AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS)

THE PROBLEM

Exotic plants and animals can take over our lakes, because their natural predators aren't here to keep them under control. They can spread quickly from lake to lake when boaters, fishermen, waterfowl hunters, trappers, or other lake users unknowingly transport them on equipment. Once established, they can spread out of control and threaten the existence of native plants and animals.

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Click here to see which aquatic invasive species can be found in lakes within each county.

WHAT WE'RE DOING

Golden Sands RC&D is collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Extension Lakes program, and eight Central Wisconsin counties to implement region-wide aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention programs.

WE WORK WITH:

• Lake Districts

• Lake Associations

• Friends/Group Organizations

• Concerned Citizens

• Private Land Owners

• Local Government

• Businesses

• Schools

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WE OFFER:

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• AIS early detection/monitoring surveys

• Point Intercept Aquatic Plant surveys (PI surveys)

• AIS education/presentations for your class or organization meeting

• AIS identification and removal training

• Scuba diving teams for AIS removal

• Purple Loosestrife & Eurasian water milfoil bio-control

• Assistance with AIS lake management & strategic plans

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Partnering with the community helps us prevent the spread of AIS and to create new control plans to help address this problem. If you suspect you have an AIS problem, are interested in having us give an AIS lesson for your school, lake association meeting etc., or are interested in any of our services please Contact us.
 

WHO AIS IMPACTS

Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species isn't a concern only for boaters. Click here to learn more about how AIS impacts your favorite hobby/sport and what you can do to help prevent accidentally spreading these harmful plants & animals.

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Clean Boats, Clean Waters and the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network

are programs designed to help prevent the spread of AIS and detect new AIS populations early. Here at Golden Sands RC&D we provide the training for volunteers to participate in these wonderful programs. Click here to find out how you can get involved.

AIS CURRICULUM

Educating our youth on AIS is important; having the materials readily available for our educators makes it easy! There are eight chapters. The lessons start with basics on the importance of water and move into more specific information about invasive species and how they affect the ecosystem. Click here to view and download the lessons!

AIS FACT SHEETS

Learn more about the numerous invasive plants and animals that have already invaded some of our lakes in Central Wisconsin, and others pose a threat to our state in the future.

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These 1-2 page fact sheets are designed to be easy to read and reproduce. All of these fact sheets may be reproduced and distributed free of charge. 

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Download All Fact Sheets Here

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Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)

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Banded mystery snail (Viviparus georgianus)

Big-eared Radix (Radix auricularia)

Brittle naiad (Najas minor)

Carolina Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)

Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis)

Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculata)

Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)

      Flowering rush comparison photos

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)

Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus)

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)

Phragmites  a.k.a. common reed (Phragmites australis)

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

        Purple Loosestrife Bio-control Planning

Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)

Spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus)

Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa)

Water chestnut (Trapa natans)

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Water lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes)

Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata)

Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

EWM REMOVAL

Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) is an extremely invasive plant that spreads by fragments that break off the plant, float away and re-root themselves. Early detection and manual removal are very effective at eradicating new populations of this plant. Click below for some removal instruction and EWM resources.

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EWM Removal Instructional Video

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Manual EWM removal brochure

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