Aquatic Invasive Species Newsletter-June 2021

Interested in volunteer work this summer?  The Waukesha County AIS team has some openings for you below!

Volunteer Opportunities:

AIS Snaphot Day August 21st 9 am to 12 pm

Water-lovers from across the state join force to search for aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin’s rivers, streams and lakes. Volunteers are provided training in the morning, the supplies needed to search for aquatic invasive species and the list of sites they will monitor.

For more information contact: ehanson@waukeshacounty.gov.

Starry Stonewort Control!

Help control Starry Stonework in Little Cedar Lake and limit the risk of it spreading to other lakes in Washington and Waukesha Counties. The Little Cedar Lake Protection and Rehab District (PRD) needs your help.

What-Invasive Species Pull

  • Divers pull weeds
  • Kayakers haul pulled weeds to shore
  • Shore helpers load wheel barrels and dump weeds

Where-Little Cedar Lake Ackermann’s Grove

When- 8 am to 1 pm

July 17th, Rain Date July 18th

August 7th Rain Date August 8th

For More Information Contact: Little Cedar Lake PRD <lclprd@gmail.com>

As always, for more detailed information, please visit the Waukesha County website at www.waukeshacounty.gov/AIS to learn more!

 

Next LLBMD Meeting: October 21, 2021

The next regular meeting of the LLBMD is scheduled for October 21, 2021 at 7PM at the Town of Oconomowoc Town Hall.

You are invited to the meeting! The agenda for the next regular meeting can be found on the Meetings & Events page.

Starry Stonewort Awareness Week, August 15 – 22- Are You Interested In Learning More?

This event is conducted by the Waukesha County AIS team and provides instructions on how you can test the waters in your backyard for Starry Stonewort. Throughout the week, we will have professionals on hand to verify species, take in samples of suspect SSW, and look at any suspect pictures you may have to see if further investigation is needed. 

The benefits of having this week-long event are:

  • Keeps consistency in documentation and observation
  • Gives us strong data to see trends over multiple years

Contact Samantha Lammers for more information, reporting instructions, and lake testing equipment: SamanthaLammers@co.washington.wi.us

Correction: Nighttime Speed Limit On Lac La Belle Is 10 MPH

It has come to our attention that the back side of the recently distributed Annual Meeting Agenda & Budget Hearing Notice contained an error in the nighttime speed limit for Lac La Belle.  It was incorrectly noted as being “Slow No Wake” from sunset to sunrise.  It should have stated 10 MPH is the speed limit from sunset to sunrise.  Thank you to those that provided correction.  Have a great time on the lake day or night!  Drive safely.

Suggestions For Non-Lethal Wildlife Control – Muskrats

Kent Stein, Senior Cruelty Caseworker for PETA, an animal protection organization, offers the following suggestions for non-lethal wildlife control:
“Successful long-term wildlife control requires targeting the environment (vs. the animal) by making it unappealing and/or inaccessible to unwanted wildlife. In order to effectively deter muskrats, residents should curtail food sources by spraying vegetation with rodent repellents such as Ropel® on a monthly basis; flagging treated vegetation will condition animals to avoid the plants after repellents have worn off. Protect saplings using corrugated plastic or Kevlar tubes/sleeves and/or cage plants with 3-foot tall wire mesh/hardware cloth offset by at least 6 inches. Install chicken wire or hardware cloth (pre-treated with automobile undercoat paint or other rustproof paint to prevent corrosion) flat against the soil and extending three-feet above and below the water line to prevent burrowing/excavating on banks.”

Do You Need Muskrats Removed From Your Shoreline?

If you are like many lakeshore property owners you have probably spotted muskrats swimming near your shoreline in warmer months. Sometimes they can become a nuisance for landowners by causing shoreland to cave in over their burrows. This activity can erode your shoreline or cause sinkholes in your lawn. Arnold Groehler is an Animal Damage Control Trapper authorized as an agent by the DNR to remove muskrats from your shoreline. Permission to access your property is required. Arnold typically begins trapping muskrats in early spring (February or March) when the ice first goes off the lake. If you are in need of his service, he can be reached by email at jmgroehler@aol.com or by phone at 262-490-9363.