Winnebago Waterways Program Kicks-Off Clean Boats, Clean Waters Informational Nights

Open House Nights Look to Inform the Public about Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program

In March, the Winnebago Waterways Program held its first two Clean Boats, Clean Waters informational Open Houses. These events were developed to teach the public about aquatic invasive species and the Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program. Over the course of the summer months, many boaters will be greeted at landings and access points by CBCW Interns in blue shirts. Many boaters and anglers may have questions about the CBCW program, its purpose, etc. The Informational Open Houses in Winneconne on March 13th and in Neenah on March 26th gave opportunities for people to ask questions and potentially express interest in becoming a CBCW volunteer! Both events were low-key and required no commitments from attendees to be volunteers.  Aquatic invasive species prevention steps that everyone should take when on the lakes were also discussed at the informational nights. Additional CBCW Informational Open Houses will be hosted by the Winnebago Waterways Program in the future so keep your eye out for dates and times!

The CBCW Open House in Winneconne also gave the Winnebago Waterways Program the opportunity to educate people about the local water hyacinth issue. Every year the invasive plant water hyacinth is found north of Lake Winneconne Park. It is illegal to possess the plant as well as illegal to release the plant into our local lakes. People at the event were surprised to learn that water hyacinth is being found and upset that people might be illegally releasing the invasive plant into their lakes. For more information on the water hyacinth findings, visit this link.

The Informational Open House in Winneconne was generously hosted by the Winneconne Town Hall. The Open House in Neenah was hosted by the Neenah Public Library. Thank you to these great partners!