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Slow the Spread by Sole and Tread....
As fishing season opens statewide, we anticipate many of you will be lacing up your wading boots to cast a line between the banks of a river. While the debate whether or not rubber soled boots can provide as good a traction as felt will continue, we at the River Alliance ask that you do take precautions to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels, whirling disease and didymo regardless of the material on the bottom of your boots.
Inspect, clean and dry your equipment before moving between waterbodies. Remember that felt soled boots DO pose a greater risk because they are porous and retain sediment, are difficult to sanitize between uses and may take several days to dry.
And if you are considering purchasing a new pair of boots, you might want to steer clear from the felt. There is growing support for statewide ban of these products, such as been done in other states including Alaska, Maryland, Missouri, and Vermont.
This spring Wisconsin citizens attending Wisconsin Conservation Congress Hearings throughout the state were asked, "Do you favor phasing out the use of felt sole wading products in Wisconsin waters?" 73% of the the 3,600 who answered the question were in support of the ban.
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WDNR has produced clever public service announcement videos for aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention. Each spot runs thirty seconds and reminds water users of four easy steps to keep their boats clean of aquatic hitchhikers. Click here to watch "Sneaky Critters"
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The Wisconsin DNR reminds you to take four easy steps to keep boats clean of sneaky critters...
- INSPECT boats, trailers and equipment.
- REMOVE all attached aquatic plants and animals.
- DRAIN all water from boats, vehicles and equipment.
- NEVER MOVE plants or live fish away from a waterbody.
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River Alliance New Release: Lower Wisconsin River Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan
 The Lower Wisconsin River basin is at risk of being deeply and negatively impacted by a suite of harmful AIS, due to both its physical connection with the Mississippi River, a "source waters" of an estimated 135 invasive species, and its status as a regional recreational destination.
The intent of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin AIS Strategic Plan is to guide future efforts of these partners and other stakeholders in the basin which include but are not limited to state, county and local governments; non-governmental organizations, and citizen conservation, sporting, and recreation groups.
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Fifteen species specific fact sheets are included with the strategic plan.
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To that end, three specific goals and associated management strategies and actions have been identified:
Goal I - Prevention: Implement procedures and practices to prevent new introductions or dispersal of aquatic invasive species into Lower Wisconsin River basin waterbodies.
Goal II - Containment: Develop management strategies to limit the spread of established populations of aquatic invasive species to and from Lower Wisconsin River basin waterbodies.
Goal III - Control: Abate, and where possible, eliminate harmful ecological, economic, social and public health impacts resulting from the infestation of aquatic invasive species in Lower Wisconsin River basin waterbodies.
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Latest Issue of FLOW Newsletter: How Rivers Are Fun!
 With the sound and smell of spring in the air, and as the rivers run with renewed energy, we wanted to use the year's first issue of The FLOW to take a break from talking about the threats that are piling up with the attack on Wisconsin's conservation legacy. We strip away the complexity and political analysis and move from our river heads to our river hearts. We devote this issue to how and why rivers are fun.
In this issue...
- How Rivers Are Fun!
- Make the Right Fit With An Outfitter
- Make A Date With A River Named Bear, Fox, Wisconsin, Tomorrow, Milwaukee, Chippewa
- Make the Acquaintance of Many River Rats - Old, Not So Old, and Newborns.
Click here for pdf of the FLOW
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Keep Your Eyes Peeled While You're Out on the Water!
Project RED (riverine early detectors) is a project of the River Alliance and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources  which engages citizen scientists in the identification and mapping of invasive species within river corridors. Invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife, phragmites, and zebra mussels threaten our native species and can impede our recreation opportunities on our rivers and streams.
Project RED volunteers are taught how to identify up to 16 species of concern, how to use a GPS unit to record the location of infestations and how to report them directly to the WDNR online database. Data collected by volunteers is used to prioritize control efforts and to gain a better understanding of the impacts posed by invasives.
To learn more about these upcoming Project RED trainings contact Laura MacFarland lmacfarland@wisconsinrivers.org
June 30 - Hosted by the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association in Belleview, WI
July 10 - Hosted by the Northland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, WI
September 8 - Hosted by Save Copper Creek in the Kickapoo River Watersheds. |
RIVER ALLIANCE
SPRING CONFLUENCE
Join us for a celebration in honor of Wisconsin's rivers and the people who save them.
Enjoy live music, libations, tasty hors d'oeuvres and the annual River Champion Awards.
Saturday May 19, 2012
Madison Club, Downtown Madison
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
$35 per person
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Reshaping the Environmental Movement: A New Blog from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
 The new online resource focuses on conversations with environmental leaders and social visionaries around the need to evolve the environmental movement. The environmental journalism project is maintained by graduate students at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
Click here to read the blog |
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Spring Confluence:
May 19, 2012 |
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