Clean Boats, Clean Waters Workshop 6-13-2010

June 10, 2010

FLOW NEWS & EVENTS
Riverway Activities
Saturday, June 19th!

Clean Boats, Clean Waters
Watercraft Inspector Workshop

The latest front in the fight against aquatic invasive species (AIS)-introduced species that displace our native species like the shovelnose sturgeon and the paddlefish-is on the Lower Wisconsin River, from Prairie du Sac downstream to the Mississippi. Our best defense on the Lower Wisconsin against AIS of concern such as zebra mussels, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), and Asian carp is information, particularly information about the user patterns of those who frequent the river. High-use boat landings can be excellent sources of information about the spread of AIS, provided the right questions are asked. THAT’S WHERE YOU COME IN!
FLOW is teaming with the River Alliance of Wisconsin and the Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) campaign to train volunteer Watercraft Inspectors who will assist us in attaining information from river users via inspections and surveys at high-use boat landings. These volunteer inspectors will be our eyes and ears on the ground, detecting the possible spread of AIS before it’s too late, and providing critical information on where to focus future AIS monitoring efforts on the river.

On Saturday, June 19 from 9am-noon FLOW and the River Alliance are hosting a Volunteer Watercraft Inspector Training at the Sauk City Public Library. Join us to learn the proper protocol of courtesy watercraft inspections and AIS surveys. Throughout the summer, FLOW and River Alliance will rely on you, a trained volunteer inspector, to perform watercraft inspections and surveys at selected boat landings on the Lower Wisconsin.

Become a volunteer Watercraft Inspector & help protect the Lower Wisconsin Riverway!

To register for the free training, please contact Matt Krueger at the River Alliance, at mkrueger@wisconsinrivers.org, or 608-257-2424 x125.

Online Registration form here:REGISTRATION FORM

Immediately following the morning training, everyone is invited to join FLOW for a river cleanup event. We will shuttle vehicles first and then put in at the VFW launch. Our main take out will be at Ferry Bluff, but participants can go as far as they want (Even camp overnight) and we’ll help with the shuttle. It should mostly be just an enjoyable paddling trip because our past efforts have paid off nicely. A little Riverway history will be shared at stops along the way.Please email wisriverfriends@yahoo.com to make arrangements if you and a friend need a canoe or if you would like to join someone else in a canoe.

If an early morning adventure fits your schedule better…
2nd Annual Sauk Prairie River PAL
Wisconsin River Canoe Trip

Want to enjoy a leisurely trip down the Wisconsin River? Have a canoe or kayak that you’re itching to use? Want to learn a bit more about our river? We have a deal for you!

Saturday, June 19, 2010
8:00 am until roughly 3ish
per person cost: $20

We’ll start at Black Hawk River Run on Hwy 60. We’ll land at Arena. Along the way there will be speakers (spoiler warning: there’s mussels in the river!) AND lunch.

We’re expecting to launch by 9am–and to spend the hour before that making sure everyone has a ride back to their cars!

Details and registration here: http://www.spriverpal.org/
View photos of our past activities here:

FLOW Photo Albums