Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day – Winnebago Waterways

Citizen Scientists Help Check Local Lakes and Rivers for Aquatic Invasive Species

On August 17th, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance teamed up with partners across the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota for the sixth annual Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day! All around the two states, citizens came together to search, gather, and report findings of invasive species that can cause problems in our lakes and rivers. In the Winnebago System, 19 volunteers were trained on how to identify and sample for aquatic invasive species before monitoring at sites all around the lakes. Overall, no new aquatic invasive species were found in the Winnebago System on Snapshot Day!

We wanted to say THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers as well as to Festival Foods for their generous donation! This event would not have been a success without you!

If you are interested in helping with this event next year or in becoming a citizen scientist, contact the Winnebago Waterways Progam’s Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Chris Acy at chris@fwwa.org or at (920) 460-3674.

Site Summaries

The Menasha team had several sites in Menasha, Neenah, Appleton, and Sherwood. Several instances of zebra mussels were found in Appleton while Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels were located at sampling sites in Menasha and Neenah. Near High Cliff and the north shore of Lake Winnebago, populations of Eurasian watermilfoil were detected. In Winneconne, the volunteer team found populations of faucet snails and zebra mussels near the Winneconne boat launches. Tributaries around the lake were home to Eurasian watermilfoil, faucet snails, purple loosestrife. The Oshkosh volunteers didn’t find any invasive species specimens while monitoring. In Fond du Lac, populations of purple loosestrife, Eurasian watermilfoil, and zebra mussels were located in De Neveu Creek near where it flows into Lake Winnebago. Monitoring at Luco Creek also turned up populations of Faucet snails, Eurasian watermilfoil, and a stick with zebra mussels attached! Other sites in the Fond du Lac area resulted in findings of zebra mussels, faucet snails, and Eurasian watermilfoil. Volunteers in Calumet County checked several sites along the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago as well as multiple creeks throughout the County. A few new patches of Phragmites were found and reported. In addition, the volunteers reported finding several native plant beds.

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator for the Winnebago Waterways Program covering Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.