The next meeting of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin AIS (aquatic invasive species) Working Group is this Wednesday, 4/25/12, at 6pm, at the Kratochwill Memorial Building, (206 N. Wisconsin Ave., Muscoda, 53573) in Muscoda, WI, and we welcome your attendance. The AIS Working Group consists of members of sporting, recreational, and conservation clubs, natural resource managers, and interested citizens and meets to determine actions and strategies for preventing AIS introduction and spread in the Lower Wisconsin River basin. The group is organized by the River Alliance of Wisconsin.

 At Wednesday’s meeting, we will be discussing the results of an AIS survey that was recently taken by nearly 50 people in the Lower Wisconsin basin (see attached PDF for question-by-question results of the survey), and determining next steps for the Working Group partnership based on what we learned from the survey. While the threats posed by AIS are sometimes daunting, it’s clear that there are some very common-sense solutions that our groups can work toward, in partnership. Please see the attached agenda for more details on Wednesday night’s meeting.

 The meeting is open to the public, and all interested citizens, property owners, recreation/sporting/conservation club members, and natural resource managers are encouraged to attend. Please contact me with any questions about Wednesday’s meeting, or the group in general. I hope to see you in Muscoda on Wednesday, and if you plan on attending, please let me know.

Regards,
Matt Krueger

 Matt Krueger

River Alliance of Wisconsin

River Restoration Program

306 E. Wilson St. #2W

Madison, WI 53703

ph: 608-257-2424 x125

   Lower Wisconsin River Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Working Group

Meeting #2 Agenda

 Date:  Wed, April 25, 2012

Location:  Kratochwill Memorial Building, Muscoda, WI

Time:  6-8 p.m.

 1)      Welcome, introductions

 2)      Updates:  bighead carp, LWR basin AIS plan

 3)      Review of Lower Wisconsin River Basin AIS Survey

a.      Highlights of results

b.      Take-home points

                                                  I.      85% respondents uninvolved with RA LWR basin AIS efforts, but 100% respondents concerned about AIS (61% ‘significantly’ concerned). [Q5, Q7]

                                                II.      Overwhelmingly, people are concerned with AIS that are already here (Asian carp, zeebs, Japanese hops, purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, etc.). [Q8]

                                              III.      Perceived two-step educational process on AIS – 1) perception that those unfamiliar with AIS (‘the public’) need to be educated on their impacts, then 2) once familiar with impacts (presumably, most survey respondents), need to be educated on identification, disinfection/best practices.

 4)      Next steps

a.      Ideas regarding partnership opportunities this summer

                                                  I.      Events

                                                II.      Education/Information

 5)      Next meeting date:  June 27, 2012