JUNE 2023 VOL.

Waterway Association of Menominee and Shawano Counties

Aquatic Invasive
Species
Introduction
Summer is here and it is a perfect time to get IN THIS ISSUE
out on the water. Whether you like to fish,
swim, jet ski, kayak, or just relax on the
water, it is important to remember to keep an
INTRODUCTION
eye out for Aquatic Invasive Species.
Remember to inspect, remove, drain, never
move. For more information on prevention
steps continue reading. PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE
BIOCONTROL

Purple Loosestrife
Biocontrol STARRY STONEWORT
Purple loosestrife is a wetland perennial plant
that came from Europe and Asia. Purple
loosestrife is an invasive species and
outgrows our native plants. If you want more
HOW YOU CAN HELP
information on purple loosestrife click here.
This spring/summer WAMSCO has partnered
with Timberland Invasives Partnership (TIP) SNAPSHOT DAY
to participate in the Purple Loostrife
Biocontrol program. The Purple Loosestrife
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Biocontrol program uses beetles that eat purple Starry Stonewort

loosestrife. These beetles do not harm any native
Starry stonewort is on the NR 40
plants, making these a good option to help
prohibited list. This aquatic plant is a
control purple loosestrife. For this program we
species of large algae and is currently in
went out in early spring to dig up some purple
36 lakes and rivers in Wisconsin. In
loosestrife and put it in pots. These plants are
Shawano county starry stonewort has been
grown with a net around it to prevent anything
found and verified in Pine Lake. Starry
from getting in or out. In early summer we went
stonewort will outcompete native
out to collect beetles to add to our plants so they
vegetation and can form dense mats in the
can reproduce. These plants and beetles will
water. Starry stonewort can also reduce
eventually be released around Shawano and
fish spawning habitat. Currently control
Menominee counties in areas where purple
PHOTO BY MARTIN R. SMITH methods do not make a measurable impact
loosestrife is taking over. If you would like to
on starry stonewort. This means it is extra
learn more about how this program works click
important to prevent the spread of starry
here.
stonewort. Make sure to inspect, remove,
drain, never move. For more information
on starry stonewort click here.

To the left: Bulbil -

reproductive structure
of starry stonewort
Bottom picture: Starry
stonewort

Photo credit: Paul Skawinski

Photo credit: Paul Skawinski

Photo credit: DNR Website
Top picture: DIgging up purple loosestrife
Middle Picture: Growing purple loosestrife with netting
Bottom
Photo from Picture: Purple Loosestrife when blooming
the DNR
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How You Can Help Snapshot Day

When it comes to aquatic invasive species,
prevention is key. Every time you use a body of
water make sure to follow the proper protocol
for prevention. Remember to always INSPECT
your trailer, boat, and equipment. REMOVE any
attached aquatic plants or animals. DRAIN all
water from boat, motors, and equipment. Ice
keeps your fish just as fresh! NEVER MOVE any
live animal away from the water. These
prevention steps are proven to help prevent the
spread of aquatic invasive species, they are also
the law!
must me accompanied by an adult. Come and join
Attention Anglers: If you use live bait, make
sure to follow all of Wisconsin's bait laws. These
Water lovers of all ages are invited to join the
statewide search for aquatic invasive species
(AIS) on August 19th, 2023. During Snapshot
Day volunteers are trained on identifying a
handful of different aquatic invasive species
(AIS). Following the training, volunteers get
some hands-on experience searching for AIS at
predetermined monitoring sites. Any potential
invasive species found during Snapshot Day will
be verified and cataloged with Wisconsin’s
Department of Natural Resources to help guide
our community in species control and
conservation management plans. This is a free
and fun event and we welcome all ages, minors
the search at Huckleberry Harbor from 8:30am -
12:30pm!

laws are in place to prevent the spread of Register Here

invasive species. Click here for the bait laws.

If you own a pond or aquarium remember to

never purchase restricted or prohibited species,
and never release or transplant unwanted plants
or animals. If you have an aquatic animal that
you can no longer care for make sure to
surrender it. If you need to surrender an aquatic
animal please click here, or find a surrender
event here.

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you

interested in learning more about water The Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (CLMN) is looking for volunteers to
quality and monitoring the health of our streams? Become a help out with a number of different monitoring projects, including water
volunteer stream monitor for Water Action Volunteers (WAV)! Click clarity monitoring, water chemistry monitoring, ice-on/ice-off monitoring,

HERE for more information and instructions on how to become aquatic invasive species monitoring, and native aquatic plant monitoring.

involved with WAV or contact us at wamsco.wcc@gmail.com. Click HERE for more information and find out how to get involved with
CLMN or contact us at wamsco.edu@gmail.com.