Outreach and Education (Page 2)

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

Japanese Knotweed and our Rivers

On: July 10, 2023

In: AIS, aquatic invasive species, Bay of Green Bay, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, invasive species, Japanese Knotweed, Keepers of the Fox, Lake Butte des Morts, lake management planning, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Lower Fox River, Melinda Myers, Outreach, Outreach and Education, restoration, Shoreline Restoration, watershed, WDNR, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways

Gardener Extraordinaire Melinda Myers Gives Insight into Japanese Knotweed

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

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

Photo Credit: Paul Skawinski, Melinda Myers

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

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

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

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

Click to Get Started on your Next Team-Building Event!

Team-Building Mini Cleanups are a Win-Win-Win

On: July 10, 2023

In: business, cleanup, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Give Opportunities, Outreach, Outreach and Education, team, team building, TFW, trash, trash free waters, Urban Stormwater, volunteer, volunteer opportunity, volunteers, Watershed Project

Have you ever heard of a win-win-win? Well, scheduling a team-building cleanup with the Trash Free Waters program does just that. This private cleanup event will help to strengthen employee relations, clean up our natural environment, and support continued Trash Free Waters efforts in northeast Wisconsin. It’s lots of fun too! There are several options to choose from. Strengthen employee relations, connect outside the office, and make an impact by protecting our water resources! Let Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance host your next team building event. Click to get started!

All team-building events include:

Snack
Event Coordination
Team-building exercise
All cleanup supplies (gloves, bags, grabbers, etc.)
Post-event graphic to share with event attendees and on social media

Option 1
On-Land Collective Cleanup (up to 10 participants per business)
This collective option allows small groups to join a mini-cleanup. Fox-Wolf staff may partner you with up to two additional organizations.
Cost: $400 per business

Option 2
On-Land Cleanup (up to 25 participants)
Cost: $1,000

Option 3
On-Land Cleanup (up to 50 participants)
Cost: $1,500

“I was one of about 14 participants in an event to clean up our riverside parks in Neenah! It was a beautiful day, made even better by the camaraderie and good deeds for the community. Kelly was super upbeat and helpful throughout the whole event! Really enjoyed spending time with my coworkers, cleaning up the parks in the city I call home.”

Team-Building Cleanup Volunteer, Plexus Corporation

For more information, please contact:
Kelly Reyer
Trash Free Waters Program Coordinator
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
kelly@fwwa.org
920-915-1502

Support Trash Free Waters
Join the Trash Free Waters Email List

The post Team-Building Mini Cleanups are a Win-Win-Win appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2023/07/10/volunteers-play-cleanup-bingo-at-23-walleye-weekend-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=volunteers-play-cleanup-bingo-at-23-walleye-weekend-2

Kelly Reyer

Water Quality Monitoring Season off to a good start!

On: June 29, 2023

In: fox-wolf, Fox-Wolf Basin, FWWA, Katie, lakes, monitoring, Outreach and Education, phosphorus, pollution, Poygan, program, reed, sediment, streams, system, volunteer opportunity, volunteers, Water quality, watershed, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways, Winneconne

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

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

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

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

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

Species Spotlight: Mudpuppy

On: June 28, 2023

In: amphibian, aquatic, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, fresh water, habitat, katie reed, lakes, mudpuppies, mudpuppy, Outreach and Education, species, species spotlight, Water quality, waterdog, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways

This month’s species spotlight highlights Wisconsin’s largest and only aquatic salamander: the mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)! This brown or grayish salamander typically has dark spots and deep red, feathery gills. These salamanders have a finned tail too. Mudpuppies can grow up to 16 inches (1.33 feet) long!

Mudpuppy – USFWS National Digital Library

The skin of mudpuppies is very slimy, though the rumors that mudpuppies are poisonous are not true. It is still best to avoid touching them and leave them be if you find one because they have sensitive, permeable skin.

Habitat & Diet

Mudpuppies live their whole lives in the water of lakes and rivers. They prefer areas with large flat docks and will live in underwater holes. Mudpuppies eat aquatic invertebrates (animals in the water without a backbone) such as worms and insect larvae. They will also eat small fish and other amphibians.

Behavior & Population Info

Mudpuppies breed in late fall and spawn in June. Eggs hatch in July or August. It is estimated mudpuppies can live up to 20 years old.

Mudpuppies are typically nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. They may be more active during the day if the live in murky/muddy water but are tricky to spot and study. Currently, Wisconsin’s mudpuppy populations have not been extensively studied, so it is unknown how the species’ population is faring in Wisconsin. Their status is listed as common, but have recently been listed as a species of special concern in Minnesota, and are threatened in Iowa and Illinois. It is known that mudpuppies in Wisconsin are the only host of the Salamander Mussel, a state threatened species. In the winter, mudpuppies may be a common bycatch during the ice-fishing season, and in 2022 the Wisconsin DNR asked for help documenting mudpuppy observations. Mudpuppies are active year round, even under winter ice!

Mudpuppy – iNaturalist – thismia – CC BY-SA 4.0

Article written by Katie Reed, Winnebago Waterways Coordinator: katherine@fwwa.org
Featured Image Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Additional Image Credit 1: US Fish and Wildlife Service – National Digital Library
Additional Image Credit 2: thismia CC BY-SA 4.0

Sources:
DNR Asks Public to Report Mudpuppy Observations – WDNR
Mudpuppy: NECTURUS MACULOSUS – WDNR
Mudpuppy – Endangered Resources – WDNR
Mudpuppy – Environmental Education For Kids

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

The post Species Spotlight: Mudpuppy appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2023/06/28/species-spotlight-mudpuppy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=species-spotlight-mudpuppy

Ready for the Blitz? 2023 Great Lakes Landing Blitz June 29-July 9

On: June 20, 2023

In: 2023, aquatic invasive species, CBCW, Clean Boats Clean Waters, fox-wolf, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Great Lakes, Great Lakes Landing Blitz, Landing Blitz, Outreach and Education

Wisconsin’s Busiest Boating Holiday; Help Prevent Invasive Species This July 4th

Every year, tens of thousands of Wisconsinites and visitors take to the water in early July to celebrate summer and the 4^th of July, the state’s busiest boating holiday. Starting this summer, our long running Clean Boats Clean Waters Landing Blitz has been fulling incorporated into the Great Lakes Landing Blitz, joining all of the Great Lakes states and provinces in the effort to educate boaters that simple clean up steps and draining water from the boat and live wells can help to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

In Wisconsin, from June 30-July 9, 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. Clean Boats Clean Waters boat inspectors will give out a brand new red, white, and blue boat trailer sticker with a boat graphic showing people all the places where plants, tiny animals and potentially contaminated water can hide.

“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.”

Do your part to keep Wisconsin waters healthy and stop the spread of AIS by following these easy steps:

Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plants or animals.
Remove all attached plants or animals and mud
Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells and other equipment.
Never move live fish away from a waterbody.
Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
Buy minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer.

Following these steps helps boaters comply with Wisconsin state law which prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species. To learn more about invasive species and their impacts to Wisconsin’s waters and economy, visit the DNR’s Aquatic Invasive Species Efforts webpage.

Photo Credit: Alyssa Reinke (FWWA)

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

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

The post Ready for the Blitz? 2023 Great Lakes Landing Blitz June 29-July 9 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2023/06/20/ready-for-the-blitz-2023-great-lakes-landing-blitz-june-29-july-9/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ready-for-the-blitz-2023-great-lakes-landing-blitz-june-29-july-9

Sources:
Spatial Distribution of Benthic Invertebrates in Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin – Courtney Heling
2022 Chironomid Assessment Report – Lake Winnebago and Upriver Lakes, Winnebago County – WDNR
The Biology of Chironomus plumosus (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin – William Hilsenhoff
Lake Bottom Mysteries by Sandy Wickman and Jeffrey Dimick – Lake Tides Volume 40, No. 1, Winter/Spring 2015

Species Spotlight: Lake Flies!

On: May 25, 2023

In: aquatic, bird, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, fresh water, habitat, katie reed, lakes, Outreach and Education, pelican, species spotlight, Water quality, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways

It’s May in the Winnebago area, which means everyone’s favorite mother’s day tradition is back: Lake Flies (Chironomids)! These non-biting midges typically hatch around Mother’s Day in late May, though this time frame can shift depending on winter conditions. A second, smaller hatch of lake flies often occurs in late summer.

Lake flies seen around Lake Winnebago are a collection of different midge species, the most numerous likely Chironomus plumosus, also known as the buzzer midge. During the large May hatch, you can easily tell how this species got their common name – there is a low hum from the sheer number of the midges.

Alexsuchy - CC BY-SA 4.0

These flies have wing lengths around 6 mm, and bodies as long as 13 mm. When they emerge to create mating swarms, adults live for only 3 – 11 days. Since they do not have functional mouthparts, they do not bite or even eat! The location and size of swarms are highly dependent on the wind, and are often concentrated on areas that contrast with the background. Females lay masses of eggs on the water surface, which then absorb water and sink to the lake bottom. These eggs hatch shortly after and become midge larvae. The larvae undergo 4 stages, the first of which is free swimming. During the following three stages, the larvae make and live in a tube, collecting food at the bottom of the lake. Then the lake flies emerge in May or late summer and start the cycle over again.

Many species eat lake fly larvae and adults are therefore very important for the food web in Lake Winnebago. In fact, lake fly larvae help support the sturgeon population and contribute to our large self-sustaining lake sturgeon population. Other fish species eat the larvae stages and birds including purple martins and warblers eat the flying adults. Though the large hatching event can be a nuisance for us, they are critical for the food webs of the Winnebago Lakes. Remember, though they can be very annoying, they only last about 2 weeks! Their impact on the rest of the system lasts for much longer.

Article written by Katie Reed, Winnebago Waterways Coordinator: katherine@fwwa.org
Featured Image Credit: Janet Graham CC BY 2.0
Additional Image Credit: Alexsuchy CC BY-SA 4.0

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

The post Species Spotlight: Lake Flies! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2023/05/25/species-spotlight-american-white-pelican-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=species-spotlight-american-white-pelican-2

Meet Your 2023 Aquatic Invasive Species Education Team!

On: May 24, 2023

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

Education Team Welcomes You to the Boat Launches

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

Tim – CBCW Coordinator

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

Leah – AIS Educator

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

Mikayla – AIS Educator

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

Lisa – AIS Educator

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

Steve – AIS Educator

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop June 17th, 2023

On: May 23, 2023

In: Barrel, Bay of Green Bay, build, community, Event, Event - FWWA, EVENT - NEWSC, Fox-Wolf Basin, Green Bay, Keepers of the Fox, Keepers of the Fox Event, NEW Water, NEWSC, northeast wisconsin, opportunity, Outreach and Education, project, rain, rain barrel, stormwater, Upper Fox River, Urban Stormwater, Watershed Project, Workshop

https://fwwa.org/2023/05/23/build-your-own-rain-barrel-workshop-june-17th-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=build-your-own-rain-barrel-workshop-june-17th-2023

Alyssa Reinke

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

On: May 11, 2023

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

Ensuring Your Water Garden Doesn’t Harbor Invasive Plants

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

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

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

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

https://fwwa.org/2023/05/11/whats-that-plant-know-whats-in-your-water-garden/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whats-that-plant-know-whats-in-your-water-garden

Ice-Out officially called for Lake Winnebago – April 6, 2023

On: April 27, 2023

In: 2023, ACOE, alliance, army corps, Butte des Morts, drawdown, fox-wolf, ice off, ice out, Lake, lake level, Lake Management, level, Outreach and Education, pool, Poygan, spring, summer, target, water, Water quality, watershed, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways, Winneconne, winter, WWLAT Related Posts

Ice out on Lake Winnebago was officially called by the Army Corps of Engineers on April 6, 2023 as determined by MODIS satellite imagery. Ice out (aka ice off) is when ALL ice is gone from the lake surface as observed by satellite. This is important because ice out marks the date that the Army Corps transitions their management of Lake Winnebago from maintaining winter pool to focus on spring refill.

Ice out dates for Lake Winnebago 2006 to 2023 (Source: ACOE)

The Army Corps of Engineers – Chicago District manages water levels for Lake Winnebago by regulating outflow at the dams in Menasha and Neenah under the Federal Marshall Order of 1886. The Marshall Order is intended for flood risk management.

The Marshall Order defines the limits of regulation for Lake Winnebago:

May 1st to October 1st (navigation season):
- High end of limit: 3.45 ft.
- Low end of limit: 0.18 ft.

October 2nd to April 30th:
- High end of limit: 3.45 ft.
- Low end of limit: 1.68 ft

While meeting their mission of flood risk management is the priority, the Army Corps also tries to meet the needs of various stakeholders within their operating limits. This requires finding a reasonable balance among multiple competing interests. Each year, with stakeholder input, the Army Corps sets their annual regulation strategy which guides their daily management decisions.

Their annual regulation strategy represents that balance and can be broken down by certain times of the year: fall drawdown, winter pool, spring refill, and summer pool. Water level targets are set along this strategy in a schedule. These targets are listed in the Army Corps 2022 – 2023 Lake Winnebago Regulation Strategy (shown in the image below). The green band in the annual strategy represents the “target band”. The Army Corps tries to hold water levels within this band. The dotted lines represents the average lake level across all years as noted in the key.

Average Water Level for Lake Winnebago

Lake level for Lake Winnebago is an average of readings from four gages located around the lake and is in reference to the Oshkosh Datum.

Fall Drawdown: As of the 2021/2022 regulation strategy, fall drawdown has been scheduled to begin between Sept 1 and Oct 1 each year at the discretion of the Army Corps through an adaptive decision making process.

Winter Pool: Each February, the Army Corps evaluates basin conditions and the forecast to determine their winter drawdown target.

The Army Corps draws down Lake Winnebago every winter to reduce the risk of damage caused by ice shoves, protect shoreline properties, and provide enough space within the lake to hold excess water that flows into Lake Winnebago each spring (snow melt and rain storm runoff from a 5,900 square mile watershed). The 2023 winter drawdown target operating band for Lake Winnebago this year was 1.25 ft to 1.3 ft.

Spring refill: When the Army Corps determines ice out has occurred on Lake Winnebago based on satellite imagery, spring refill is triggered. For many boaters, people interested in habitat protection, and stakeholders working to restore the lakes, refill is of particular interest. According to the most recent annual strategy, refill targets are as follows:

May 1st – 2.5 ft (Operating band: 2.4 to 3.6 ft)
June 1st – 2.8 ft (Operating band: 2.7 to 3.9 ft)
June 15th – 2.9 ft (Operating band: 2.8 to 3.0 ft)

Summer Pool: The Army Corps tries to maintain the lake within a target band for summer recreation navigation.

The total seasonal water elevation change is typically about 1.8 ft in a given year.

Recent conditions:

Despite having all available gates open at the dams since March 6, 2023, the average level of Lake Winnebago has been well above the target band since the beginning of April. This is likely due to the lake not being drawn down far enough or early enough to accommodate spring runoff from snow melt and precipitation. When inflows to Lake Winnebago exceed outflow capacity of the gates, the lake begins to rise uncontrolled. Overshooting the target band increases risk of flooding, significantly damages habitat and limits water quality restoration gains (among other impacts).

A graph from April 21, 2023 shows the recent average lake level (dashed line). Hopefully, precipitation will ease up and the Army Corps will be able to regain control before too much damage is done to the wetlands and aquatic habitat.

Additional Water Level Related Information:

1.) Water Level Management for the Winnebago Waterways: This report describes water level management including the process of developing an annual strategy, the considerations for the strategy, and the reason the strategy (schedule) is in its current form. CLICK HERE for the report.

This report is part of a larger planning effort for the Winnebago Lakes. The rest of the lake plan can be found here: https://fwwa.org/lake-management-planning-2/

2.) Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team (WWLAT): This is a stakeholder group that holds discussions about water levels independent of the Army Corps public input process. The website for the Team provides information about the background, past recommendations, and more. Interested stakeholders are welcome to participate. Link: https://fwwa.org/winnebago-waterways/wwlat/

3.) The Army Corps provides access to a lot of data and information through their Lake Winnebago webpage: CLICK HERE

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

The post Ice-Out officially called for Lake Winnebago – April 6, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2023/04/27/ice-out-officially-called-for-lake-winnebago-april-6-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ice-out-officially-called-for-lake-winnebago-april-6-2023

Korin Doering

Trash Free Waters & Oshkosh North Communities Students Partner for Litter Prevention

On: April 26, 2023

In: 2023, communities, fishing, fishing line, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, litter, Litter Prevention, oshkosh, Oshkosh North High School, Outreach and Education, project, receptacles, Students, trash, trash free waters, Upper Fox River, Urban Stormwater, Volunteer Spotlight, volunteers, Winnebago County

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance has partnered with Oshkosh North Communities students for several years. Our previous projects included a kayak cleanup of Miller’s Bay, shoreline restoration plant maintenance, and a cleanup of Asylum Point Park. When we were contacted earlier this year to continue this partnership, we jumped at the chance to work with students on a litter prevention effort. The plan was to have Communities students build and install fishing line receptacles at public fishing locations in the greater Oshkosh area.

Fishing line left as litter in our watershed has devastating effects on wildlife and can become entangled and difficult to remove. Fishing line receptacles offer anglers the opportunity to properly dispose of their used fishing line before it becomes a problem in the environment. These containers also bring awareness to a major litter issue in our lakes and rivers.

Seven students chose the Eco Pod consisting of three earth-friendly projects, including the pollution prevention project with Trash Free Waters. Kelly Reyer who runs the Trash Free Waters program at Fox-Wolf, met with the students several times throughout the semester, setting a project schedule and helping to coordinate with the Winnebago County Parks Department.

The students researched the best receptacle design, created a budget, submitted their budget request, and bought the needed supplies, and then worked together to built three receptacles. The three receptacles were installed at:

Asylum Point Park
Ken Robl Conservation Park
Butte des Morts Landing

The Trash Free Waters program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is proud to work with Oshkosh North High School Communities students on this litter prevention project. Thank you to the students, Sawyer, Blake, Shawn, Hammza, Katie, Keira, and Emily.

A quote from Katie Wetterau, Oshkosh North High School Communities Student:

“Fishing line is not biodegradable. When the monofilament is left in our waterways it stays there for hundreds of years harming the environment and its wildlife. For the future that I and many other children will grow up in, I am glad to have made an impact to help our earth with our partner Kelly Reyer from Trash Free Waters.”

A celebration of the project took place at Asylum Point Park on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 in the afternoon. In attendance were school officials, family members, other Communities students, project partners, and local TV media. The students shared their experience working on this project and were interviewed about their experience by both WLUK Fox-11 and WBAY TV-2.

Here are links to both TV news stories:

Trash Free Waters is a program of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance that works to prevent and reduce trash and litter on our lands and in our waters through targeted campaigns, cleanup events, and outreach and education.

The mission of the Oshkosh North High School communities program is to create a better community through content, communication, collaboration, commitment, creative thinking, and critical thinking.

To learn more about our Fox-Wolf’s Trash Free Waters program, visit: www.trashfreewaters.org or contact Kelly Reyer – 920-915-1502 or kelly@fwwa.org.

The post Trash Free Waters & Oshkosh North Communities Students Partner for Litter Prevention appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

The Cornell Lab: All About Birds – American White Pelican

https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/fishing-line-receptacle-project/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fishing-line-receptacle-project

Kelly Reyer

Species Spotlight: American White Pelican

On: April 26, 2023

The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) used to be a rare sight in Wisconsin, now these birds, with wingspans up to 9 feet, are frequently spotted in large numbers in the Winnebago System! The American White Pelican has an orange, long, pouched bill (beak) that can grow a protrusions during the breeding season. The tips of their bills have a small hook at the tip. Their necks are long, and their bodies are usually snowy white with black flight feathers. Their legs and feet are orange though younger birds’ can appear more gray-pink and darken with age, and their feet are webbed. Adult pelicans can weigh about 16 pounds, making them one of the heaviest flying bird species.

American White Pelicans are piscivorous, meaning they primarily eat fish. The American White Pelican forages for food mostly in shallow waters in open areas of marshes, lakes, rivers, and ponds but can forage in deeper water. American White Pelicans do not submerge or dive for food. Instead, they dip their bill into the water and scoop up prey into their pouch, then tip their bill above their head to swallow. A typical pelican can reach down to about 3 feet below the surface of the water, and can eat about 3 pounds of fish a day! In Wisconsin, pelicans have been recorded eating common carp, as well as other fish species. They can also eat amphibians like frogs and invertebrates like crayfish. Pelicans sometimes work together to forage for food. A group of pelicans can corral fish into shallow areas or to the center of a U formation or circle to more easily catch prey.

Adult American White Pelicans on Water (National Park Service)

Pelicans at a nesting colony (Winnebago Waterways User Submitted Photo)

Young Pelicans (USDA)

Pelicans start to breed when they reach about 3-6 years old and travel to their breeding colonies in March – May. These colonies are typically on islands. Nests are built on the ground in colonies with other pelicans, as well as other bird species like cormorants and gulls. Usually pelicans lay 2 eggs. The eggs and hatched young are vulnerable to predators like eagles, foxes, and raccoons. Studies show that pelicans can live up to 30 years.

Historically, American White Pelicans were found in Wisconsin but their population sharply declined in the late 1800s – 1900s due to hunting and habitat loss. In the last 20-25 years, their populations have grown tremendously in Wisconsin, prompted likely by loss of breeding grounds in the West but also due to habitat restoration projects and pollution cleanup. In the lower Green Bay area, the number of white pelicans grew from about 250 in 2005 to more than 3,000 in 2021. Protecting their habitat and water quality is important to their continued success in the Winnebago System.

Article written by Katie Reed, Winnebago Waterways Coordinator: katherine@fwwa.org

Featured Image Credit: Russ CC BY 2.0

Sources:

American White Pelican – EEK Wisconsin – Environmental Education for Kids

USDA – Tommy King – Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service – American White Pelicans

SeaGrant – University of Wisconsin – Researchers investigate the impact of water birds on Green Bay

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

The post Species Spotlight: American White Pelican appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/species-spotlight-american-white-pelican/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=species-spotlight-american-white-pelican