Aquatic Invasive
Species
Aquatic Invasive Species in the Great
Lakes: Coming Soon to a Lake Near You?
Friday 1:00-1:50pm
Aquatic
invasive species have
been arriving in the
U.S.
for years. Over 50 years
ago, sea lamprey control began in the Great
Lakes and is ongoing at a cost of nearly $19 million
annually. Had we foreseen
the devastating consequences and costs of the sea lamprey on our
Great Lakes
ecosystem, to what lengths would we have gone to prevent its
spread? Today, with over
180 non-native species in the
Great Lakes, many of them now pose a threat to
our inland waters due to movement of boats, boaters, trailers,
and equipment. This
presentation will review the pathways by which aquatic invasive
species have entered the Great Lakes,
the impacts of some of these species, the pathways via which
these organisms spread to inland waters, and efforts to prevent
their introduction and spread.
Presenter: Phil Moy, Wisconsin
Sea Grant
Water Law
Legal Updates
Friday 1:00-1:50pm
Should
Wisconsin courts protect lakefront property owners from water pollution that
restricts navigation and damages the lake ecosystem?
Should it matter if the type of pollution isn’t
subject to state permits? How
much water quality damage should be tolerated before the
courts order the polluter to stop?
Learn more about key
questions that have been presented in a major case pending
before the Wisconsin
court of appeals. In
this session legal counsel for the Wisconsin Association of
Lakes, Bill O’Connor, will discuss this and other recent
court cases of interest to lakes.
This session will
also include discussion of pending legislation affecting
lakes and lake organizations, and a question/answer session
for attendees to quiz the veteran water lawyer.
Presenter: Bill O'Connor,
Wheeler, Van Sickle & Anderson, S.C.
Lake Science
Time to "Get Down" with Lake Levels
Friday 1:00-1:50pm
Fluctuation
of water levels on lakes and rivers is natural and has been occurring
since the lakes were formed.
Many aquatic plants, and the fish and animals that depend
on those plants, need these times of low water levels to
repopulate, reclaim, and essentially restore the lake ecosystem.
The process of fluctuating water levels is as natural as
the lake itself. When it
is possible to control levels on flowages, fluctuating water
levels is a viable tool for lake management, and can been used
to create habitat and manage non-native species.
We will explore the positive side to lower water levels
and what role they play in the dynamics of a lake’s ecosystem.
We’ll also show a real world example in
Wisconsin where lake level management has proven to
be effective in non-native control on Lake Alpine.
Presenters: Mark Sesing and Scott Provost, Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources
Citizen Involvement
It Works for Our Community: The Unified
Lakes Commission
Friday 1:00-1:50pm
The
Eagle River Chain of
Lakes, located in
Vilas
County, is comprised of 11
inter-connected waters.
The chain contains about 62 miles of shoreline, and
over 1,400 riparian properties rest on its perimeter.
Efforts to manage Eurasian water-milfoil (EWM) within
the chain have met mixed results.
In order to move forward, a unique partnership
consisting of four area municipal governments was formed to
oversee lake management efforts for the chain, the first of
its kind in Wisconsin.
The Unified Lakes Commission holds regular public
meetings, assists in sponsorship of
DNR
grants, and serves as a means to collect the finances needed
for lake projects.
Join us to learn more about how the commission was formed
and how it serves our community well.
Presenters: Steve Favorite, Eagle River
Unified Lakes Commission and Carolyn Scholl, Vilas County Land
and Water Conservation Department
Flora and Fauna
Help Us Find Wisconsin's Freshwater Sponges & Jellyfish
Friday 1:00-1:50pm
Approximately 8,100 species of sponges and 10,000 species of
Cnidaria (jellyfish and related critters) occur worldwide,
mostly in marine habitats.
About 14 freshwater sponges and a single freshwater
jellyfish have been found in Wisconsin
lakes and rivers.
Often overlooked, these animals fill important
ecological niches. This
session will introduce convention goers to these fascinating
components of Wisconsin’s fauna, including their
identification, basic biology, zoogeography, and ecology.
The presentation will include an overview of research
done in Wisconsin
dating back to the early 1890s and report on current efforts to
document these fauna using modern technologies.
The session will also offer tips to citizens interested
in finding these creatures in their local lakes and introduce a
new citizen monitoring and reporting program.
Presenters:
Dreux Watermolen and Craig Roesler, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Value of Lakes
Artists on Climate Change in the
Northwoods: How Can We Reduce Our Carbon Footprint?
Friday 1:00-1:50pm
This unique outreach and education project brings together
the compelling evidence of science, the interpretive talents
of professional artists and the skills of educators to
engage communities in learning about climate change in the Great Lakes region.
This session will highlight the section of the
exhibit focusing on impacts of climate change on
Wisconsin lakes, such as decreased ice cover,
water clarity, fisheries and aquatic plants.
Learn how this project is a model for engaging
communities in environmental issues by integrating art,
science and education.
Funded
by the Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment and the
Wisconsin
Arts Board.Presenter: Dolly Ledin,
UW Center for Biology Education
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