year’s enacted level, the bipartisan reauthorization bill, which has been reintroduced in both the House and Senate, has attracted numerous bipartisan cosponsors and is likely to pass during this session of Congress, which ends in 2026. We are working closely with a bipartisan group of Great Lakes Members of Congress to ensure that the bill moves through both the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, passes the House and Senate, and becomes law. 

For the Brandon Road Project, President Trump issued a memorandum earlier this year directing federal agencies to move expeditiously to implement the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”), which initiated project construction in late 2024, is doing just that. All contracts for the first phase of project construction are issued, and work is well underway. The Corps is working diligently with its local partners, the States of Illinois and Michigan, to get ready for the next phase of construction (slated to begin in the fall of 2026), which requires an additional transfer of lands from the State of Illinois to the Corps. This land transfer is scheduled to occur before September 2025 so that the Corps may begin site testing and preparation of these lands and remediation of any contamination as necessary. No additional federal funding is needed until FY 2027, and the project is on track thanks to the diligent work of the States of Illinois and Michigan and the Corps. 

Other legislative reauthorizations are moving, with the schedule largely dictated by the Administration’s transition, which is unprecedented in scope in terms of actions that affect federal agency budgets, staffing, regulations and policy, as well as judicial review. At the Alliance, we work to stay on top of these changes and to inform and educate decision-makers on the effects of proposed actions. As another source of good news, the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act just passed the House this week and may now be considered by the Senate. Work is also underway among authorizing staff to prepare for the reauthorization of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which must be reauthorized by the end of 2026; we are working that issue as well. 

We will continue working on all these issues as they move through Congress. We are hopeful that the Administration’s support for both GLRI and Brandon Road, and the awareness of how numerous federal programs support the Great Lakes and its people, will result in final actions on funding and legislating that protect the Great Lakes. 

If you have any concerns about proposals and actions in the federal legislative or executive branch that are being considered, we encourage you to contact your Congressional representative to express your views using the action alert below.

Tell Congress: Don’t Cut Critical Great Lakes Programs

Congress is considering budget proposals that could devastate our nation’s ability to protect the Great Lakes, public health, and our regional economy.

Take Action

The post Critical Months Ahead for the Great Lakes in Congress  appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2025/07/critical-months-ahead-for-the-great-lakes-in-congress/

tfazzini

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In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Clean Boats Clean Waters, Drain Campaign, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, invasive species, Lake Winnebago, Outreach and Education, Recreation, WDNR, WI DNR, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways

Join Fox-Wolf, WI-DNR, and More Partners Statewide To Protect Your Lakes Story Written In Partnership with WI DNR The annual Drain Campaign, June 6th-8th, focuses on the importance for boaters and anglers to always drain their livewells and fish buckets before leaving boat launches and fishing access points. Boat inspectors from Clean Boats, Clean [...]

The post Annual Drain Campaign Returns This Weekend – Reminder to Drain All Water at the Launch appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/06/05/annual-drain-campaign-returns-this-weekend/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=annual-drain-campaign-returns-this-weekend

Chris Acy

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In: Asian carp, Illinois, invasive species, Latest News, Michigan, News
Illinois wants to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp. A toxic mess stands in the way.

By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, WBEZ

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/05/illinois-wants-to-protect-the-great-lakes-from-invasive-carp-a-toxic-mess-stands-in-the-way/

WBEZ

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In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, biocontrol, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, invasive species, Outreach and Education, purple loosestrife, volunteer, Volunteer Spotlight, watershed

Volunteers Raising Beetles to Deal with Troublesome Plant There are so many ways that people are helping out our waters. People are picking up trash, planting rain gardens, and growing cover crops in their farm fields (just to name a few). This time of year, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is starting up the annual Purple [...]

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/05/16/volunteer-shoutout-purple-loosestrife-biocontrol/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=volunteer-shoutout-purple-loosestrife-biocontrol

Chris Acy

On:
In: Agricultural runoff, Combined sewer overflows, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Lead service lines
Donald Jodrey headshot.
Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations

The Trump Administration’s proposed FY 2026 President’s Budget slashes federal non-defense spending and proposes steep cuts to federal programs that protect and restore the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them.  

The White House proposal to cut federal funding threatens Great Lakes residents, putting their health and economic security at risk by defunding water infrastructure programs, important research and observation programs, and efforts to assist communities overburdened from pollution. At the top of the list is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”), with a proposed overall cut of 55% that would gut key water infrastructure programs that help pay for safe and clean drinking water, and stop sewage overflows, flooding, and basement backups. Also on the chopping block are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (-19%), the Interior Department (including the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geologic Survey, -31%), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (-18%), all of which play key roles in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes through action on the ground and robust scientific research. Taken together, the White House proposal to gut federal funding not only threatens the Great Lakes but also sets up a showdown with Congress, which must decide whether to protect core funding for the programs it created or go along with the President’s proposed deep-cut budget. 

With water infrastructure needs growing, budget drastically cuts funding

Under this budget, U.S. EPA would abdicate a large portion of its federal responsibility and partnership with the states as set forth by Congress in both the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. And it comes at a time when water infrastructure needs are growing fast. Based on its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Information and Assessment Survey and its 2022 Clean Water Needs Survey, U.S. EPA estimates that Great Lakes states need at least $290.3 billion in water infrastructure investment over the next twenty years. Against this need, the proposed budget would decimate federal funding levels for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (“SRFs”) – the primary federal program for funding and financing water infrastructure projects – by nearly 90%. Such cuts threaten to destabilize states and communities struggling to ensure safe drinking water and protections from flooding and sewage. The Great Lakes states would see the following decreases in federal funding for water infrastructure programs: 

StateDecrease in federal water infrastructure funding
Illinois – $94.6 million 
Indiana – $57.5 million
Michigan – $84.1 million
Minnesota – $41.2 million
New York– $204.2 million
Ohio – $102.9 million
Pennsylvania– $89.2 million
Wisconsin – $55.6 million

While the states have built up funding in their state-administered SRFs since Congress established these programs, the states cannot meet the estimated water infrastructure needs on their own. The proposed budget ignores that federal funding plays key roles in state-administered SRFs. States rely heavily on federal funding to provide principal forgiveness or grant funding to disadvantaged communities that struggle to afford standard awards. States also use federal funding to help pay for staffing and technical assistance to communities, and to supplement repayable loan awards. U.S. EPA plays a key role in administering SRF funding, including assessing infrastructure needs on a regular basis to make sure funding goes to the states proportional to the need, and ensuring drinking water, stormwater, and sanitary system operators comply with standards that keep us and our waters safe. The White House’s blithe explanation that it is returning control of these programs to the states ignores the important federal partnership that has been underway since Congress first established these programs decades ago.  

Cuts threaten programs that protect Great Lakes from algal blooms, invasive species, and more

The administration’s budget also proposes a $1 billion reduction in EPA’s categorical grants. These programs support state efforts to implement Clean Water Act regulations, reduce lead in drinking water, reduce sources of non-point source pollution that fuels harmful algal blooms, assist small and disadvantaged communities struggling to implement water infrastructure programs, and develop a water workforce. Like the proposed reductions to the SRFs, the proposal to nearly eliminate all categorical grants upends important federalism goals for programs Congress established to deal with specific needs. 

As noted above, the budget also includes steep cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Interior Department (the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geologic Survey and the National Park Service), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These cuts threaten the restoration of the Great Lakes by decreasing our ability to conduct scientific investigations, address runoff pollution and harmful algal blooms that threaten our drinking water, control invasive species to protect our fisheries, and protect national parks in the region. 

The cuts in the administration’s proposal would threaten the quality of the drinking water relied on by more than 30 million Americans in the Great Lakes region. The cuts would defer and delay action to stop sewage backups into homes and surface waters, replace failing septic systems, and solve chronic flooding. Access to safe and clean drinking water and freedom from flooding and sewage impacts are basic needs that should be guaranteed to all citizens and communities across the Great Lakes. 

Will Congress agree to such steep cuts?

The big question is whether Congress will agree to such steep reductions. The answer is unclear and, in some cases, such as the proposed $3.4 billion proposed cuts to water infrastructure programs, the answer may be a hard no. 

Just last week, in a display of bipartisan unity, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, under the leadership of Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), held its first hearing on water infrastructure funding with the goal of finalizing a bipartisan water infrastructure package that would reauthorize both the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, as well as other water infrastructure grant programs like the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act program. Sen. Capito, who played a leading role in negotiating the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) with its $50 billion investment in water infrastructure, extolled the federalism virtues of the SRFs and the important role they played in assisting states with meeting their water infrastructure needs and providing water services to underserved communities. Senator Capito, and the other senators attending the hearing including Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Senator Angela Alsobooks (D-MD) all praised the IIJA water infrastructure funding, noting the many projects underway in each of their states addressing important community needs, including upgrading treatment facilities, replacing aging systems, supporting the needs of rural and underserved communities, replacing lead service lines, and dealing with contaminants such as PFAS.  

The debate in the reauthorization of water infrastructure programs is not whether there will be the votes to pass the legislation, but how much control to give to states at the expense of federal oversight. These programs are designed to help states meet their obligations – and protect our health – under bedrock federal laws like the Clean Water Act. That is a very important question and one in which the answer has yet to emerge. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be conducting other hearings on this topic and the House is expected to follow suit later this year. 

In the meantime, the appropriations process is well underway, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have been working on the FY 2026 budget in anticipation of the start of the fiscal year this October. The Trump Administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal is just that, a proposal, and Congress will be evaluating the steep budget cuts. For our part at the Alliance, we will be meeting with members of the Great Lakes delegations to point out the many problems with the proposed cuts and working hard to ensure that the final budget package passed by the House and Senate protects and restores the Great Lakes. 

2025 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities

The federal government plays an essential role in protecting clean water.

Read More

The post Trump Budget Proposal Slashes Federal Funding, Threatens the Great Lakes and Sets Up Showdown With Congress   appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

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News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2025/05/trump-budget-proposal-slashes-federal-funding-threatens-the-great-lakes-and-sets-up-showdown-with-congress/

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In: First Nations, invasive species, Latest News, News, Ontario, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Can these invasive reeds be stopped?

Invasive phragmites are overwhelming Ontario’s wetlands, choking out native plants and wildlife. Towering up to 15 feet (5 meters) tall and spreading in dense clusters, this plant outcompetes native species, disrupts ecosystems, and threatens wildlife. But a team of dedicated experts and community members are fighting back.

Wetland ecologist Janice Gilbert is leading efforts at Kettle and Stony Point First Nation to combat phragmites.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/04/can-these-invasive-reeds-be-stopped/

Great Lakes Now

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In: AIS, aquatic invasive species, invasive species

Spring Is a Great Time to Thaw Out - And Be On the Lookout Spring is a favorite time for many Wisconsinites. Everyday something new sprouts through the ground, blooms appear, and leaves begin filling empty branches. As you enjoy spring and summer unfolding, keep a lookout for unwelcome plants in gardens, waterways, and [...]

The post Early Season Invasive Plants To Watch For On Your Spring Walks appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

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Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/04/18/early-season-invasive-plants-to-watch-for-on-your-spring-walks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=early-season-invasive-plants-to-watch-for-on-your-spring-walks

Chris Acy

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In: Feature Homepage, Habitat Restoration, invasive species, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Work
Could the Great Lakes lose billions in restoration funding?

The Great Lakes, the world’s largest system of fresh surface water, supply drinking water to about 40 million people. But industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and invasive species have caused significant problems. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was created to address these issues and has received bipartisan support since its inception.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/04/could-the-great-lakes-lose-billions-in-restoration-funding/

Great Lakes Now

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In: invasive species, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Science, Technology, Research, sea lamprey, trump, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments
Sea lamprey control program receives OK to rehire federal workers, after initial scare

By Ellie Katz, Interlochen Public Radio

This article was republished with permission from Interlochen Public Radio.

The Great Lakes’ sea lamprey control program has the OK to rehire three dozen federal employees it needs to combat the eel-like, invasive fish species.

That’s after staffing cuts and hiring freezes from the Trump administration last month threatened the work, which the Great Lakes Fishery Commission said would have led to more than $200 million in lost fishing potential.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/03/sea-lamprey-control-program-receives-ok-to-rehire-federal-workers-after-initial-scare/

Interlochen Public Radio

On:
In: Agriculture, Beaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and Sailing, Connect, invasive species, Latest News, Live, Michigan, News, Play, Protect, Work
Wetlands rules face rollback under Trump: Great Lakes pollution next?

By Brian Allnutt, Planet Detroit

This article was republished with permission from Planet Detroit. Sign up for Planet Detroit’s weekly newsletter here.

Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin issued guidance to limit federal protections for wetlands last week that environmental advocates say will lead to more pollution in the Great Lakes.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/03/wetlands-rules-face-rollback-under-trump-great-lakes-pollution-next/

Planet Detroit

On:
In: aquatic invasive species, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, ID, invasive plants, invasive species, management, Melinda Myers, spring

Spring Is A Perfect Time to Double-Check What Plants You're Growing As spring arrives in the Fox-Wolf watershed, our backyard plants start to emerge from their winter naps. Now is the perfect time to verify what plants you have growing in your own backyard. But don't take it from us! Horticulturist Melinda Myers will [...]

The post Plants Starting to Emerge! Know What’s In Your Backyard? appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/03/20/plants-starting-to-emerge-know-whats-in-your-backyard/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=plants-starting-to-emerge-know-whats-in-your-backyard

Chris Acy

On:
In: Agriculture, Beaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and Sailing, Connect, invasive species, Latest News, Live, News, Play, Protect, Work
Cougar cubs found in U.P. for first time in more than a century

By Katie Thoresen, WXPR

This story was originally published by WXPR. WXPR is a community-licensed public radio station serving north central Wisconsin and adjacent areas of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Listen to their stories here.

Cougar cubs have been found in Michigan.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/03/cougar-cubs-found-in-u-p-for-first-time-in-more-than-a-century/

WXPR

On:
In: ash tree, emerald ash borer, Forests and Plants, invasive species, Latest News, News, Ohio, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research
Are the ash trees doomed?

The emerald ash borer (EAB) has devastated ash trees across North America. But researchers in Ohio discovered something unexpected — some ash trees are surviving. These ‘lingering ash’ not only resist EAB but can even kill its larvae.

Scientists suspected genetic resistance and tested their theory by cloning and crossbreeding surviving trees.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/02/are-the-ash-trees-doomed/

Great Lakes Now

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In: Authors, Feature Homepage, invasive species, James Proffitt, Lake Superior, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research
Lake trout recovery in Superior sign of lamprey removal success

Just-announced staff cuts and hiring freezes from the Trump administration will jeopardize the ongoing success of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) decades-long battle against sea lamprey, according to officials. While states, provinces and U.S. and Canadian tribes are involved in the labor-intensive efforts, the USFWS performs most of the in-stream treatments in the U.S.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/02/lake-trout-recovery-in-superior-sign-of-lamprey-removal-success/

James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

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In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, Forestry, Forests and Plants, invasive species, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Recreation and Tourism, Science, Technology, Research, sea lamprey, Tourism, trump
Trump firings hit Great Lakes sea lamprey program, Michigan forestry workers

By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/02/trump-firings-hit-great-lakes-sea-lamprey-program-michigan-forestry/

Bridge Michigan

On:
In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, Forestry, Forests and Plants, invasive species, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Recreation and Tourism, Science, Technology, Research, sea lamprey, Tourism, trump
Trump firings hit Great Lakes sea lamprey program, Michigan forestry workers

By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/02/trump-firings-hit-great-lakes-sea-lamprey-program-michigan-forestry/

Bridge Michigan

On:
In: AIS, angling, aquatic invasive species, battle on bago, fishing, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, habitat, ice fishing, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Outreach and Education, Recreation, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

No Matter the Time of Year, AIS Prevention Helps Your Waters Original Story: WI DNR The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and partners ask anglers to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species while fishing this winter. Even in harsh winter conditions, anglers can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species [...]

The post Battle on Bago & Beyond – Protect Your Waters from Invasive Species appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/02/14/battle-on-bago-beyond-protect-your-waters-from-invasive-species/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=battle-on-bago-beyond-protect-your-waters-from-invasive-species

Chris Acy

On:
In: 2025, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Event, Event - Non-FWWA, Fox-Wolf Basin, habitat, invasive species, Melinda Myers, Outreach and Education, restoration, watershed recovery, webinar

Invasive Species? Horticultrist Melinda Myers Can Help! Managing invasive plants on your property can be overwhelming. We will discuss various strategies to help you manage these unwanted plants. Preventing their introduction into your landscape is the best place to start. Then slow the spread of those present by cutting back the plants or mowing [...]

The post Free Webinar: Strategies to Manage Invasive Species on Your Property appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2025/02/14/free-webinar-strategies-to-manage-invasive-species-on-your-property/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-webinar-strategies-to-manage-invasive-species-on-your-property

Chris Acy

On:
In: Authors, Connect, Feature Homepage, Habitat Restoration, invasive species, John Hartig, Latest News, Michigan, News, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Great Lakes Moment: Rouge River oxbow enhances education at The Henry Ford

Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS.

In the 1960s, an oxbow was eliminated in the lower Rouge River when a concrete channel was built to move stormwater out of the watershed.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/02/great-lakes-moment-rouge-river-oxbow-enhances-education-the-henry-ford/

John Hartig, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: Connect, Energy, Clean Energy, Ethanol and Fracking, Feature Homepage, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, invasive species, Latest News, News
Chicago keeps its New Year’s resolution: All city buildings now use 100% clean power

By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, WBEZ

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/01/chicago-renewable-energy-black-diamond-solar/

Grist

On:
In: Feature Homepage, invasive species, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research
Construction will soon begin on project to keep invasive carp out of Great Lakes

By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio

This article was republished here with permission from Wisconsin Public Radio.

Efforts to build a barrier to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes are one step closer to reality.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday that it awarded the first construction contract on the $1.15 billion project at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/12/construction-will-soon-begin-on-project-to-keep-invasive-carp-out-of-great-lakes/

Wisconsin Public Radio

On:
In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, invasive species, lake erie, Lake Huron, Latest News, News, Ohio, Ontario, Science, Technology, Research, Toronto
The fight to keep grass carp out of the Great Lakes

By Matt McIntosh, The Narwhal

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/the-fight-to-keep-grass-carp-out-of-the-great-lakes/

The Narwhal

On:
In: Asian carp, Chicago, Feature-Chicago, Illinois, invasive species, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Carp Catch-22: Could improvements in Chicago waterways invite unwelcome guests?

By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, WBEZ

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/carp-catch-22-could-improvements-in-chicago-waterways-invite-unwelcome-guests/

WBEZ

On:
In: Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, invasive species, Latest News, News, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Great Lakes most unwanted: Top 10 invasive species

Long after the Halloween season has ended, some of the Great Lakes’ most infamous invasive species remain a scary sight: blood-sucking parasites with suction-cup mouths, thousands of rotting fish carcasses washed ashore and sharp mussel shells that puncture the feet of unsuspecting beachgoers.

At least 188 nonnative aquatic species have been introduced to the Great Lakes, and over a third have become invasive, meaning they can have negative health, ecological and socioeconomic impacts when introduced to new ecosystems.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/great-lakes-most-unwanted-top-10-invasive-species/

Lily Stewart, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, fall celanup, Fox Wolf Watershed, fox-wolf, Garden, In your yard, invasive species, plants, water garden, water plants, watershed

Temps Cooling, Fall Cleanup Tips

As we approach the middle of autumn in Northeast Wisconsin, folks are starting to tackle outside projects to prepare for winter. You might be raking leaves, winterizing your spigots, and cleaning up your vegetable garden. Folks are also looking at their backyard ponds and starting to get things wrapped up for the year.

Want a few tips? Check out this short video with Melinda Myers. Melinda, a former Extension Master Gardener Educator herself, is well–known throughout the state and nationally as a gardening expert and trusted voice to bring education, including invasive species education, to gardeners!

Photo Credit:

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 Fall Water Garden Clean Up to Keep Our Lakes Healthy appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/10/17/fall-water-garden-clean-up-to-keep-our-lakes-healthy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fall-water-garden-clean-up-to-keep-our-lakes-healthy

Chris Acy

On:
In: Feature Homepage, invasive species, Latest News, News, Ohio, Science, Technology, Research
Ohio Department of Agriculture is working to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly

A dozen Ohio counties are currently under a quarantine for transporting plant material as the state works to get a handle on its growing spotted lanternfly problem.

The invasive spotted lanternfly is being spread primarily by hitchhiking. The quarantine aims to stop by putting in place requirements for businesses that ship goods across county lines, Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Health Chief Dan Kenny said.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/ohio-department-of-agriculture-is-working-to-stop-the-spread-of-the-spotted-lanternfly/

Ideastream Public Media

On:
In: AIS, aquatic invasive species, ducks, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Hunting, invasive species, Outreach and Education, phragmites, waterfowl, waterfowl hunting, WI DNR

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

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Butte des Morts, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, invasive species, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, volunteer, water hyacinth, watershed recovery, WDNR, WI DNR, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

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

On:
In: Amy Workman, bighead carp, DNA, Freshwater Collaborative, Freshwater@UW, Hope Dzik, invasive species, silver carp, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, Wisconsin River

By Hope Dzik, Freshwater Collaborative summer research student

This summer, 35 undergraduate students from across the country conducted research with Freshwater@UW, the University of Wisconsin’s cross-site, cross-discipline research opportunities program. Freshwater@UW is supported by the Freshwater Collaborative, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Water@UW–Madison, the Water Resources Institute and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Graduate School. In the final weeks of the program, students reflected on what they learned. Here’s Hope Dzik, an undergraduate sophomore in environmental biology and plant biology from the Michigan State University, who worked with Amy Workman at UW–Madison.

Dzik holds a water sample from Wisconsin River at Upham Woods. Image credit: Amy Workman

I applied to the Freshwater@UW Program in hopes of getting a deeper understanding of aquatic invasive species research. I was extremely excited for the opportunity to experience the process of field work. I’d not been able to do that at my home university.

When I found out I was accepted, I was both anxious and excited to meet everyone else involved in the Freshwater@UW Program. My experience with meeting other cohort members, grad students, professors and many others involved was one of the best parts of my summer. I made so many professional connections and met future environmental scientists from around the country.

Our orientation events allowed us to become acquainted with Madison and each other — the best part was pulling out invasive plants together and sitting exhausted in the shade afterward. Madison is also an amazing place during summer. I loved biking around the city on my free bike (shoutout to the Red Bicycle Project) and swimming in the lake.

Everyone involved in this program took time to get to know us, and I felt extremely taken care of. All the professionals I met, and the sense of community this program brought, made the stressful or confusing aspects of my research worth every mosquito bite or failed experiment.

Dzik takes a water sample for invasive carp DNA testing. Image credit: Amy Workman

My project objective was to refine a protocol for collection and analysis of invasive carp eDNA. Bighead and silver carp can indirectly harm native fish populations and are threats to Wisconsin’s fresh water, so being able to detect a population of either species in a body of water can aid in monitoring the growth of their population. I worked with both Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center and the University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center. My method development was a frustrating but gratifying process. It involved finding the best way to collect river samples from the Upham Woods campus, developing the most efficient way to extract DNA, and refining techniques to analyze the DNA samples. The complete protocol will be used for teaching high school groups, which is one of the reasons I selected this project. I wanted to show that biological research isn’t intimidating and is open to all types of people.

This project was an amazing opportunity; it allowed me to learn important skills like science communication and self-advocacy. I discovered how much I enjoy field biology and ecology while applying course concepts. The water collection process was a great experience, and I loved being outside in the river. Grad school does not seem as intimidating anymore, either. I arrived at Madison this summer questioning my post-undergraduate plans, and now I have started to plan my future in biological research. It has allowed me to narrow my career goals, and I hope to continue field research in the future.

The post Invasive fish genetics project ignites passion for field work first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/invasive-fish-genetics-project-ignites-passion-for-field-work/

Wisconsin Sea Grant

On:
In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, Fish, Birds and Animals, invasive species, Latest News, News, Pennsylvania, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Harnessing Mussels to Filter Fresh Water

By Amalia Medina, Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/08/harnessing-mussels-to-filter-fresh-water/

Circle of Blue

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, beetles, biocontrol, conservation, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, invasive plants, invasive species, purple loosestrife biocontrol, volunteer opportunity, Volunteer Spotlight, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes

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

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Butte des Morts, chestnut lamprey, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, lamprey, Outreach, Outreach and Education, sea lamprey, watershed, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

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

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Bay of Green Bay, Butte des Morts, Clean Boats Clean Waters, Fond du Lac, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Great Lakes, Green Bay, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Lower Fox River, Outreach, Outreach and Education, Upper Fox River, watershed, WDNR, WI DNR, Winnebago Waterways

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

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Butte des Morts, Dock Service Providers, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Green Bay, invasive species, lake management planning, Lake Winnebago, Outreach and Education, Poygan, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways, Winneconne

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

On:
In: 2024, Adopt, Adopt-a-Launch, AIS, aquatic invasive species, fox river, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Green Bay, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Outreach and Education, volunteer, volunteer opportunity, Volunteer Spotlight, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

April Ends with Four Additional Launches Adopted

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Adopt a Launch Program is off to its fastest start in years! As we end the month of April, we have had four new launches be adopted across the watershed.

  • Fred Miller Park Boat Launch, City of Omro – Girl Scout Troop 2147
  • Telulah Park Kayak Launch, City of Appleton – Valley New School
  • Lutz Park Boat Launch, City of Appleton – Fox River Academy
  • 1000 Islands Kayak Launch, City of Kaukauna – Julie Eddy & Linda Olson

With several more launch adoptions underway, 2024 is shaping to be one of the largest increases in boat launches adopted in the Program’s history. The Fox-Wolf Adopt-a-Launch Program works to improve and clean up the lakes and rivers by engaging community members through volunteer efforts at boat launches. Volunteers are helping to identify new introductions of aquatic invasive species (AIS), prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by removing plant and debris at launch sites, improve and protect habitat and water quality by removing garbage, help ensure recreational boating facilities are maintained by reporting issues, and develop a sense of pride and ownership for the waterways. Want to get involved? Here’s how to join our amazing volunteers!

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 Adopt a Launch Program Flourishes Early in 2024 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/05/01/adopt-a-launch-program-flourishes-early-in-2024/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adopt-a-launch-program-flourishes-early-in-2024

Chris Acy

On:
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!

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

On:
In: Feature Homepage, Forests and Plants, invasive species, lake erie, Lake Ontario, Latest News, News, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Finding creative new ways to manage invasive cattails

Hot dog on a stick. Water torch. Supermarket of the swamp.

Cattails go by many names, but almost everyone can recognize the pervasive wetland plant  that grows along lakes, ponds, marshes, and swamps.

Their thin green stems and leaves can reach up to nearly ten feet in height.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/04/finding-creative-new-ways-to-manage-invasive-cattails/

Lily Stewart, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: Asian carp, Feature Homepage, Illinois, invasive species, Latest News, Michigan, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Science, Technology, Research
Illinois and Army Corps at an impasse over building barrier to prevent invasive carp

By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, WBEZ

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/illinois-and-army-corps-at-an-impasse-over-building-barrier-to-prevent-invasive-carp/

WBEZ

On:
In: Algae Blooms, Authors, Feature Homepage, invasive species, James Proffitt, lake erie, Lake Erie-EPA, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
From the Ice Age to Now: A Lake Erie timeline

Lake Erie covers about 9,900 square miles and stretches 240 miles from southwest to northeast with an average depth of 62 feet. It borders four states and the province of Ontario. About 12 million people live in the watershed, including 17 major metropolitan areas. More than 10 million people rely on the lake as a source of drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/from-the-ice-age-to-now-a-lake-erie-timeline/

James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: 2024, Adopt-a-Launch, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Bay of Green Bay, Butte des Morts, Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, Clean Boats Clean Waters, conservation, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Project RED, volunteer, volunteer opportunity, watershed

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 launches! Get 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

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Event - Non-FWWA, exotic pet surrender, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Habitattitude, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Outreach and Education, Winnebago Lakes

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

On:
In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes
2024 Federal Policy Priorities

Significant progress continues to be made in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes, but much more needs to be done. Although increased federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment Act these last two years has allowed states and the federal government to address some key issues, including water infrastructure and the cleanup of toxic legacy pollution, we still have too many Great Lakers experiencing polluted water. Invasive species continue to threaten the lakes, nutrient runoff continues to negatively affect our water quality, and plastic pollutes our beaches and drinking water. 

In our 2024 federal policy priorities, we’ve identified the top five opportunities for Congress and federal agencies to address these challenges. Many of these priorities are familiar and are carried over from last year when Congress made little progress on substantive legislation. For the upcoming year, Congress and the administration must address key issues. These include passing an annual federal budget to provide states with sufficient federal resources to fix our ailing water infrastructure; enacting a Farm Bill that will reduce the flow of nutrient pollution into the lakes; maintaining progress on key federal projects intended to stop invasive species; and providing funding and reauthorization for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to continue support for on-the-ground restoration projects.

Equity and justice are embedded throughout these policy priorities and must be considered at every step of the federal decision-making process to ensure that all Great Lakers have access to safe, clean, affordable water. Repairing the long-term harm from environmental injustices isn’t a one-off action and federal decision-makers must prioritize disadvantaged communities where the burden of pollution and the lack of essential services often hit the hardest. Congress and the administration must ensure that community voices are at the table – and listened to – from the beginning of all decision-making.

Read on for full details of our 2024 Great Lakes federal policy priorities, or download the fact sheet to learn more.

Water infrastructure.

Increase water infrastructure funding, prioritize funding for communities most in need  

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress late in 2021 was an important down payment to fix the nation’s failing and outdated water infrastructure. The funding will jump-start efforts to replace dangerous lead pipes, fix leaky pipes, and stop sewage overflows.

However, the funding is only a start. EPA’s 7th national Drinking Water Needs Information Survey and Assessment, completed just last year, estimates that the Great Lakes region will need at least $225.2 billion over the next twenty years to fix our water infrastructure problems. This is an increase from the last national survey and indicates that federal funding is not keeping up with needs. Currently, the infrastructure bill will provide Great Lakes states with an additional $1.8 billion per year for the next five years. It is clearly not enough. We need to keep the pressure on Congress to provide additional funds for water infrastructure programs. Additionally, funding programs must be structured to ensure that money reaches communities with the highest need, such as those with many lead pipes.

In 2024, we urge Congress to: 

  • Increase annual funding to at least $9.3 billion for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds
  • Increase by $1 billion annual funding levels for lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants
  • Set aside at least 20 percent of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund as grants for green infrastructure projects such as green roofs, permeable pavement, and additional green spaces
  • Pass a federal ban on residential water shutoffs 
  • Establish a federal program to provide financial assistance for water and sewer bills 

In 2024 we urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to: 

  • Require that states accepting federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 are increasing funding and technical assistance for disadvantaged communities so that they are equipped to advance through the SRF selection process 
  • Issue a final Lead and Copper Rule requiring cities to meet ambitious timelines for lead service line replacement

Download the water infrastructure fact sheet.

Agriculture.

Pass a Farm Bill that prioritizes clean water 

Agriculture is the largest unaddressed source of nonpoint pollution in the Great Lakes region. Runoff from agricultural lands puts the Great Lakes at risk. It pollutes drinking water, threatens wildlife, harms the regional economy, and prevents people from enjoying recreation on the Great Lakes. 

Every five years, Congress develops a “Farm Bill,” a major package of legislation that sets the agenda and funding for national farm and food policy. Congress passed a one-year extension of the Farm Bill in 2023, so in 2024 Congress can pass a Farm Bill that ensures farms produce clean water, not pollution, along with their crops.    

In 2024, we urge Congress to pass a Farm Bill that: 

  • Increases funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs  
  • Includes provisions to ensure accountability for farm conservation programs aimed at stopping runoff pollution from agricultural lands
  • Reduces funding for concentrated animal feeding operations 

Download the agriculture fact sheet.

Plastic pollution.

Pass legislation to stop plastic pollution  

Researchers estimate that 22 million pounds of plastic pollution enter the Great Lakes each year. Plastic pollution isn’t just an unsightly problem in our waterways. It’s estimated that humans ingest a credit card-sized amount of plastic each week, with unknown long-term consequences for our health. 

For many years, efforts to stop plastic pollution put the responsibility on the end-user, such as recycling. But only a fraction of plastic produced each year is recycled, leaving the remainder to end up in landfills or as litter that lands in our waterways. The alternative is to require plastic producers to be responsible for their products through their lifecycle, which is called extended producer responsibility. Congress has an opportunity to be a leader on this issue.  

In 2024, we urge Congress to pass legislation that: 

  • Makes plastic waste producers responsible for its reduction 
  • Reduces the federal government’s use of single-use plastics, including polystyrene foam 
  • Funds additional research on the public health impact of plastics

Download the plastic pollution fact sheet.

Invasive species.

Protect the Great Lakes from aquatic invasive species  

Invasive species have caused irreparable harm to the Great Lakes ecosystem and cost the region billions of dollars since the late 1980s. Preventing them from ever entering is the best way to protect the Great Lakes. The battle against invasive species is focused on two fronts – stopping invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes and cleaning up ship ballast tanks.  

Established populations of invasive carp are only 50 miles from Chicago and Lake Michigan. But it’s not too late to prevent them from reaching the lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed constructing additional carp prevention measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. The facility is a critical choke point in the waterways leading to Lake Michigan. Congress and federal agencies must continue to support this project. 

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened the Great Lakes to direct ocean-going shipping. Unfortunately, ships brought invasive species along for the ride in their ballast tanks. Although regulations to clean up ship ballast tanks have reduced introductions, loopholes remain for “lakers,” ships operating solely in the Great Lakes. The U.S. EPA can close that loophole. 

In 2024, we urge Congress to: 

  • Include language in the next Water Resources Development Act to authorize 100 percent federal funding for the annual operations and maintenance of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, which is being implemented to stop invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes 

In 2024, we urge federal agencies to take the following actions: 

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should execute a Project Partnership Agreement with the State of Illinois for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project so that the project may proceed to phase 1 construction this fall and continue public participation for the project’s implementation
  • The U.S. EPA should issue final rules requiring all vessels operating on the Great Lakes, including lakers, to clean up their ballast tanks

Download the invasive species fact sheet.

Great Lakes restoration.

Fund, update, and reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is one of the most important tools in the region’s toolbox to protect and restore the lakes. The program provides funding for on-the-ground restoration projects, from wetland restoration to cleaning up toxic hotspots. In addition to environmental benefits, GLRI funding garners an additional 3-to-1 return in economic benefits.  

While we need continued investment in Great Lakes restoration, the strategy guiding the GLRI was developed almost 20 years ago and needs an update. Federal agencies should revise the Great Lakes restoration strategy to address the next generation of threats to the lakes, including climate change and long-standing environmental injustices. In addition, the program’s authorization will expire in 2026, so action will be needed by Congress in the near future to reauthorize and extend the GLRI program. 

In 2024, we urge Congress to: 

  • Fund the GLRI with at least $450 million in FY 2024
  • Reauthorize the GLRI program at $500 million per year for five years from FY 2027-2031

In 2024, we urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take the following action: 

  • U.S. EPA should issue the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV to address environmental injustice, climate resilience, and the next generation of risks to the Great Lakes

Download the Great Lakes restoration fact sheet.

Tell Congress: Protect the Great Lakes in 2024

Too many Great Lakers experience polluted water – whether it’s lead-tainted tap water or algal blooms fouling waterways. Invasive species threaten our lakes. Plastic pollutes our beaches and drinking water.

Take Action

The post Top 5 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities for 2024 appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/02/top-5-great-lakes-federal-policy-priorities-for-2024/

Judy Freed

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Event - Non-FWWA, In your yard, invasive plants, invasive species, Melinda Myers, Outreach and Education, restoration, webinar

Horticulturist, author, and speaker Melinda Myers will discuss key invasive plants in Wisconsin, share tips on identification, provide ways to control some of the more common problem plants, and suggest alternative plants foSee attached a recent article that Bret Shaw, myself, and other collaborators recently had published in Biological Invasions. Below and attached is some text that helps explain the results of the paper that you can feel free to use in any newsletters you all provide content for. Also attached is factsheet we produced as part of this project a few years ago that covers some of the other recommendations from this project.r your landscape.  We hope you can join Melinda to learn more about this important issue.

Webinar: February 28th, 2024 6:30pm

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 Free Webinar: Create a Beautiful Landscape Free of Invasive Plants appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/02/15/free-webinar-create-a-beautiful-landscape-free-of-invasive-plants/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-webinar-create-a-beautiful-landscape-free-of-invasive-plants

Chris Acy

On:
In: Agricultural runoff, great lakes restoration, invasive species

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 6, 2024) – Today, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Representative David Joyce (R-OH) sponsored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2024, a bill intended to reauthorize the GLRI program for a five-year period at $500 million per year.

GLRI funding assists states, tribes and local communities in implementing crucial on-the-ground projects, including habitat restoration, helping farmers do more to combat non-point source agrichemical run-off, cleaning up legacy pollution and toxic sediments, and preventing the establishment or spread of destructive invasive species. It is a well-established program that helps protect 22% of the world’s source of freshwater.

“The Alliance would like to thank Senators Stabenow and Vance, and Representatives Dingell and Joyce for sponsoring bipartisan legislation to continue this important program that directly benefits the tens of millions of Americans living in the Great Lakes region,” said Don Jodrey, Alliance for the Great Lakes Director of Federal Government Relations.

“As members of the Great Lakes Task Forces, many champions from both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have tirelessly advocated for the GLRI and the Alliance thanks them for their support,” said Jodrey.

“The creation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is one of the most important actions of my legislative career.  Since I authored the program in 2010, it has been a proven success story,” said Senator Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “This bill will ensure the stability and future of the program as we address new emerging threats to our Great Lakes and waters.”

“The Great Lakes provide more than 1.5 million jobs, supply 90 percent of our nation’s fresh surface water, and generate $62 billion in wages every year,” said Congressman Joyce, Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force. “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative supports efforts that confront direct threats facing the lakes like harmful algal blooms, water pollution, invasive species, and coastal erosion. I am proud to be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reintroduce this critical legislation to protect and preserve the national treasure that is the Great Lakes ecosystem.”

To date, the GLRI program has funded more than 7,563 individual projects totaling $3.7 billion, greatly improving the quality of life throughout the region. The GLRI also provides major economic benefits, as it is estimated that for every dollar spent, an additional three dollars of value is added to the regional economy.

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Contact: Don Carr, Media Director, dcarr@greatlakes.org

More about Great Lakes Restoration

Read more about Great Lakes restoration and the GLRI.

Learn More

The post Health of the Lakes and Strength of Local Economies Relies on Reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/02/health-of-the-lakes-and-strength-of-local-economies-relies-on-reauthorization-of-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes
Donald Jodrey headshot.
Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations

This blog is part of a series of updates from Don Jodrey, the Alliance’s Director of Federal Government Relations, with his view on Great Lakes policy from Washington, DC.

At the beginning of 2023, we announced an ambitious Great Lakes federal policy agenda. We noted that it was the start of a new Congress and an era of divided government. We predicted that there were likely to be major policy disagreements between the Republican House, the Democratic Senate, and the Biden administration that might result in a stalemate or lack of progress on some issues, particularly where legislation is required.

We were correct in anticipating major policy disagreements, but we did not envision how dysfunctional the year would be in this Congress where a very small group of conservative House members have managed to delay action on some of Congress’ most basic tasks, including preventing the Congress from passing an annual budget for the federal government.

Major funding disagreements for water infrastructure

As we approach the year mark after we released our federal priorities last year, we note that Congress has enacted another short-term continuing resolution until early March for the fiscal year which started last October. And although the House and Senate leadership have agreed upon a top-line number for domestic spending, it is unclear when final spending levels will be resolved between the House and Senate among the 12 bills that fund the government. There are major disagreements between the House and Senate over the level of funding for water infrastructure with the House proposing more than $1.7 billion in cuts from levels supported by the Senate. This would reduce the funding available to communities to address drinking water and wastewater issues.

Farm Bill discussions continue

Another legislative casualty this year was the Farm Bill. The House and Senate were unable to advance a new five-year Farm Bill. Instead, they agreed to a one-year extension of the current program. We continue to encourage Great Lakes members to support increased funding for conservation programs, as well as provisions to ensure accountability for conservation programs that address harmful agricultural runoff pollution, particularly in Lake Erie. We are pleased that Representatives Marcy Kaptur from Ohio and Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin have introduced the Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act to reduce nutrient runoff and thereby reduce harmful algal blooms. The legislation would help farmers reduce phosphorus pollution by better targeting farm bill conservation dollars where they would have the most impact.

Plastics legislation is introduced

Discussions continue in Congress on efforts to control plastic pollution. Several key pieces of legislation have been introduced in the House and Senate. First, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin reintroduced “The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act” to address the problems posed by plastic pellets in our waters, including the Great Lakes. The bill would prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastics into the Great Lakes and waterways across the country. Plastic pellets, like other microplastics, pose a danger to human health, fish, wildlife, and ecosystems. In addition, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has reintroduced the “Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act” which provides a comprehensive approach to plastic pollution reduction by creating a national policy and requirements for extended producer responsibility which would require corporations to take responsibility for post-consumer management of plastic products and packaging. Other legislative efforts include bills that would impose an excise tax on the production of virgin plastic, as well as legislation that would ban the use of polystyrene foam. It is unlikely that any of these efforts will become law in this Congress, but we will continue to support them and educate members on the harmful environmental impacts caused by plastic pollution.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative continues to receive strong bipartisan support

One program that continues to have robust bipartisan support is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The House proposes to fund this program at the current funding level and the Senate proposes a $5 million increase. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s goals are: fish that are safe to eat, water that is safe for recreation, a safe source of drinking water, clean up Areas of Concern, eliminate harmful algal blooms, prevent the introduction of new invasive species and control existing invasive species, and protect and restore habitat to sustain native species.

States step up to fund invasive carp protections

Following up on last year’s Congressional authorization to change the Brandon Road project’s construction cost share to 90 percent federal and 10 percent state, the Brandon Road project received funding boosts this year from the States of Illinois and Michigan. The combined $115 million will cover the entire state share of the estimated construction costs for the project. The next step is for the State of Illinois and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to sign a project partnership agreement so that construction can begin in 2024. This project is critical to keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.

Environmental Protection Agency takes action

This past year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took several actions that affect the Great Lakes. First, the agency issued its 7th national Drinking Water Needs Assessment survey that assesses the health of the nation’s drinking water infrastructure. For the first time, the assessment included information on the number of lead service lines in each state. Unfortunately, Great Lakes states water infrastructure needs have increased since the last national drinking water needs assessment was completed. Collectively, EPA estimates that the Great Lakes region needs at least $225.3 billion over the next twenty years to fix failing water infrastructure.

EPA also proposed a supplemental rule to regulate ballast water in the Great Lakes. This is necessary to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species. Although EPA proposes to exempt existing Lakers (ships that do not leave the Great Lakes) from installing ballast water treatment systems, EPA does propose requiring that new Lakers, or those constructed after 2026, install ballast water treatment. We provided extensive comments to EPA recommending that all Lakers be required to install ballast water treatment systems. The agency’s final rule is expected later this year.

Lastly, EPA is updating the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Strategy by developing its next action plan, which will cover the next five years of funding for this program. We have recommended that EPA address environmental justice and climate change along with its environmental restoration priorities. A draft plan will be released for public comment later this year.

Looking ahead, your voice matters

Although not all our priorities advanced this past year, your voice makes a difference. Contact federal decision-makers about the Great Lakes issues that you care about. Great Lakes members of Congress need to hear from you about prioritizing funding to ensure every community has safe drinking water. They need to hear what federal legislation or existing programs would help address environmental concerns in your community, like harmful algal blooms or reducing plastic pollution. Let your members of Congress and other federal decision-makers know how important clean and healthy Great Lakes are to you.

Protect the Great Lakes & Our Communities

Too many Great Lakers experience polluted water – whether it is lead-tainted water coming from taps in homes or algal blooms fouling beaches. Visit our Action Center and learn how you can take action.

Take Action

The post DC Update: Are Great Lakes Priorities Advancing After a Year of Divided Government? appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/01/dc-update-are-great-lakes-priorities-advancing-after-a-year-of-divided-government/

Judy Freed