On:
In: Lake Leaders Institute, Preston Cole, Scott McComb, Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin Lakes Partnership

Scott McComb, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Southeast Wisconsin aquatic invasive species outreach specialist, recently completed training through the Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute, culminating in an October 14 graduation event.

McComb was part of the fourteenth class of graduates to learn about Wisconsin’s unique lake resources through a program organized by the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership.

Wisconsin DNR Secretary Preston Cole (right) congratulates Scott McComb on his completion of the Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute. (submitted photo)

He was recognized by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Preston Cole, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources Dean Brian Sloss and Wisconsin Lakes board members David Zelinger and Nick Homan.

Through a series of in-person seminars and online meetings, McComb gained a deeper understanding of lake ecology and how to work with state and local governments to ensure that lakes get the attention they need. The program combines readings, discussions, field experiences and more to develop lake management and leadership skills.

Commented McComb, who joined Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2021 and is based at the Kenosha County Extension Office, “Lake Leaders was a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of people and water from cultural, scientific and legal perspectives while also providing opportunities to reflect on my own connection to lakes in Wisconsin.” He holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in bioregional planning.

“The individuals who participate in this program are true leaders who have stepped forward to protect our lakes for future generations,” said Sara Windjue, leadership and capacity development specialist for the UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes Program. “They are committed to developing partnerships and facilitating the learning of others in order to build capacity that will ensure the protection and restoration of thousands of lakes across Wisconsin.”

McComb shows off his certificate of completion. (submitted photo)

“Lake Leaders was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Wisconsin lakes and to connect with other lake-minded folks from around the state,” added McComb. He is committed to “honoring the waters of Wisconsin by learning its lessons, sharing its stories and listening to all” as he works prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Southeast Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute draws participants from across the state to take part in a series of three two-day seminars. Participants demonstrate their commitment to protecting the integrity of the lakes in Wisconsin with an investment of their time and a modest registration cost to cover meals and lodging.

The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership is made up of the Extension Lakes Program at UW-Stevens Point, the Wisconsin DNR and the citizen advocacy organization Wisconsin Lakes. Recognizing a need for new and ongoing leadership in the management of Wisconsin’s lakes, they created the Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute in 1996. Its mission is to assist citizen lake leaders to develop both their technical and people skills, ultimately enriching their communities and the waters within them.

This year’s graduation ceremony took place at the Aldo Leopold Shack near Baraboo, a fitting setting for celebrating the 22 new Lake Leaders’ accomplishments and looking ahead to their conservation journeys.

McComb, kneeling in front, poses with fellow members of his cohort near the shack of famed naturalist and conservationist Aldo Leopold. (submitted photo)

Since its inception, over 300 participants have graduated from the institute and made significant contributions in addressing a diverse array of water management challenges. The program has attracted national attention as an effective strategy for enhancing lake stewardship and protection.

For more information about the program, contact McComb, reach out to the Extension Lakes program staff or visit the UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes website.

The post Aquatic invasive species staff member recognized as Lake Leader first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

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Jennifer Smith

On:
In: climate adaptation, Climate change, coastal wetlands, DNR, Keillor Fellow, Keillor Fellowship, Nicole Ward, resiliency, Wisconsin DNR

For Nicole Ward, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s current J. Philip Keillor Great Lakes Fellow, returning to Madison for this opportunity has brought her academic journey full circle.

Keillor Fellow Dr. Nicole K. Ward (Submitted photo)

Ward earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison just over a decade ago, then left the Badger State for graduate studies in Idaho and Virginia. Yet Ward was eager to get back to the Upper Midwest and work on Great Lakes topics—making the Keillor Fellowship, which began June 1, an excellent fit for the newly minted Ph.D.

She is based at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Office of Great Waters, where she works closely with Madeline Magee, monitoring program coordinator, and Cherie Hagen, the Lake Superior Basin supervisor. Ward is also active in the Great Lakes Working Group of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI).

Broadly speaking, her focus is on incorporating climate change resilience planning into the DNR’s Great Lakes projects. The three main projects she’s associated with are:

  • The WICCI Great Lakes Working Group report, expected to be published online in late September. The report summarizes climate change effects on Great Lakes ecosystems and covers some potential solutions.
  • Great Lakes coastal wetlands: assessing the condition and resiliency of Wisconsin’s coastal wetlands in the face of climate change. This, in turn, could inform the prioritization of wetlands for restoration or protection.
  • Developing climate adaptation resources and information for DNR Office of Great Waters staff to ensure climate resiliency is built into all projects involving the Great Lakes and Mississippi River.

The range of duties draws upon Ward’s passion for freshwater ecosystems, but also allows her to grow her skillset. “I’ve worked in multiple other types of freshwater ecosystems, like rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs, but this will add to my repertoire through working on the Great Lakes and coastal wetlands,” she said.

Nicole K. Ward explores some of Wisconsin’s waters by canoe. (Photo: Titus Seilheimer)

A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Ward spent three years with the Minnesota DNR working on native mussels and stream ecology after earning her bachelor’s degree.

Those years with the Minnesota DNR set her future direction in motion: “It was while snorkeling and scuba diving in the streams and rivers of Minnesota that I began seeing the effects of land management and decision-making that were far removed from the stream itself,” she said. “I had an ‘aha moment’ while working there, when I decided I needed to learn more about how people make environmental decisions, and how those decisions may change in response to changing ecosystems. The ever-changing and complex Great Lakes Basin is really the perfect place to apply my skills in understanding feedbacks between ecosystem change and human decision-making.”

After a master’s degree at the University of Idaho in water resources, doctoral work in biological sciences at Virginia Tech followed. There, she examined land use and climate change over the course of 31 years in the Lake Sunapee watershed in New Hampshire.

During her time at Virginia Tech, she also worked with a local lake association to co-produce an online, interactive data visualization tool for communicating with landowners about lawn management practices. She collaborated with a social psychologist to develop the tool and gauge its effectiveness.

This points to another area of interest: science communication and finding effective strategies for connecting with varied audiences. One of the key things she learned from working with the psychologist, Ward said, was that “Simple messaging is better. While you see that in the literature, this experience was a really direct, personal reality check of just how simple you need to keep things if engaging with a particular audience for the first time about a topic.”

The human dimension of environmental decisions is a throughline in her work. Said Ward, “A foundational part of how I think about myself as a scientist is to fully recognize that people make environmental decisions based on much more than just scientific evidence. Water issues are never actually about the water, they’re about the underlying values and priorities of people, and people have more shared values than we often recognize.”

The post Keillor Fellow to integrate climate change planning into Great Lakes and coastal wetlands projects first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/keillor-fellow-to-integrate-climate-change-planning-into-great-lakes-and-coastal-wetlands-projects/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=keillor-fellow-to-integrate-climate-change-planning-into-great-lakes-and-coastal-wetlands-projects

Jennifer Smith