Aquatic Aquatic Invasive Invasive Species in Species in WisconsinWisconsin
Name: Laura HermanDate: April 21, 2010Aquatic Invasive Species Forum
Wisconsin Lakes Wisconsin Lakes PartnershipPartnership
Science
Citizens
Education
Wisconsin’s Aquatic Wisconsin’s Aquatic Invasive Species Invasive Species
ProgramProgramEducation & OutreachWatercraft InspectionVolunteer MonitoringPurple Loosestrife Biological ControlAquatic Invasive Species GrantsResearchRules to Prevent Spread
Differences Between CBCW & CLMNDifferences Between CBCW & CLMN
Protecting lake from AISPreventing AIS from
spreading to another lakeDefined hours (high use
periods)A lot of contact with publicMonitoring along shoreline
near landings
Checking to see if AIS got into lake
Some defined monitoring times (based upon AIS monitoring for)
Minimal contact with publicMonitoring along shorelines,
beaches, shallow water areas, & deep water areas
Casual observer vs True Monitor
Citizen Lake Monitoring NetworkCitizen Lake Monitoring Network 1986 – 126 volunteers collecting secchi data on 113 Lakes 1990 – pilot expansion – 25 lakes
Secchi, total phosphorus, chlorophyll, temperature & dissolved oxygen
1991 – 2005 Secchi, total phosphorus, chlorophyll, temperature, & dissolved oxygen Some regions use volunteers to collect data on Aquatic Invasive Species
2006 – Aquatic Invasive Species Statewide effort initiated 2007 –Trainers teaching Secchi and AIS monitoring 2009 – Additional AIS added. Online data entry Future – Add species and methods as the need arises
AIS Monitoring goals:Better state coverage
More volunteers
Consistency
Approved protocols
More species
Online data entry and data retrieval
Training opportunities Wisconsin’s Lake Convention – over 500 attend
“The Casual Observer” for Clean Boats, Clean Waters and Citizen Lake Monitoring Network AIS monitoring Clean Boats, Clean Waters 3-hour workshop Citizen Lake Monitoring Network AIS 3-hour workshop On-line data entry through the Surface Water Integrated
Monitoring System (SWIMS) County Aquatic Invasive Species Staff host workshops
through AIS grants Trained Trainers host workshops Lake Association and District meetings Super-Spreaders – target audiences on super spreader lakes
Casual Observer vs Trained MonitorCasual Observer vs Trained MonitorCasual observer
More general observer (simplified training)
Do not follow protocolsSelect species they monitor
forOften do not do data entrySeldom report if they do
NOT find AISExamples -
Shoreline sweepThree Lakes volunteersLake meeting presentations
Trained monitorMore technical training
(longer & more detailed)Monitoring follows
standard monitoring protocols (meshes with DNR protocols)
Select species they monitor for
Enter data into SWIMSReport if they do NOT find
AIS
What is expected of the trainers(full AIS monitoring – not casual observer)
Workshops conducted by trained Trainers
Follow all protocols to the AIS monitoring workshops
PowerPoint presentations provided for your use
Manuals provided to you Cover all species Explain data entry (SWIMS)
What do I need from you. Date and time for workshop Location of workshop Workshop host information Who will be the trainers at
the workshop and who will be assisting
Attendance worksheet filled out & returned to me
Volunteers cover the entire state, but most are in our “lakes rich” areas and areas with few AIS
Why Volunteer Monitoring Volunteers know their lakes Volunteers can cover more lakes than agency staff can coverResults so far – Success! Many of the new EWM and mystery snail “finds” have been
from volunteers.
Wisconsin’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program
Volunteers love the hands on ID timeTrainings close to when they monitorPontoon boats – not needed, but helpfulCasual observer or trained monitor options
What Volunteers Like/NeedWhat Volunteers Like/Need
Announcement of workshops
Trainings will be posted at these websites – http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CLMN/training.asp http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCW/workshops-
schedule.asp http://www.eeinwisconsin.org/core/default.aspx?s=0.0.16.2209 http://invasivespecies.wi.gov/awareness/event_request.asp
What volunteers receive Equipment in the free kit: Manual / handbook Hand lens Through the Looking Glass book 22-set laminates (EWM, curly-leaf pondweed, purple
loosestrife and look-a-likes) Zip-lock bags (for plant collection) Sharpies (to record info on the Zip-lock bags) Watch and wild cards, ID and informational pamphlets
Manual components DNR and UWEX Contacts Section 1 - Aquatic Invasive Species: Getting Started. Section 2 - Eurasian water-milfoil Section 3 - Curly-leaf pondweed Section 4 – Purple loosestrife Section 5 – Rusty crayfish Section 6 – Zebra mussels Section 7 – Mystery snails Section 8 – Waterfleas Section 9 – Freshwater Jellyfish Section 10 – Hydrilla Section 11 – New Zealand mudsnail
Section 12 – Native water-milfoil weevil
Section layout Background/Overview Life Cycle Identification Monitoring
When to Monitor Where do I Sample How to Monitor
• Collecting Samples• Labeling Samples• Equipment Needed
Setting Up a Monitoring Team Mapping Reporting What to do with Suspect Specimens Additional Materials & Supporting Documentation Data Reporting Forms
Invasive Plant monitored for
Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org
Critters monitored for
Critters monitored for - cont
Future species?
Others?Can be added as needed.
Report Findings – Statewide DatabaseSurface Water Inventory Management System
(SWIMS) General public
access to data and maps report AIS findings
Volunteers access to data and maps report, document and enter data on AIS findings
Staff access to data and maps report, document and enter data on AIS findings verify and voucher general public and volunteer findings
Used mainly by general public so they can report new “finds”
Staff verify and go through the vouchering process
Staff & trained volunteers
Data entry pilot (2011?) I-Phone & Palm pilot technology
Pros •Uses the infrastructure we have set up in SWIMS (security, etc.) •Can avoid programming for specific brands of phones•Would automatically work for all of our data entry forms (Secchi, AIS, River monitoring, Loons, etc).•Cost to develop would be minimal
ConsWould require user to have • phone/PDA with a Data Plan & Access to a 3G network or Wi-Fi •3G coverage will be more widely available & more folks will have the phones by the time we have pilot complete •Sometimes a 3G network would NOT be accessible @ a landing. Inspector would have to resort to paper/entering the data later •A phone & data plan costs money.
Any Interest?
Tailor the program for the volunteers.
Special ThanksEditing and “cool-afying”: Erin McFarlane.Photos: Paul Skawinski, Bob Korth, DNR staff and Google.
Wisconsin AIS websites
General Information on Citizen Lake monitoring - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/clmn/
Publications / manuals - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/clmn/publications.asp
WI Department of Natural Resources AIS data – http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/ http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/aquatic/whattodo/
Laura HermanLakes Education SpecialistCitizen Lake Monitoring Network107 Sutliff Ave.Rhinelander, WI 54501(715) [email protected]://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/
Red Swamp Crayfish Dark red in color (a genetic mutation may turn the body and/or claws blue) Raised bright red spots covering the body and claws Black wedge-shaped stripe on the top of the abdomen Vary in length from 2 to 5 inches. Prefer marshes, swamps, ponds and slow moving rivers and streams, but have become
established in lakes. They are tolerant of fluctuating water levels and can survive long dry spells by remaining in burrows or crawling over land to other water sources.
Mate in autumn and lay eggs in spring to early summer. The number of eggs varies with the size of the female, (as many as 650 eggs at a time). Distribution in Wisconsin in 2009 - ponds in German Town, Washington Co. and City of
Kenosha, Kenosha Co.
Red Swamp Crayfish
Brazilian Waterweed Stems can reach 15 feet in length. Leaves arranged in whorls of 4-6 leaves and leaves are ¾ - 2 inches long & serrated. Leaves are attached directly to the stem. Leaves below growing tips often curve downwards. Adventitious roots are freely produced on the stem. Plant Reproduces by stolons & stem fragments. Can spread from a single plant Plant forms mats dense enough to restrict water movement, trap sediment and cause
fluctuations in water quality. It can out compete Eurasian water milfoil.
Look-alikes: hydrilla (AIS) and our native waterweeds (Elodea canadensis & Elodea nuttallii)
Brazilian waterweed, a top selling aquarium and pond plant, is often sold under the name Anacharis and is also known as Brazilian elodea or "oxygenating plant". It is believed to have been introduced in the United States by the aquarium trade.
Found in one pond in Portage Co.
Yellow Floating-Heart Circular to slightly heart shaped floating leaves are 1-6” in diameter. Leaf edges are slight
wavy or scalloped Leaves are green to yellow-green above, and are often purple underside Yellow flowers arise above the water surface The fruit is a ½-1” beaked capsule that contains many flat, seeds with winged margins (which
help with floatation and attachment to avian vectors) Prefers slow moving rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds, but can also grow in damp mud,
swamps and wetlands.
Look-a-likes - water lilies, Spadderdock and Watershield
Yellow-floating heart is a popular water garden plant, and the ability to order this plant over the internet and through mail order gives it the ability to travel to all parts of the world. In the locales where it has been introduced, it has often become the dominant plant species. Yellow-floating heart is very difficult to control due to its ability to form a new plant from rhizomes, stolons, separated leaves, or seeds.