Aquatic Invasive Species in Wisconsin: Awareness, Preventative Tactics and Penalties: A Few Facts

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A Few Facts

A list of a few of the over 160 species of aquatic invaders in Wisconsin:

Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
White perch (Morone americana)
Flowering rush (Botumus umbellatus)
Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)
Spiny water flea (Bythotrephes cederstoemi)
Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)
Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

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Senior Paper!

Suppose a family is spending a weekend on a camping trip to the Ashippun Lake in Waukesha County. They drive out to the woods, park the car and head down to the water to set up the tent. While doing so, the patriarch takes a look around at the shore. There seems to be an abundance of some sort of shells. He picks one up, noticing the ‘D’ shape it has and its small size. What he might not know is that he’s holding one of the most powerful aquatic invasive species to hit the lakes and streams of Wisconsin in the last century.

In Wisconsin today there are many different kinds of aquatic invasive species affecting the waters of the state, each with their own unique characteristics and distinct qualities. Without taking the proper steps to ensure that aquatic invasive species are not getting into the waterways Wisconsin soon will be overrun with these plants animals and organisms. A species, as defined by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is considered invasive “if it has been introduced by human action to a location, area, or region where it did not previously occur naturally (i.e., is not native), becomes capable of establishing a breeding population in the new location without further intervention by humans, and spreads widely throughout the new location.” Therefore an aquatic invasive species is such a species that is in the wetlands and waterways.

In order to narrow down this subject, some of the more prominent species, two plants and two animals, will be examined. From the plants, there will be Eurasian Water milfoil and Purple Loosestrife and from the animals there will be Zebra Mussels and the Rusty Crayfish. By looking at these four aquatic invasive species and their identification qualities, how they came to Wisconsin and their history in the state there can be found a way to properly educate the public. The public needs to know how to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of these harmful species. If citizens and/or visitors of Wisconsin do not take these steps, they should be held responsible for their actions.

The penalties in the state of Wisconsin need to become harsher for ignoring or only doing the bare essentials in the process of prevention. While it might seem obvious to someone experienced in water recreation to clean one’s boat, kayak, canoe or other watercraft after use and before transporting it, some might need to be better informed as to how they can help prevent the distribution of these and other aquatic invasive species, as they are still being spread. Throughout the paper there will be several different perspectives used to look at this issue. The first perspective that will be looked at will be from an economic perspective, and by looking at how these species are affecting the trade and industry of the state of Wisconsin. Next will be a political perspective and how towns, counties and states are working together on the issue and finally at how Wisconsin’s environment is being effected by these aquatic invaders. Also being incorporated will be several values, such as community and how they are informed or could be better informed; diversity for the number of different effects that these invasive species have and how they might be eradicated; partnership how the community can work together to rid Wisconsin of these assailants; and lastly justice because of the responsibility each person has to the environment, the state, and the future to keep these sinister plants and animals at bay.

One of the more common and sometimes less easily recognized aquatic invasive plant species is Eurasian Water Milfoil (See Appendix for picture). In Wisconsin, there is a native water milfoil plant in addition to the non-native Eurasian water milfoil, which is the only non-native milfoil in Wisconsin at this time. Much like the native milfoils, the Eurasian variety has a slender stem, feathery leaves. The leaves have an almost hair like appearance and are usually of uniform diameter. Underwater, the leaves are more spread out but become flaccid when brought out of the water. The stem thickens under the water, and often it will grow to be parallel with the surface of the water causing thick mats to form in certain places with a large infestation. To the untrained eye it can be quite hard to tell the difference between the native and the Eurasian water milfoil, except only the invasive species grows very small red flowers on it that are formed above the water surface. The reddish flowers are located near the top of the plant, and are often blooming in mid to late summer months. Another way to tell the difference is by looking at the leaves. Eurasian water milfoil has 9-21 pairs of hair-like clusters per leaf, or leaflets, while Northern milfoil typically has 7-11 pairs. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) Generally, this type of water milfoil grows in less than thirty feet of water and can grow up to fifteen feet long.

First introduced around the 1960’s (to Wisconsin), Eurasian water milfoil came from Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Thought to be first introduced to American in the 1940’s, the species soon spread to Wisconsin through lakes, ponds and rivers (University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute). Unfortunately it is thought that due to someone dumping their aquarium into a lake without removing the plant, the species was introduced to the native plant life. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources⁴ in the 1980’s Eurasian water milfoil “began to move from several counties in southern Wisconsin to lakes and waterways in the northern half of the state. As of 1993, Eurasian milfoil was common in 39 Wisconsin counties (54%) and at least 75 of its lakes, including shallow bays in Lakes Michigan and Superior and Mississippi River pools.” Today, Eurasian water milfoil is present in 65 counties, including the capital county of Dane and the lakes Mendota and Monona that surround it. It has been found in well over two hundred lakes, streams, rivers and watersheds in this state alone. And while it was once much more prominent in southeastern counties, it is rapidly spreading to the northern most counties as well. The way that Eurasian water milfoil spreads is rather unique; it does not use seeds to reproduce but instead reproduces through fragmentation. The flowers produce fragments of the plant or part of it may break away and can easily be carried downstream, through a channel by water currents or unknowingly by boaters who do not clear their motors, bait buckets or bilges to name a few after using a lake.

Once it has entered a body of water, it quickly displaces native species, often in only two to three years. As mentioned previously, Eurasian water milfoil can quickly form huge mats on the water’s surface that shade-out native aquatic plants, hindering growth by blocking out the sun. Recreational activities like swimming, boating and sport fishing are also diminished on Wisconsin lakes infested with Eurasian water milfoil. Also, according to the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute , “Dense beds of Eurasian water milfoil create more hiding spaces for the small fish, so they are harder for the larger fish to catch. When there are lots of little fish they may not have enough to eat so they stay small, called stunting.” Eurasian water milfoil negatively affects plant and animal’s life in Wisconsin, many times coming close to totally destroying the different native species of the infested watershed and without proper identification it can continue to do so.

Another example of a common aquatic invasive plant species in Wisconsin is Purple Loosestrife. (See Appendix for picture) If one was alive in or before the 1970’s there may have been a purple loosestrife planted in the backyard flower garden to increase its color and to give it a more exotic look to it. Back then, the plant was not considered harmful to native plants but it soon became apparent that while ornamentally pretty, it quickly crowded out native plant and animal species. Purple loosestrife is a perennial herb that can be identified by its brightly colored flowers ranging in color from pink to a bright magenta that bloom from July to September. The stalks of the plant can reach heights from three to seven feet tall often with a dense abundant growth of 1-50 stems. The leaves are on opposite sides and are attached directly to the stalks (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). Purple loosestrife has been reported in over 65 counties in Wisconsin since it was first discovered and while it is officially considered a nuisance species, many researchers still believe that due to low densities in most areas of the state it is still in the original stage of establishment and has not reached its potential full capacity for power (Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin).

Purple Loosestrife spreads very quickly and mainly by seed, but it also can spread vegetatively (like Eurasian water milfoil) through root or stem segments. A single stalk of it has the potential to produce between 100,000 to 300,000 seeds per year. A mature plant can develop well over 40 stalks and can grow over 6 feet high with some of these adult plants producing more than two million seeds a year. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) Generally this type of plant occurs in freshwater and brackish wetlands, preferring moist soils and high temperatures. Seeds can be distributed in many ways, from water and wind to animals and humans through mud sticking to hairs or clothing. Several studies also show that even if clipped, trampled, or buried stems of established plants can produce shoots and roots. Purple loosestrife has been found to be very flexible when it comes to its habitat. Studies have shown that it has the ability to make certain adjustments to accommodate changes in the environment like if there is a decrease in light level there will be a change in the plants leaf structure so as to attain more light. When coupled with its ability to reproduce effectively by both seed distribution and vegetative spread, this plant proves to be quite aggressive (Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin).

When it comes to the effect it has on the native plants and animals, purple loosestrife can quickly choke out and displace native wetland plant life and corrupt the wildlife habitat by robbing an area of its food and shelter sources. Due again to its ability to grow quickly it can also take over large marshes, quagmires or other such area in short order. Thanks to its brightly colored blooms, purple loosestrife is becoming much more recognizable to conscientious and environmentally concerned citizens.

Many invasive plants are more visible due to their ability to be more readily seen when compared to animals; undoubtedly one of the most widely known animal aquatic invasive species is the Zebra Mussel. One can distinguish a zebra mussel from other mussels or clams by its black and white or pale yellow striped shell, “D” shape and small size (See Appendix for picture). They can be up to two inches long, but most are under an inch. Young zebra mussels are no bigger than the diameter of a human hair and are invisible to the naked eye. Because young zebra mussels are extremely small, they can spread easily by water currents and can drift for miles before settling, causing further infestation. One of the things that make zebra mussels so unique is that they are the only freshwater mollusk that can attach itself firmly to solid objects such as submerged rocks, boats or docks, and as such adults are commonly they are found in clusters of shallow water. First appearing in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, zebra mussels were first introduced to Wisconsin through the Great Lakes by ocean traveling ships they had attached themselves to or through the ship’s ballast water. They were first recorded in Lake Michigan and have now spread to well over 150 lakes and rivers. While generally there has been more of a problem with zebra mussels in counties such as Waukesha and Walworth toward the southern portion of the state, in 2003, they had spread even so far as to be plaguing the entire Wisconsin portion of the Mississippi River and had even extended Northward into to Stillwater in the St Croix River (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources).

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,

Zebra mussels usually reach reproductive maturity by the end of their first year. Reproduction occurs through spawning when sperm and eggs are released into the water. Spawning peaks at water temperatures of about 68 degrees Fahrenheit. A fertilized egg results in a free-swimming, plank tonic larva called a ‘veliger.’ This veliger remains suspended in the water column for one to five weeks, and then begins to sink, eventually attaching to a stable surface (e.g., rocks, dock pilings, aquatic weeds, water intakes, boat hulls) on which to live, grow and reproduce. They attach to these surfaces using adhesive structures called byssal threads. Zebra mussels feed by drawing water into their bodies and filtering out most of the suspended microscopic plants, animals and debris for food.

While they feed, they remove certain organisms and particles from the water, causing a clearing of the water. As the water clears light can penetrate deeper into the water causing light sensitive fish such as walleye to move to deeper waters than they are traditionally found. Greater light penetration can also allow weed beds to increase both in density and depth and algae may form on the lake or river bed do to the organic matter that the zebra mussel produces.

If one is a boat enthusiast, more precautions need to be taken such as not leaving your craft in the water for the entire summer because zebra mussels may attach themselves to the submerged portion of your boat’s hull and motor. If you find any attached to your hull or motor, you will need to scrape or clean them off with a pressure sprayer while it is out of the water. Zebra mussels may also get into your water intake pipes and can clog or considerably slow down the flow of water into the pipe. Zebra mussels can colonize water intake grids and sea lockers on boats as well and cause the craft to become less effective in the water. Without the proper identification of zebra mussels, they may spread to every county, lake and river in Wisconsin.

The final aquatic invasive species this paper is highlighting is a relatively new and arguably much lesser known aquatic invasive species called the Rusty Crayfish. First thought to be introduced to Wisconsin in the 1950’s, the Rusty crayfish is actually native to the Southern United States. Generally, researchers believe that the rusty crayfish was first introduced to new areas in Wisconsin by fishermen using them as bait and/ or by the release of them from aquariums (Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute).

When looking for Rusty crayfish, they can be identified by their strong claws and by dark, rusty spots on each side of their exterior (See Appendix for picture). The spots are located as though a person picked up the crayfish with their forefinger and thumb near its tail. Adults reach a maximum length of 4 inches. Males are larger than females upon maturity and both sexes have larger, heartier, claws than most native crayfish. Claws are smooth, with grayish-green to reddish-brown coloration. Rusty crayfish can be found in streams, lakes, and ponds with varying bed composition ranging from silt to rocks.

In order to thrive, it needs plenty of debris to cover and protect itself and also must be permanently in water. The breeding of Rusty crayfish occurs in the fall and the eggs are laid the following spring, hatching within several weeks. The introduction of one female carrying viable sperm from a male to an area could start a new population, as females can lay from 80-575 eggs that hatch in 3-6 weeks depending on the water temperature (Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute)

As for their food, Rusty crayfish are considered opportunistic feeders. They feed on a variety of aquatic plants, benthic invertebrates (like aquatic, snails, clams and aquatic insects), detritus (decaying plants and animals including associated bacteria and fungi), fish eggs, and small fish. Because of their insatiable appetite, the Rusty crayfish often destroys native plant abundance and diversity and can cause damages to habitats important for fish spawning deprive native fish of their prey. Studies have shown that Rusty crayfish will cut plant stems as they feed, and incidentally enough often times will cut the stems of the Eurasian water milfoil plant. Much of the plant then floats away. As mentioned previously, Eurasian water milfoil has the ability and often does spread and reproduce by plant fragmentation; allowing the Rusty crayfish to potentially accelerate its spread. In addition, Eurasian water milfoil is more likely to establish itself in areas where rusty crayfish have disrupted the native plant community (Minnesota Sea Grant Institute).

Rusty crayfish are a nuisance species because they often displace the native or existing crayfish species because of their extremely aggressive manner. Ultimately, this could result in less food for fish. Crayfish are eaten by fish, but because of their thick shell relative to their soft tissue, the food quality is not as high as many of the invertebrates that they replace. Less food or lower food quality means slower growth, which can reduce fish survival. (Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force) Perhaps the most serious impact caused by the species is the destruction of aquatic plant beds. Rusty crayfish have been shown to reduce aquatic plant abundance and species diversity due to (unlike other crayfish that eat aquatic plants) the Rusty crayfish having such larger appetite as previously mentioned. Submerged aquatic plants are important in these systems for being a habitat for invertebrates which provide for the ducks and fish and shelter for such fish and game and pan fish. Because they have the potential to deplete fish and plant populations, it seems like now when the species is relatively lesser known to the average citizen that more action could be taken to ensure that their population does not increase.

The many different kinds of aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin each have their own individual affects on the environment, but in addition they also have an affect on the economy of the state, and in different ways. By preventing their introduction and spread many of these costs could be avoided.

The first way that aquatic invasive species negatively affect the economy in Wisconsin is through its tourism. Wisconsin's nearly 15,000 lakes and close to 45,000 miles of streams and rivers are among some of the state's most valuable natural resources (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). The abundance, diversity, and quality of Wisconsin’s aquatic resources provide the cornerstone of the state’s almost $13 billion annual travel and tourism industry, in addition to a wide range of ecosystem services, recreational opportunities, and aesthetic benefits. If these aquatic invaders are not stopped, the impact on the tourism of Wisconsin could be more expensive. With the case of Zebra mussels alone, beaches may become fouled with shells of dead mussels which can cut the feet of swimmers and the odor of dead mussels is quite foul and overpowering. If an area were to be effected by them that bring in a lot of tourism profits to the state, the outcome could be disastrous.

For example, in 2007 the county of Milwaukee had almost $1.7 billion in travel expenditures alone which is the most of any county in Wisconsin (Travel Wisconsin). However, in this county all of the aquatic invasive species identified in this paper have been found. If the county were to be overrun by these and/or more aquatic invasive species, it would be frightening what the impact to the economy could potentially be. Until control of aquatic invasive species is adequate, our state's tourism industry, local economies, and town tax revenues associated with shoreline property values are all in jeopardy.

Another major effect of aquatic invasive species is the costs that are incurred for extraction and prevention. In the case again of Zebra mussels alone, it could potentially cost Wisconsin quite a lot more. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:

In 2001, for example, Wisconsin Electric Power Company reported that they were spending $1.2 million per year in the control of zebra mussels on their Lake Michigan power plants. Lock and dam operators on the Mississippi River and raw water users have also incurred costs. The estimated annual cost of controlling zebra mussels in the Great Lakes now range from $100 to $400 million.

In addition to this, individual lakes may have to spend tens of thousands of dollars per year alone in order to control invasive plant and animals. Again, when looking at power plants, they and other industries completely or moderately dependant on water spend millions of dollars keeping Zebra mussels out of their water intake pipes, where larva and young mussels may attach themselves and cause a clog. Looking more beyond just Wisconsin and its operations are the Great Lakes. Annually they support a more than $4 billion fishing industry that is also threatened by current and future aquatic invasive species. Currently there are more than 160 different species in the lakes (Great Lakes Commission). It is chilling to think that these are merely a few of the costs for controlling only one of the many aquatic invasive species in the state of Wisconsin. When looking at prevention costs for the Zebra mussel, it is thought that the cost would be extremely high but could be cut down with the help of fines from boaters and fisher-people that do not take the proper steps in prevention.

With Eurasian water milfoil, control is very expensive and eradication is virtually impossible. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Eurasian water milfoil annual cost for prevention is around $147,000 for Watercraft inspection, $116,000 for monitoring (however this process also covers Zebra mussels, Spiny water fleas, blue-green algae and Rusty crayfish as well as Eurasian water milfoil) and also contracts with the University of Wisconsin research department costs are $22,000.

The cost for prevention/extraction of Purple Loosestrife is also rather large. By using the eastern United States as an example (due to their comparative number of infestations), approximately $45 million dollars are being spent annually. Some scientists have proposed simply “letting it be”, however in the long run this is more than likely more expensive than attempting to eradicate it. Bio-control is quite a bit less expensive than using chemical or mechanical means to control the spread of the plant (Thompson et al). Lastly, the prevention and eradication costs of the Rusty Cray fish unfortunately have yet to be collected completely to show an accurate enough monetary estimate, however due to the fact that the species is found in much of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Illinois, it more than likely won’t be long until such figures have been correctly compiled.

The cost of informing citizens may seem like a large number, but in the grand scheme of things, it is much smaller than what the numbers would be should the public not be informed. For starters, outreach grants run for $106,000 and are used for information and education outreach and lastly Aquatic Invasive Species Grants used for early detection, education and cost-shares total $816,133. There are also costs for training the volunteers of the Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteer watercraft inspection program which annually is around $91,000. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

By keeping these aquatic nuisances at bay and under control, Wisconsin and its citizens and visitors will not have to run the risk of damaging the lakes and waterways for future generations to enjoy, not will they have to hurt the states economy.

Not only do aquatic invasive species potentially have a dismal negative effect on the economy of the state of Wisconsin, they also pose a threat to lawmakers in the state. With an abundance of lakes and rivers plus the added shores of Great Lakes Michigan and Superior, many lawmakers are finding it difficult to come up with the correct methods of handling the invasion of aquatic invasive species. By working between different congressional and senatorial districts, states and even in conjunction with Canadian forces, lawmakers in the state of Wisconsin are coming up with a solution for a better tomorrow that is free or nearly free of these assailants. At the county level, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen was recently asked by a citizen of the state if counties themselves may enact ordinances in order to help stop the transportation of aquatic invasive plant life between different bodies of water by boats or their trailers. The Attorney General looked up various statutes in the law books and determined that while this was possible, the county also had to be sure that the ordinance did not go over any state laws or ordinances (Wisconsin Department of Justice).

At the state level, laws have been passed that are helping to deter the further spread of aquatic invasive species from lake to lake, stream to river. Under Wisconsin Statutes chapter 23 titled ‘Conservation’ and under section 22 of that statute entitled Invasive Species, the law states:

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), any person who violates a rule promulgated under sub. (2) (b) 6., or any permit issued under those rules, shall forfeit not more than $200.(b) Any person who intentionally violates any rule promulgated under sub. (2) (b) 6. or any permit issued under those rules shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000, or shall be imprisoned for not less than 6 months nor more than 9 months or both. (c) A person who violates a rule promulgated under sub. (2) (b) 6. or any permit issued under those rules and who, within 5 years before the arrest of the current conviction, was previously convicted of a violation of a rule promulgated under sub. (2) (b) 6. or any permit issued under those rules shall be fined not less than $700 nor more than $2,000 or shall be imprisoned for not less than 6 months nor more than 9 months or both.

This means that if anyone violates one of the rules that are part of subsection two parts b six or a permit issued under it, they must pay a fine of $200. If the do so intentionally, the have to pay at least a $1,000 to $5,000 fine or they may spend between six and nine months in jail, or receive both the fine and the jail time. If the person has previously violated this law in the last five years, then they will be fined no less then $700 or more than $2,000 and will have the same possibility for jail time as before.

In addition to the above law, under the section 23.225 titled Invasive Fish Species, law goes on to detail:

(2) No person may possess, release, control, store, sell, or transport any fish, or viable fish eggs, that are of an invasive fish species if the person knows, or should know, that the fish or the eggs are of an invasive fish species.

(3) The prohibitions under sub. (2) do not apply to any of the following: (a) A person who holds a scientific collector permit under s.

29.614. (b) A person who holds a permit to import fish under s. 29.735.

(c) A person who holds a permit to introduce, plant, or stock fish under s. 29.736. (e) A person who operates a state or municipal fish hatchery.

(f) A person who is authorized by the department to possess, release, control, sell, or transport fish or fish eggs for scientific or educational purposes or for the purpose of controlling the population of fish that are of an invasive fish species. (g) A person who, while lawfully fishing, inadvertently catches a fish that is of an invasive fish species. (4) The department shall promulgate rules specifying fish that are of an invasive fish species for purposes of this section and the requirements for sub. (3) (g). (5) Any person who violates sub. (2) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.

This fundamentally means that anyone who is not a part of the exceptions in part 3 and violate sub. 2 will be fined no more than $1,000. Going on in the Statute, Wisconsin law next lays out an entire section devoted to Purple Loosestrife and punishing a violator of each of the laws to no more than $100. In section 23.24, Aquatic plants, there is further detail into the consequences of violating the established laws and offers up penalties very closely resembling those of section 22. Lastly under this statute, section 23.245 deals with the transportation of these invasive species saying: (2) No person may transport a boat, boat trailer, or boating equipment upon a highway if the boat, boat trailer, or boating equipment has an invasive species, as specified by the department by rule, in, or attached to, the boat, boat trailer, or boating equipment. (3) The prohibition under sub. (2) does not apply to the persons described under s. 23.225 (3). (4) Any person who violates sub. (2) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.

Under a new law, game wardens or other state law enforcement officers are allowed to prohibit someone from placing a boat in the water if aquatic plants or zebra mussels are attached to the boat. Boaters who violate the new law also face a $50.00 fine for the first offense and up to $100.00 for each subsequent offense within the same year. (Wisconsin State Legislature)

In the past, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources required citizens to have a permit to control aquatic plant life only when chemicals were used in order to do so or when physical control involved methods that were regulated by the Wisconsin Statute, Chapter 30, "Navigable Waters, Harbors and Navigation". As of September 2001, the legislature passed a bill to further protect Wisconsin’s invaluable aquatic plant communities. The result is the Natural Resources statute, “Aquatic Plants: Introduction, Manual Removal and Mechanical Control Regulations”. This ensures regulation by both mechanical and manual control of aquatic plants. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) However, the question has to be asked if harsh enough penalties are being made. Obviously aquatic invasive species are very much so present in this day and age, so is there enough being done? In order to engage fully in the fight against aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin, there should be stricter laws and more penalties in place for the distribution of aquatic invasive species, especially if it is done willingly and will full knowledge of the event.

Between states and also the United States and Canada to an extent, there have been several committees that have been formed to further stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. One such committee is the Great Lakes Commission. The members of this group consist of three to five members from each of the eight Great Lakes states with associate member status for the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec. Each member group is made up of senior agency officials, legislators and/or appointees of the governor or premier. (Great Lakes Commission) In addition to this group, there are also many groups that are based in specific Great Lakes States, such as the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute that also work with the other surrounding states’ Sea Grant Institutes to work towards finding new and different ways to prevent, control and eradicate aquatic invasive species.

After looking at how different committees and policymakers are working together we can look at how the environment of Wisconsin has been damaged by aquatic invasive species, specifically at the species that are aforementioned. This can help citizens see how difficult a task lawmakers and policymakers are subjected to and what they have to consider in order to help the state and its environment.

Eurasian water milfoil grows so fast that it can reduce the amount of light in a lake or pond. By reducing the light in the lake or pond, the entire environmental balance of the waterbed will be disrupted. Not only will native plants not be able to thrive and reproduce, but the native fish populations will be hindered and depleted. The fish that are left over will have little food, shelter and predators, so they may starve and cease to flourish.

Purple Loosestrife is a very resilient perennial and destructive plant that invades wetlands. One of the main ways that it effects the environment of Wisconsin is that it crowds out native plants from their natural habitat and takes it over. After taking over the native plant life in short order, there is little to no food has very little nutrition value for animals. The plant can also be detrimental to recreation by choking waterways and thus further hindering that environment as well. Purple loosestrife can also negatively affect land plants and animals by taking away from their habitat as well and limiting their food sources from the water. (Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin)

Zebra Mussels are very dangerous to Wisconsin’s environment in a number of ways. First, the Zebra mussel significantly depletes the number of native mussels that are in an area by attaching themselves to it and stealing its food supplies. The Zebra mussel feeds on plankton and reduces food for young fish and can lead to algae blooms, further hurting the environment of the waterways and their inhabitants. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) By filtering out the plankton the water becomes clearer and allows for more light to penetrate deeper into the water. Light sensitive fish such as walleye may move to deeper waters than traditionally found. Greater light penetration can also allow weed beds to increase both in density and depth. This can cause a problem both with boating and recreational activities, but it also can make it easier for smaller fish to evade larger fish that may be preying on them. As well as being filter feeders, Zebra mussels, according to the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant also mussels are bioaccumulators; they accumulate contaminants present in the water at three to five or as much as 10 times the concentration in the water. As the zebra mussels themselves become food for fish and birds the concentration of the contaminants can increase in successive steps as they pass up the food chain.

Finally, Rusty crayfish may have a negative effect on ecosystem composition and structure. They have a wide-ranging appetite and tend to eat small fish, fish eggs, and insects and/or invertebrates. In addition to animals, the Rusty crayfish also eats native aquatic vegetation which damages certain habitats that are important for fish spawning, protection and a food source. These aquatic invaders also destroy plant bed abundance and diversity. They displace native crayfish both through competition and by forcing them out of hiding places which increases the fish predation on natives. Some fear swimming in heavily infested waters for fear of getting pinched thus causing a loss of some of the aesthetic appeal for those environments.(University of Wisconsin Sea Grant)

After looking at how the four different aquatic invasive species detailed above and their impact on the environment, it may be natural to be concerned and wonder how these and more of the aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin may be extracted or prevented from spreading. First of all, in general it is always a good idea to talk to the local Department of Natural Resources staff members in the area. They can instruct concerned citizens as to how they can help out with a specific invasive species or with many species.

Another way that citizens can get involved is to become a part of the Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer program. This program is sponsored by the DNR, UW Extension, and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes. The program offers training on how to organize a watercraft inspection program, how to inspect boats and equipment, and how to interact with the public when dealing with these issues. Volunteers are also encouraged to help monitor for aquatic invasive species and are given the necessary tools to aid them in this process.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, if concerned citizens want to help prevent aquatic invasive species from infesting lakes and rivers in their area, they can do so by attending one of the many workshops held throughout the state during the spring and summer to learn how to become a volunteer watercraft inspector.

For those who choose to participate in the workshops, they will learn all about aquatic invasive species and how they can help boaters check their boats for the most common places that invasive species stow away on boats, boat trailers, bait buckets and other water recreation equipment.

The most common way that zebra mussels, Eurasian water-milfoil and other invasive aquatic species get introduced to new lakes and become established is being transported aboard boats, boat trailers, bait buckets or in bilge water. This is why there are laws in place to punish those who do not abide by the laws. If more people were trained in the watercraft inspection program perhaps the spread of aquatic invasive species could be stopped.

Last year, the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program trained more than 350 volunteers in 38 counties. As of February 2005, volunteers had spent 1,103 hours at boat launches, contacted more than 5,000 boaters, and helped them inspect more than 2,400 boats. (Clean Boats, Clean Water)

The first step toward the prevention of the aquatic invaders is to become a well informed citizen. Without the efforts of citizens, the state would not be nearly as affective as it has been so far at keeping these plants and animals from taking over out native species.

In Wisconsin today, there are many different aquatic invasive species. Some have been here for quite sometime, some have not. Several different ways to keep the invaders at bay have come to light, and quite a bit of time and money has been spent by both experts in this field and by ordinary citizens that just wanted to help the state of Wisconsin out. The first step towards beating these aquatic invaders is to be informed and to be able to help others become informed. Other things than can be done are just as simple as donating to the Department of Natural Resources volunteer programs or helping by taking part in the Clean Boats, Clean Water initiative. Although there are many efforts that are being made, Wisconsin citizens need to work together in order to stand a chance against aquatic invasive species. If this does not happen, the future of the native aquatic plants and animals may be in grave danger.

In the Human Issues section of this paper, the values and perspectives have been periodically used throughout. The personal engagement is separate from the paper and is in a blog. The address is: http://aquaticinvasivespeciesinwisconsin.blogspot.com/

Aquatic Invasive Species in Wisconsin: Awareness, Preventative Tactics and Penalties

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A Few Facts

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