Lake property owners and others concerned about Wisconsin lakes are invited to provide input to the state before the end of the month.
The DNR has announced a Draft Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan is available for public review and comment through August 31.
Oneida County Conservationist Michele Sadauskas says this update is a critical blueprint for controlling invasives in our waters...
"....It has been a number of years since we had an AIS state strategic plan. It's exciting to see this. There's been a lot of work that has gone into it. We're just looking for public input at this time to make it an even better document, something we can work with. work with local partner all the way to state partners...."
Sadauskas says the extensive plan is a good opportunity for lakes conservationists to have input. She says there are individual plans to control invasives in Northwoods counties, but this management plan looks at the issue from a wider perspective...
"....In Oneida county we have a county-wide program, or individual lakes have a document that you can work toward and see where the state is and to mesh in with county partners and local partners and be part of a bigger message and be part of a bigger group working in the fight against aquatic invasive species...."
Officials say many non-native species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil have found their way into Wisconsin’s waterways. Their presence can cause severe damage to local ecosystems, industry and tourism. Local groups and counties have been active in monitoring and educating the public about the hitchhikers.
We have a link to the plan here.
