invasive species

https://fwwa.org/2026/08/27/golden-mussel-new-kid-on-the-block/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=golden-mussel-new-kid-on-the-block

In Lake Superior, researchers find invasive bloody red shrimp are here to stay

On: July 1, 2026

In: Featured, invasive species, Lake Superior, Minnesota, red shrimp, University of Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin, wisconsin public radio

By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio

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

After the sun goes down, Donn Branstrator and his team get to work.

For the past couple years, they’ve been using nets and setting light traps at several locations in a Lake Superior harbor on a quest to find an invader: the bloody red shrimp. The freshwater shrimp is known for its red pigment and translucent or ivory-yellow appearance.

Branstrator, a biology professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, said the organism that grows up to a half-inch in length tends to come out at night because they’re vulnerable to fish.

“They hide on the bottom within the cracks and crevices of the break wall and bouldered environments during the day,” Branstrator said. “You can go out there during the day and sample all you want, and you’re going to be hard-pressed to find them.”

Bloody red shrimp are a type of zooplankton native to the Black Sea and Caspian Sea between Europe and Asia. The invader likely hitched a ride aboard the ballast water of oceangoing vessels. They were first detected 20 years ago in the Great Lakes. But evidence was lacking that they had become established in Lake Superior.

Until now.

Last year, Branstrator and others collected 81 bloody red shrimp in light traps and nets at Wisconsin Point and Montreal Pier in Superior. He said they found enough individuals at various life stages, including pregnant adult females, for them to be confident that a self-sustaining population is living in the lake. Findings from their study were recently published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

“It is there, in perpetuity one would think, if they can continue to grow and reproduce,” Branstrator said.

A researcher is processing a sample from a net used to collect bloody red shrimp in the Duluth-Superior Harbor. (Photo credit: Donn Branstrator/University of Minnesota-Duluth)

The findings make Lake Superior the final of the five Great Lakes to see an established population of the invasive species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first detected a single specimen from the Duluth-Superior harbor in 2017.

Researchers found more the following year at Wisconsin Point, and they published a study showing that Great Lakes ships were moving bloody red shrimp and other invaders from the lower lakes to Lake Superior.

Matt TenEyck is director of the Lake Superior Research Institute and co-authored the study with Branstrator. Now that bloody red shrimp are here to stay, he said their effects remain unclear.

“It’s just too soon to tell if and when they will cause problems with our local communities, if they’ll disrupt the food web,” TenEcyk said. “We just won’t know yet.”

As juveniles, Branstrator said bloody red shrimp feed more on algae. As they grow, they eat more zooplankton and could become a potential competitor to small fish. But they could also become a potential new food source for fish.

Research has found that the introduction of bloody red shrimp can cause the collapse of zooplankton abundances in European reservoirs. Even so, Branstrator said there have been no reports of adverse or positive effects since their introduction to the Great Lakes. But swarms of thousands of bloody red shrimp have been found in waters connected to Lake Michigan in Muskegon, Michigan.

“We haven’t seen a single swarm yet in our work,” Branstrator said.

However, both he and TenEyck are concerned about what their establishment could mean for inland lakes.

“What happens if someone picks that up in their bait bucket or their live well and goes to an inland lake?” TenEyck said. “This is the classic example of likely how (other invasive species like) zebra mussels and spiny water fleas have made this slow migration inland. This could be the next concern.”

So far, they haven’t been found in any inland lakes in Wisconsin or Minnesota.

While progress has been made, TenEyck stressed that the spread of invasive species has not stopped and work must continue. He and others have been working on the Great Waters Research Collaborative at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The project aims to prevent the spread of invasive species through ballast water by testing ballast water treatment systems for ships.

Meanwhile, Branstrator said his team has expanded sampling for bloody red shrimp to other areas of the Duluth-Superior harbor and Two Harbors to find out more about how they’re spreading in Lake Superior.

The post In Lake Superior, researchers find invasive bloody red shrimp are here to stay appeared first on Great Lakes Now.

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2026/07/01/in-lake-superior-researchers-find-invasive-bloody-red-shrimp-are-here-to-stay/

Wisconsin Public Radio

Webinar: Protecting our water: New policies for data centers and large water users

On: May 5, 2026

In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

How can we ensure large water users such as data centers use our water resources sustainably and prevent pollution in our communities? As data centers proliferate across the Great Lakes region, federal, state and local governments are proposing new frameworks and policy solutions to manage their impact, including the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) in Illinois. At the same time, businesses are innovating sustainable solutions that reduce water use and prevent pollution. Hear from experts about the impact of these water users and solutions. Ask your questions on this virtual event.

This event is part of Chicago Water Week 2026, presented by Current.

Panelists:

Andrea Densham, Director of Regional Government Affairs, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Andrew Rehn, Director of Climate Policy, Prairie Rivers Network
Helena Volzer, Senior Source Water Policy Manager, Alliance for the Great Lakes

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The post Webinar: Protecting our water: New policies for data centers and large water users appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

https://greatlakes.org/2026/05/webinar-protecting-our-water-new-policies-for-data-centers-and-large-water-users/

Spore loser: the DIY mushroom-growing trend invading Ontario forests

On: March 31, 2026

In: Featured, Forests and Plants, invasive species, Ontario, Science, Technology, Research

By Leah Borts-Kuperman, The Narwhal

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now, 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. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Mycologist Aishwarya Veerabahu regularly walks the forests near her home in Wisconsin, marvelling at the myriad shapes and colours of mushrooms, sometimes foraging for something to bring home and sauté in garlic and butter. It’s a landscape she knows well, but in the last few years, she’s been noticing a worrying and unfamiliar presence: vibrant yellow, tightly clustered invasive making itself at home.

Known as golden oyster, it’s a ’shroom completely altering native fungi communities in North America.

“Golden oysters will grow in an order of magnitude more than any other mushroom that you’d see. If you come up on a log with golden oysters on it, there’s always a ton of them, multiple clusters,” Veerabahu said.

The popular mushrooms, often found on menus and supermarket shelves, are native to forests in Russia and Asia. They were first brought to North America in the early 2000s for cultivation, and took to the forests by 2010, expanding their numbers and range rapidly.

“There are some times where I’ve gone through a forest and teared up because I know that there are other mushrooms that were in that wood that aren’t there anymore,” Veerabahu said. “It can be a very sad thing when now it’s just dominated by this one species.”

A researcher at the University of Madison-Wisconsin, Veerabahu published a study last August that used data from citizen scientists to confirm the trend she’s been seeing locally. Golden oyster mushrooms — scientific name Pleurotus citrinopileatus— are quickly invading North America, including Ontario.

And, scientists say, a booming home-growing trend may be accelerating their spread into forests and impacting biodiversity.

Golden oysters have been found in 25 states, “after escaping cultivation” of commercial growers and hobbyists. They’ve made their way to Ontario, where there have been more than 80 sightings logged on the iNaturalist app of the clusters growing out of dead hardwood in forests, provincial parks and even residential neighbourhoods.

While most golden oysters in Canada are still concentrated closer to the border with the United States, the species has already travelled as far north as Magnetawan, Ont., near Parry Sound, and is increasingly established around Georgian Bay, on Lake Huron. The speed and distance of its spread has been surprising, Veerabahu said.

“It has thoroughly been unleashed and rapidly spread over the course of a short decade,” she said, adding that the mushrooms have more recently appeared in Quebec. “The best thing that we can do now is to try and prevent it from getting to new regions.”

Provincial invasive species regulations don’t capture golden oyster mushrooms

Cassidy Mailloux is a guide at the Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor, Ont., who takes guests through the nature reserves year-round. She’s also working on a biodiversity study of the region’s native mushrooms as part of her master’s degree at the University of Windsor and has posted golden oyster sightings on iNaturalist, observations that helped inform Veerabahu’s study.

“We’ve only seen it in one of our parks out of the entire complex … and that’s one of our heavily foot-trafficked and most travelled parks,” she said, adding that this is a good sign that the invasion “hasn’t fully taken off yet.”

In Ontario, there have been more than 80 sightings logged on the iNaturalist app of invasive golden oyster mushroom clusters growing out of dead hardwood in forests, provincial parks and even residential neighbourhoods. Photo: Aishwarya Veerabahu

Still, she worries about the effect of invasive golden oysters on rarer species of fungi, such as the coral pink marulius, which is uncommonly reported but in large abundance in the Ojibway Prairie Complex.

“I’m worried the golden oyster mushroom might take precedence,” Mailloux said, given golden oysters are an aggressive species that can grow quickly and prolifically in many kinds of wood and even sawdust — unlike some native species that require specific conditions to thrive. Both the city and her organization are still trying to figure out the best way to manage the invasive — and say visitors documenting sightings can inform this work.

“Encouraging citizens to upload these observations can really help management and our ecosystem,” Mailloux said, “and just keeping a track on how bad it might be getting in the area.”

Despite the threat, the Government of Ontario has not added live oyster mushrooms to its prohibited or restricted invasive species lists, which would make it illegal to import, buy, sell — or sometimes even possess — an ecologically harmful strain.

Without this regulation, Veerabahu said, live cultures continue to be transported across borders. And, she said once golden oysters colonize an area, fewer other unique fungal species will be found there. The communities that do exist are also entirely changed.

“Let’s say in an uncolonized dead tree, you had a nice, rich community of fungi A, B, C, D, E. Once golden oyster colonizes, now it’s golden oyster and fungi X, Y, Z,” Veerabahu said.

This makes her concerned about a domino effect because fungal communities are primary wood decomposers of forests, playing an important role in cycling nutrients and storing carbon. “The identity of which species are able to coexist in that space is changing.”

Monica Liedtke, terrestrial invasive plant coordinator for the Invasive Species Centre, in Sault St. Marie, Ont., agreed. She told The Narwhal via email that non-native invasive fungi can significantly disrupt Ontario’s ecosystems and environmental processes that have developed over thousands of years.

“When non-native invasive fungi establish, they can interfere with important symbiotic relationships between native fungi, trees and plants,” Liedtke told The Narwhal. Golden oysters can quicken the rate of wood decay, which then impacts the birds and bugs that use dead and dying trees for homes and food. “Over time, these disruptions can affect biodiversity across the entire ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, climate change is creating warmer conditions that will make Ontario even more hospitable to these mushrooms, allowing them to expand their range. Veerabahu and her team used a climate prediction model developed by NASA to predict what might happen in the next 15 years. The model predicted that the North American region climatically suitable for golden oyster mushrooms to grow would almost double.

Grow-your-own mushroom kits threaten Ontario forests

Kyle McLoughlin, an arborist and supervisor of forest planning and health for the City of Burlington, said the reason he fears golden mushrooms is exactly why they’re popular among amateur growers.

“From an ecological perspective, they don’t have a niche. They can go anywhere. They’re very wide-ranging. They’re very comfortable in a lot of different types of wood and a lot of different environments,” McLoughlin said of golden oysters. “This is also why you can grow them so well.”

Kits with detailed growing instructions are readily available on the internet, with prices between $20 and $40. These are a “major source of their invasion,” McLoughlin said.

“It’s literally being introduced into people’s homes and their properties through grow kits,” McLoughlin said. “We shouldn’t be selling people potential invasive species to bring into their homes.”

Still, grow kits remain widely sold with little public awareness of the risks. Consumers are often not warned when they buy a grow kit that tossing spent soil onto the compost pile, or leaving a kit outdoors, could unintentionally help an invasive spread.

There are some ways people can help slow the spread if they spot oyster mushrooms. If someone sees a log on their own property pop with golden oysters for the first time, it could be helpful to burn it, Veerabahu explained. People can also forage the mushrooms from forested areas, collecting them in closed containers to prevent spores from spreading.

The challenge is to muster enough public awareness and political will before things get out of control.

“It’s kind of like cockroaches. Once you start to see them, you know there’s a heck of a lot more in your walls,” McLoughlin said. “They are putting billions of spores into the air when they’re fruiting. And this is happening constantly.”

Some companies that have sold these kits around the world, like Far West Fungi, North Spore and MycoPunks have since discontinued some products due to concern. In a blog post titled “Yellow Oyster Disaster Zone,” MycoPunks wrote: “No shade intended on any other vendors who choose to keep selling golden oyster kits … we’ve all got our own different moral codes, but it’s not something we feel able to do in good conscience any more.”

But, given a lack of regulation in the province, it’s still easy to import kits from within Canada or around the world to grow in Ontario.

“Gardeners [and] hobby farmers should carefully consider the species they are cultivating. Choosing native species helps to reduce ecological risk,” Liedtke, from the Invasive Species Centre, said. Some kits sell species such as lion’s mane or chestnut mushrooms, which are both edible and native to Ontario.

For those who are growing golden oysters, the Invasive Species Centre advises that used grow kits should be sealed in a garbage bag and left in the sun for several days to a week; this process, called solarization, helps kill remaining spores and fungal material. Then, the bag should be disposed of in municipal waste — not compost.

“Neither the producer nor the consumer wants to be part of that spread,” Veerabahu said. “The mushroom grow kits are a huge point of concern. They’re essentially a live culture that can be transported anywhere, but they’re not being regulated and I’ll never blame hobby mushroom growers for that.”

The post Spore loser: the DIY mushroom-growing trend invading Ontario forests appeared first on Great Lakes Now.

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2026/03/31/the-diy-mushroom-growing-trend-invading-ontario-forests/

The Narwhal

Removing Invasive Species On Your Property? Stay Safe and Plan

On: March 27, 2026

In: AIS, aquatic invasive species, control, habitat, invasive species, phragmites, purple loosestrife, shoreline, watershed recovery

Shovel Going Into The Ground? Make a Plan Whether starting to remove invasive plants, doing shoreline restoration, or even planting a new garden, it is always best to start with a plan. Make a sketch of the existing landscape including planting beds, permanent plants and structures. A plan helps save you time and money [...]

The post Removing Invasive Species On Your Property? Stay Safe and Plan appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2026/03/27/removing-invasive-species-on-your-property-stay-safe-and-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=removing-invasive-species-on-your-property-stay-safe-and-plan

Webinar: Data Center Playbook: Protecting water and understanding the impact of data center development

On: March 24, 2026

In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

Water use from data centers is increasing across the Great Lakes region. To help make sense of the impacts, we released a new guide for residents, grassroots organizations, and local leaders seeking clear, accessible information. Join our experts to learn about the guide, the latest on data center development in the Great Lakes, the questions communities need to ask data center developers, and more.

Panelists:

Addison Caruso, Staff Attorney, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Service
Andrea Densham, Director of Regional Government Affairs, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Harshini Ratnayaka, Manager of Government Affairs and Policy, Save the Dunes
Helena Volzer, Senior Source Water Policy Manager, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Moderated by Don Carr, Media Director, Alliance for the Great Lakes

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The post Webinar: Data Center Playbook: Protecting water and understanding the impact of data center development appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

https://greatlakes.org/2026/03/webinar-data-center-playbook-protecting-water-and-understanding-the-impact-of-data-center-development/

Webinar: Washington Update: Protecting the Great Lakes and Looking Ahead to 2026

On: February 25, 2026

In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

When it comes to our Great Lakes priorities, how are our representatives in Washington doing and where should they focus their efforts in 2026? Thanks to Great Lakes advocates like you, Congress recently passed legislation that rejected steep cuts and instead protected funding for programs critical to the health of our lakes and the people who depend on them. At the same time, the Great Lakes enter 2026 with a reduced federal presence due to program pullbacks and staff reductions. Our just-released federal priorities lay out a 2026 agenda for decision makers. Hear from our team and ask your questions about the Great Lakes and Washington.

Featuring:

Joel Brammeier, President and CEO
Megan Cunningham, Vice President for Programs
Moderated by Tom Fazzini, Communications Director

Protect the Great Lakes

Your contribution supports advocacy that protects the Great Lakes today and far into the future.

Give a gift today

The post Webinar: Washington Update: Protecting the Great Lakes and Looking Ahead to 2026 appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

https://greatlakes.org/2026/02/webinar-washington-update-protecting-the-great-lakes-and-looking-ahead-to-2026/

Winter Goby Watch During Battle on Bago, Sturgeon Spearing

On: February 13, 2026

In: 2026, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Habitat and Wildlife, ice, ice fishing, invasive species, Recreation, reporting, roby, round goby, spearing, sturgeon, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways

Battle on Bago, Sturgeon Spearing Time on Winnebago Perfect Time to Check That Catch Thousands of folks are arriving on Lake Winnebago this week with big dreams. People are dreaming of spearing a mammoth sturgeon or maybe catching that perfect fish for Battle on Bago resulting in a new truck. Dreaming of creating those [...]

The post Winter Goby Watch During Battle on Bago, Sturgeon Spearing appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2026/02/13/winter-goby-watch-during-battle-on-bago-sturgeon-spearing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=winter-goby-watch-during-battle-on-bago-sturgeon-spearing

Download the water infrastructure fact sheet.

Top 5 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities for 2026

On: February 10, 2026

In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

2026 Federal Great Lakes Policy Priorities.

The federal government plays a critical role in protecting the Great Lakes. It’s responsible for funding projects, administering programs, and enforcing environmental safeguards. The Alliance for the Great Lakes advocates directly to federal decision-makers to ensure the voices of the Great Lakes region are heard. Each year, we update and release our federal policy priorities to guide this work.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes has identified the top five opportunities for Congress and the Trump Administration to address challenges facing the Great Lakes. Federal water programs must be fully funded and prioritize communities where the burden of pollution hits hardest. This requires federal agencies to support scientific research and retain staff necessary to maintain long-term program integrity to protect the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them.

Read on for full details of our 2026 Great Lakes federal policy priorities, or download the fact sheet to learn more.

Increase water infrastructure funding, prioritize funding for communities most in need, and enact national water affordability legislation

Based on EPA survey data, the Great Lakes region needs at least $290.3 billion over the next twenty years to fix failing water infrastructure. Current federal funding programs are not fully funded and will not meet this need. Congress must provide additional funds for water infrastructure, and it must be structured to reach communities with the highest needs.

In 2026, we urge Congress to:

Reauthorize and increase annual funding to at least $9.3 billion for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, and make some of this funding available as grants or forgivable loans to disadvantaged communities.
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 in cities.
Pass a federal ban on water shutoffs.
Establish a federal program to provide financial assistance for water and sewer bills.

In 2026, we urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to:

Provide technical assistance to communities bearing the greatest financial and pollution burdens to ensure full access to water infrastructure funding.

Reauthorize and fund 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 will require reauthorization by the end of 2026.

In 2026, we urge Congress to:

Reauthorize the GLRI program for the next five years (FY 2027-2031).
Fund the GLRI with at least $500 million in FY2027.

Download the Great Lakes restoration fact sheet.

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 by polluting drinking water, threatening wildlife, and harming the regional economy. In 2026, Congress can pass a Farm Bill that ensures farms produce clean water, not pollution, along with their crops.

In 2026, we urge Congress to pass a Farm Bill that:

Increases funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs.
Ensures equitable distribution of conservation funding by reinstating payment limits.
Includes provisions to ensure accountability for farm conservation programs aimed at stopping runoff pollution from agricultural lands.
Targets federal funding for efforts to increase water quality monitoring in priority watersheds.

Download the agriculture fact sheet.

Pass legislation to stop plastic pollution

Researchers estimate that 22 million pounds of plastic pollution enter the Great Lakes annually. Plastic pollution isn’t just an unsightly problem in our waterways. It poses a serious threat to human and wildlife health. Congress has an opportunity to be a leader on reducing plastic pollution.

In 2026, we urge Congress to:

Reduce plastic pollution at the source by passing the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, REUSE Act, and Farewell to Foam Act.
Ensure that the U.S. EPA maintains strong protections from toxic pollution to protect human health and drinking water.
Hold plastic waste producers accountable for its reduction, including by holding a hearing on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) progress in the United States.

In 2026, we urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to:

Protect our drinking water by listing plastic as a chemical of mutual concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and establishing ongoing monitoring of the Great Lakes and drinking water for plastic contaminants.

Download the plastic pollution fact sheet.

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. Preventing them from ever entering is the best way to protect the Great Lakes. The battle against invasive species is primarily focused on stopping invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes.

In 2026, we urge Congress to:

Fund the second phase of construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project.
Authorize full (100%) federal funding for the remaining operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement (OMRR&R) costs for the project.
Ensure the continuity of coordinated interagency efforts to monitor, research, and address invasive species.

In 2026, we urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to:

Continue implementing the first phase of construction for the Brandon Road project while proceeding in parallel with Preconstruction Engineering and Design (PED) for increments two and three, in partnership with Illinois and Michigan.

Download the invasive species fact sheet.

Join Us February 24

Join us for Washington Update: Protecting the Great Lakes and Looking Ahead to 2026. Hear from our team and ask your questions about the Great Lakes and Washington.

The post Top 5 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities for 2026 appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

https://greatlakes.org/2026/02/top-5-great-lakes-federal-policy-priorities-for-2026/

Judy Freed

Planning Your Garden? Check Your Online Plants Before Purchasing

On: January 28, 2026

In: 2026, aquatic invasive species, gardening, habitat, Habitat and Wildlife, honeysuckle, In your yard, invasive species, invasive species week, online purchase, Outreach and Education, Shoreline Restoration, streambank restoration, ticks

Help Stop the Introduction of Invasive Plants into Wisconsin Gardens Original Story By Melinda Myers “Defending our Health by Stopping the Spread” is this year’s focus for National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), Feb 23-27, 2026. This international event is designed to increase awareness about invasive species. Who better to enlist in this effort [...]

The post Planning Your Garden? Check Your Online Plants Before Purchasing appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

https://fwwa.org/2026/01/28/planning-your-garden-check-your-online-plants-before-purchasing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=planning-your-garden-check-your-online-plants-before-purchasing

Congress protects Great Lakes programs from proposed cuts

On: January 23, 2026

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.

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

Ice Fishing? Even Icy Wisconsin Waters Host Aquatic Invasive Species

On: December 10, 2025

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.

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

Illinois one step closer to keeping invasive carp out of Great Lakes

On: October 29, 2025

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.

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

WBEZ

Round Goby Discovery in Winnebago Update; Assessment Ramps Up

On: September 26, 2025

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.

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

I Speak for the Fish: Swiping right on native fish

On: August 18, 2025

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.

Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

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

Critical Months Ahead for the Great Lakes in Congress

On: July 17, 2025

In: Agricultural runoff, Combined sewer overflows, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Lead service lines

Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations

On July 4^th, 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:

State	Change 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 1^st. 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.

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

Annual Drain Campaign Returns This Weekend – Reminder to Drain All Water at the Launch

On: June 5, 2025

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.

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

Illinois wants to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp. A toxic mess stands in the way.

On: May 29, 2025

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

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

WBEZ

Volunteer Shoutout – Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol

On: May 16, 2025

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 [...]

The post Volunteer Shoutout – Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol appeared first on 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

Trump Budget Proposal Slashes Federal Funding, Threatens the Great Lakes and Sets Up Showdown With Congress

On: May 6, 2025

In: Agricultural runoff, Combined sewer overflows, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Lead service lines

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:

State	Decrease 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.

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.

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

Can these invasive reeds be stopped?

On: April 22, 2025

In: First Nations, invasive species, Latest News, News, Ontario, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts

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.

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

Early Season Invasive Plants To Watch For On Your Spring Walks

On: April 18, 2025

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.

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

Could the Great Lakes lose billions in restoration funding?

On: April 8, 2025

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.

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

Sea lamprey control program receives OK to rehire federal workers, after initial scare

On: March 27, 2025

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.

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

Interlochen Public Radio

Wetlands rules face rollback under Trump: Great Lakes pollution next?

On: March 25, 2025

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.

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

Planet Detroit

Plants Starting to Emerge! Know What’s In Your Backyard?

On: March 20, 2025

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.

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

Cougar cubs found in U.P. for first time in more than a century

On: March 14, 2025

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.

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

WXPR

Are the ash trees doomed?

On: February 25, 2025

In: ash tree, emerald ash borer, Forests and Plants, invasive species, Latest News, News, Ohio, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research

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.

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

Lake trout recovery in Superior sign of lamprey removal success

On: February 25, 2025

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.

James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

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

Trump firings hit Great Lakes sea lamprey program, Michigan forestry workers

On: February 20, 2025

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.

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

Bridge Michigan

Trump firings hit Great Lakes sea lamprey program, Michigan forestry workers

On: February 20, 2025

By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan

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

Bridge Michigan

Battle on Bago & Beyond – Protect Your Waters from Invasive Species

On: February 14, 2025

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.

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

Free Webinar: Strategies to Manage Invasive Species on Your Property

On: February 14, 2025

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.

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

Great Lakes Moment: Rouge River oxbow enhances education at The Henry Ford

On: February 3, 2025

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.

John Hartig, Great Lakes Now

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

Chicago keeps its New Year’s resolution: All city buildings now use 100% clean power

On: January 2, 2025

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.

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

Grist

Construction will soon begin on project to keep invasive carp out of Great Lakes

On: December 9, 2024

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.

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

Wisconsin Public Radio

The fight to keep grass carp out of the Great Lakes

On: November 19, 2024

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.

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

The Narwhal

Carp Catch-22: Could improvements in Chicago waterways invite unwelcome guests?

On: October 29, 2024

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

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

WBEZ

Great Lakes most unwanted: Top 10 invasive species

On: October 24, 2024

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.

Lily Stewart, Great Lakes Now

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

Fall Water Garden Clean Up to Keep Our Lakes Healthy

On: October 17, 2024

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.

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

Ohio Department of Agriculture is working to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly

On: October 9, 2024

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.

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

Ideastream Public Media

Waterfowl Hunters: What You Need to Know about Invasive Species

On: September 28, 2024

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 post Waterfowl Hunters: What You Need to Know about Invasive Species appeared first on 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

Water Hyacinth No More! Invasive Species Removal Success

On: September 26, 2024

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 post Water Hyacinth No More! Invasive Species Removal Success appeared first on 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

Invasive fish genetics project ignites passion for field work

On: September 13, 2024

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.

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

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

Wisconsin Sea Grant

Harnessing Mussels to Filter Fresh Water

On: August 7, 2024

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.

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

Circle of Blue

Biocontrol Beetles Help Bump Invasive Plant

On: July 17, 2024

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/

The post Biocontrol Beetles Help Bump Invasive Plant appeared first on 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

Surely a Sea Lamprey….right?

On: July 17, 2024

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!

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

The post Surely a Sea Lamprey….right? appeared first on 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

Landing Blitz: Protecting our Waters

On: July 2, 2024

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 4^th 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!

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

The post Landing Blitz: Protecting our Waters appeared first on 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

How Lake Stewardship & Consumer Power Can Help Prevent the Spread of AIS

On: May 20, 2024

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!

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

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

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Adopt a Launch Program Flourishes Early in 2024

On: May 1, 2024

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!

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

The post Adopt a Launch Program Flourishes Early in 2024 appeared first on 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