Friday Concurrent Session 5
60 minutes
April 20, 2018 ~ 8:00-9:00 am
Your Lakes Convention will offer over 50 concurrent session options. Click here to view the different themes.
Agenda subject to change.
General Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS):
When Zebra Mussels Came to the NW Counties: Lessons Learned Using WI's Invasive Species Framework
In 2016, zebra mussels appeared in Big McKenzie Lake, Burnett and Washburn Counties – the first inland population in a 12-county area. This discovery ignited alarm and calls for action, but what exactly could people do? State and county staff and a volunteer will share the straight scoop on responding to high-profile AIS, including lessons learned using the state’s response framework. We will touch on monitoring, risk assessment, community capacity building, and control. Learn about local tools and strategies, including lake service provider outreach and decontamination legislation, and how you can initiate or expand similar efforts in your community.
Presenters:
Cathie Erickson, Board of Directors, Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Association
Lisa Burns, Conservation Coordinator, Washburn County Land and Water Conservation Department
Pamela Toshner, Water Resources Management Specialist, WI Department of Natural Resources
PRESENTATION:
Response Actions Following the Discovery of Non-native Round Gobies in Little Lake Butte des Morts
In August 2015, a non-native round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was caught and reported to the Wisconsin DNR by an angler directly below the Neenah Dam in Little Lake Butte des Morts, which is one of two dams located at the outlet of Lake Winnebago. This confirmed report was the furthest upstream this invasive fish has been recorded in the Fox River, and was upriver of Rapide Croche which serves as a physical barrier to prevent AIS species established in the Great Lakes from spreading upstream into the Winnebago system. This presentation will highlight the response actions taken in lieu of this unfortunate finding, and the steps which have occurred to prevent further spread of this species into the Lake Winnebago system and beyond. We will summarize outreach and monitoring efforts which occurred after the initial discovery, and discuss future monitoring, management, and outreach efforts planned for 2018 and beyond.
Presenter:
Michelle Nault, Water Resources Management Specialist, WI Department of Natural Resources
PRESENTATION:
Restorative Ecology:
*Two 30 minute presentations.
A Frog Was in My Boot This Morning
Frogs are familiar to everyone, but did you know some can freeze solid and then come back to life? Frogs engage people in many ways, and not just for their funny looks, they eat a tremendous amount of bugs. Yet frogs are in decline worldwide, and face many challenges in a warming world where lakes and wetlands are under increasing pressure. Some Wisconsin species are declining, others expanding. I will discuss the natural history of these fascinating creatures in Wisconsin, the monitoring programs underway, results of urban frog studies, and measures landowners can take to maintain and enhance local frog populations.
Presenter:
Gary Casper, Associate Scientist, UW-Milwaukee Field Station
PRESENTATION:
Bobcat Ecology in Northern Wisconsin
Bobcats are an important carnivore in Wisconsin, providing ecological benefits as well as sustainable consumptive use opportunities. Since 2014, the Wisconsin DNR, with cooperation from citizen trappers and landowners, has fitted over 50 bobcats in Northern Wisconsin with GPS monitoring collars to gain a better understanding of the status and ecology of bobcats in this region. Data collected from 32 collared animals revealed an average home range size of 17 mi2, and the home ranges of 22 of those bobcats overlapped with the range of at least one other monitored bobcat. Within their home ranges, bobcats chose wetland habitat and areas within 500 feet of water (lakes, streams, or rivers), while avoiding upland deciduous forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas. Bobcats are an integral part of Northern Wisconsin wetland ecosystems and a better understanding of bobcat space and habitat use will aid managers in continuing to sustainably manage bobcats.
Presenter:
Catherine Dennison, Carnivore and Furbearer Research Assistant, WI Department of Natural Resources
PRESENTATION:
Economics/Water Law:
Annual Lake Policy Update
From groundwater to the definition of “navigable waters”, from dredging in lakes to wetland fills, 2017-18 was once again an active year as lawmakers enacted numerous pieces of legislation that impact our lakes. In addition, a state budget was enacted, too! We will take a post-mortem look back at the legislature’s activities, try to take a peek into the future, and assess what it all might mean for the waters of Wisconsin.
Presenter:
Mike Engleson, Director, Wisconsin Lakes
PRESENTATION:
*Two 30 minute presentations.
Citizen-based Monitoring: Studying Wildlife On and Around Our Lakes
Wisconsin’s lakes and lakeshores our home to countless species of wildlife, include many species of birds, bats, frogs, dragonflies, and more. Unfortunately, many of these species are becoming increasingly rare. Long term citizen-based monitoring efforts for animals that live in or around lakes provide much needed data on the population status of these species. This information ultimately helps to inform management and conservation efforts. This presentation will discuss citizen-based monitoring projects active on the state’s lakes and lakeshores, how the projects contribute to scientific research, and how they are used to manage and protect rare species.
Presenter:
Eva Lewandowski, Citizen-based Monitoring Coordinator, WI Department of Natural Resources
PRESENTATION:
Trout Unlimited and the Central Sand Hills Ecoregion Habitat Success
Learn how TU CARES (WI Trout Unlimited – Central Area Restoration Effort for Sustainability) and the WI DNR are taking an innovative approach to protecting, restoring and reducing the decline in habitat quality for fish, game and non-game species in those stream restoration projects that were completed over the last 40 – 50 years within Wisconsin’s Central Sand Hills (CSH) ecoregion and its connected watersheds. The focal points of this presentation will be: project background; risks to the CSH ecoregion; project goals; stakeholders; watershed selections; habitat workdays; water monitoring data trends; macroinvertebrate survey; fish survey data results; educational opportunities; measuring success; and future plans based on the 2017 field season.
Presenter:
Thomas Lager, Trout Unlimited
PRESENTATION:
A Changing Climate in the Lake Superior Basin
Mid-July of 2016 a series of storms hit Northern Wisconsin causing massive flooding that washed out dozens of roadways, closed five highways, caused millions of dollars in damage and unfortunately took the life of three area folks. Most of this damage occurred in the Lake Superior basin, drastically changing the landscape and river conditions. In the aftermath of the flood, Superior Rivers Watershed Association (formerly the Bad River Watershed Association) reprioritized its restoration efforts and attempted to work with FEMA and local town governments to assure damaged roadways (culverts) were restored to handle the next flooding event and maintain fish habitat connectivity. Superior Rivers then initiated a Culvert Survivability Study, taking a closer look at why some roadways withstood the flooding while others washed out. Insights of this study will be shared as well as how these results and the impacts of climate change have refocused our work.
Presenter:
Tony Janisch, Executive Director Superior Rivers Watershed Association
Watershed Management & use of Best Management Practices in Various Land Use Settings:
*Two 30 minute presentations.
Strengthening Partnerships for Watershed Health
As an introduction to the morning sessions for watersheds and water quality, this presentation will set the stage for four project presentations and the table topic dialogue. Drawing from research and experience with watershed partnerships, planning, and policy, the presentation will highlight insights for watershed partnerships seeking to build long-term and sustainable approaches to watershed health.
Presenter:
Ken Genskow, Professor, UW-Extension
PRESENTATION:
Fox Demo Farms: Executing a Comprehensive Outreach Plan
The Fox Demo Farms project is a collaborative effort designed to identify and implement conservation practices that reduce phosphorus and sediment loading into the Fox River and bay of Green Bay. The comprehensive outreach plan was designed to target producers, both middle and late adopters, as well as the non-agricultural community. The multi-pronged approach utilizes a wide range of media outlets, including traditional news outlets (i.e., radio and television), as well as modern technology (i.e., website, social media, mass text messaging services). Additionally, the Fox Demo Farms has initiated a watershed-wide effort to distribute field signs that promote cover crops and no-till practices, while linking these practices to clean water. The signs serve as social norming tool to encourage neighboring farms to implement conservation practices on their land, as well as to educate and support a positive message throughout the non-agricultural community.
Presenter:
Whitney Passint, Natural Resource Educator, UW-Extension
PRESENTATION:
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