University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis.—Wisconsin’s natural beauty lies in the diversity of land and water found throughout the state. The north woods, dotted with thousands of lakes, rivers, and wetlands, have long been a beacon for travelers, providing not only an economic boost, but also a threat to the integrity of these water treasures. With growing concern over the spread of aquatic invasive species to Wisconsin’s inland lakes, many lake association members and other concerned citizens are looking for ways to get involved. The Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer watercraft inspection program is offering training and resource kits for volunteers at boat landings.

“The workshop and materials will help volunteers establish a volunteer watercraft inspection program for their lake,” says Laura Felda-Marquardt, University of Wisconsin-Extension lake management specialist.

Two years ago, a group of Minocqua students researched the impact of tourism on their town and the devastating impacts aquatic invasive species would have on surrounding lakes. They proposed an action plan to prevent the spread of an invasive aquatic plant, Eurasian water-milfoil. The Christopher-Columbus Foundation, recognizing innovative ideas from young people, awarded the group $25,000 to develop an educational tool kit for boaters. The Milfoil Masters project produced and delivered 150 tool kits to 25 counties across Wisconsin. This successful project created an awareness of invasive species as well as the prevention steps each boater must take when they leave a water body.

A new program, Clean Boats, Clean Waters, grew out of the successful Milfoil Masters project. New resources were designed to help communities develop a volunteer watercraft inspection team. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Extension and Wisconsin Association of Lakes held a series of statewide workshops to deliver the Clean Boats, Clean Waters materials.

In 2004, 14 Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshops trained over 350 volunteers in 38 counties to take a frontline defense against aquatic invasive species. Volunteers stationed at boat landings performed watercraft inspections and educated boaters on how and where invasive species are most likely to hitch a ride into bodies of water.

Records of boater travel patterns, recreational use, boat horsepower and invasive species knowledge were entered into a statewide database. By December 2004, 2,889 boats were inspected and 6,136 people had been contacted. Eighty-eight percent were Wisconsin boaters and fishing was their major activity.

“From their comments, it was clear that boaters were not aware of the role they play in moving aquatic plants and animals from one water body to another,” Felda-Marquardt says.

“Inspections often uncovered hidden plants on boat trailers and other recreational equipment.” Five percent of all inspected boats had vegetation attached when approaching the landing, while 27 percent had vegetation attached as the boat pulled away from the landing.

Shell Lake in Washburn County is a good example of the impact a volunteer watercraft inspection program can have on a community. Currently, high water levels are diverted into the Yellow River with the stipulation that no invasive species enter the water bodies. If Shell Lake becomes infested with a non-native invasive species, the water diversion project must be abandoned. Shell Lake is a 2,580-acre lake that attracts 1,300 to 1,500 boats annually. Volunteer records showed that 80 percent of the boats were from outside Shell Lake, with boaters traveling from Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas and Ohio.

During the summer of 2004, Shell Lake’s watercraft inspectors examined 1,669 boats, as well as trailers, boat motors and recreational equipment. Records indicated that 15 percent of the boats traveled from an infested body of water before they launched in Shell Lake. Upon further examination of hitchhiking plant materials, ten were a positive hit for an invasive species.

Documented efforts like those in Shell Lake indicate that continued watercraft inspections are needed if Wisconsin hopes to end the spread of invasive species. For a complete list of Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshops for 2005, visit the Wisconsin Lake Partnership web site at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes . To register or learn more, contact Laura Felda-Marquardt by e-mail at Laura.Felda@dnr.state.wi.us, or by phone at the UW-Extension Lakes Program, (715) 346-3366, or the Rhinelander office, (715) 365-2659, or visit the new web site at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes .

2005 Aquatic Invasive Species Workshop Dates and Locations:

(Additional workshops may be added, please check web site for latest details: www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes)

April 5, St. Germain, 5-7 p.m., Sisters Saloon, for marine business only, Vilas County

April 9, Spooner, 8:30-12 noon, Agriculture Research Station, Washburn County

April 13, Crandon, 6-9 p.m., Crandon Library, Forest County

April 16, Barnes, 8:30-12 noon, Barnes Town Hall, Bayfield County

April 23, Mercer, 8:30-12 noon, Community Center, Iron County

April 28, Green Bay, 6-9 p.m., Wisconsin’s Lake Convention, Brown County

April 30, Green Bay, 8-11 a.m., Wisconsin’s Lakes Convention, Brown County

May 4, Manitowish Waters, 6-9 p.m. North Lakeland Elementary School, Vilas County

May 10, Rhinelander, 6-9 p.m., Nicolet College, Oneida County

May 14, Ashland, time TBA, Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland County

May 17, Amherst Junction, 5-8:30 p.m., Lake Emily Park Center, Portage County

May 19, Elkhorn, 4-7:30 p.m., Government Center, Walworth County

May 21, Waukesha, 8:30-12 noon, DNR Service Center, Waukesha County

May 26, Eagle River, 6-9 p.m., Northland Pines Middle School, Vilas County

June 2, Minocqua, 6-9 p.m., Nicolet Lakeland Campus, Oneida County

June 11, Florence, 8:30-12 a.m., Florence Resource Center, Florence County

June 16, Madison, 2-5 p.m., Big Splash Angler Ed., Madison Campus, Dane County

June 18, Barron, 8:30-12 noon, location TBA

June 21, Eagle River, 1-4 p.m., Big Splash Angler Ed., Trees For Tomorrow, Vilas Co.

June 23, Cable, 1:30-5 pm., Northwest Wis. Lakes Conference, Bayfield County

July 9, Lady Smith, 8:30-12 noon, location TBA