The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, located at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), in collaboration with UW-Extension and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is giving northern communities much needed information on how to prevent the spread of Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) and other aquatic exotics.

The Christopher Columbus Foundation has recently awarded $25,000 to the Minocqua/Hazelhurst/Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) Middle School�s Milfoil Masters Program. The team, Janelle Zajicek, Luke Voellinger and Maree Stewart, were chosen from 2,500 middle school students and 600 other teams nationwide that submitted a grant proposal. This team was selected because of the immense impact that EWM has on the economy not only in Wisconsin, but also in 45 other states.

Lisa Ahlers, MHLT teacher and team coach said, " A successful three-page proposal, convincing skit and an intense question and answer session on the effects of invasive species convinced the judges that Wisconsin was worthy of the funding to develop a prevention program." The main goal of the grant funding is to The program is an effort to develop tool kits to be used by volunteers at boat landings throughout the northern region of Wisconsin.

According to Laura Felda, Adopt-A-Lake coordinator at UWSP�s Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, tool kit materials will aid volunteers in looking for and identifying EWM, while educating boaters about identification and steps they can take in preventing the spread to other lakes. The kits will be distributed at three training workshops throughout the northern region. After the workshop, participants will organize their first monitoring effort during the opening of inland fishing season May 3rd.

"I believe this is only the tip of the ice berg for volunteer efforts in preventing invasive species spread," said Mandy Beall, DNR invasive education specialist. " With more communities involved in protecting lake quality, I predict there will be more tool kits and workshops planned for other parts of the state."

The schedule of training workshops is as follows:

• March 22: Minocqua: MHLT Middle School (9 a.m.�noon)
• April 12: Green Bay: WI Lakes Conference �KI Convention Center Paper Valley Motel
  (11 a.m.�noon)
• April 26: Shell Lake: Shell Lake Community Center (9 a.m.-noon)
• April 26: Burnett County (2p.m. - 5p.m.) (*location to be announced)

For more information on the Milfoil Masters toolkit or to express interest in a workshop, please contact Laura Felda at (715) 346-3366.

-30-

tmiller/vc/milfoil toolkit