HomeMy WebLinkAboutAquatic Invasive Species Committee - Minutes - 2/28/2013Bayfield County
Aquatic Invasive Species
Committee
Chair: Nan Olson
Vice Chair: John Kudlas
K:\AIS\Admin\Meetings\Committee\Minutes\2013
Present: William Bussey, Nan Olson, John Kudlas, and Mike Defoe
Staff: Jeremy Bates – AIS Project Coordinator, Bayfield County
Minutes(to be approved)
Thursday February 28th, 2013 at 1:00 pm.
1. Call to Order: Nan Olson 1:00 pm
2. Introduction of new Invasive Staff (NCWMA Coordinator): Pamela Roberts introduced herself and
gave a brief background of her position with the NCWMA
3. Motion to approve Minutes of Sept 6th, 2012 meeting by Bill, second by John. Motion carried
4. Update on county AIS activities;
a. AIS Coordinator’s update (on File)- John Kudlas mentioned that participation with the Barnes
Eco-Education Program needed to be added to Jeremy’s activities on the report. It is great news that
Milfoil Man has been so successful in getting the AIS message out. Maybe use it at the Barnes AIS
Conference in April.
Discussion of the Lake Owen Comprehensive planning project: Jeremy will work with this group in
development of their plan, but this cannot be considered match as both projects are funded by DNR
grants.
b. CBCW update- (Included in AIS Coordinators update) Iron river CBCW program will require some
additional funds this year to keep the project at the same level as last year. Some funding from the
county AIS project will be used to supplement this grant. There will still be a difference of
approximately $1,500. Jeremy plans to request financial support from the Lake Associations which
are involved in this project. Nan suggested this be done sooner than later and a request should be
submitted by the end of April.
c. George Lake update- Jeremy provided a recap on EWM discovery and control in George Lake.
Follow up work will be done this summer. This should include a point intercept survey. Jeremy will
ask Michelle Nault with the DNR if she would be interested in doing this. Other options are to seek
funding from the DNR or Jeremy and John will conduct the survey themselves. Jeremy also
suggested we use this work to develop an aquatic plant management plan on George Lake.
d. Eco-Ed project at Drummond; John Kudlas spoke about the field trip with Drummond School 7th
graders. This is the 4th consecutive year of the program. Modules for it are always expanding. Last
year a tree aging portion was added, and this year a rain garden is a possibility. The education
committee is working on developing their own website to share the curriculum. It is currently
available on the Town of Barnes website. Canoes on wheels has been a very important partner in
both the Eco Education program and at the Cable Natural History Museum. John provided an article
to the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine and Jeremy will email the published article to the
committee.
5. Summer Interns and CBCW; Two interns will be hired this summer to work a minimum of 200 hours
each at the Bayfield and Washburn boat landings. Work will also include boat inspections at other boat
landings, data entry, possibly work at marinas/Lake Superior Shoreline, and control work. We will look
to Northland College for filling these positions as they offer $3/hr in matching funds.
6. Next AIS grant project application; A timeline was developed for completing the next application for
funding of the County AIS project. Current funding will last until the end of September.
April 1- Committee Priorities emailed to Coordinator (Jeremy will solicit responses to an online
questionnaire)
May 1- Draft Complete of application for DNR AIS funds
June 1- Committee emails comments to coordinator on project draft
June 15 (AIS Committee meeting)-Committee reviews final draft of project
July 1- Project submitted to DNR partners for review
Aug 1-Final Application Submitted
7. Upcoming Events
a. Lakes Convention; Jeremy highlighted some of the relevant workshops at this convention. The
committee will decide via email who will attend the convention by March 15th.
b. Summer Workshops- 3 CBCW workshops, 2 CLMN AIS monitoring workshops, 1 Project RED
(AIS monitoring for rivers) workshop, and 1 Zebra Mussel Workshop
c. AIS roundtable- Nan suggested that Jeremy’s time would be better spent meeting with smaller
groups on a local level. While the committee agrees with this, it is still believed there is some benefit
to having a roundtable to make initial contact with lake groups and for them to have a dialogue about
AIS with each other. The priority will be for Jeremy to meet with smaller groups but if time allows he
should have a roundtable as well. John suggested Jeremy canvas the contacts at these groups to
find out if they would be an interest in having a roundtable and when would be an ideal time.
d. Other Events- Nan suggested that if Jeremy came out to Long Lake, a significant group of people
would want to go out on the boat for a pontoon classroom. Jeremy will look into planning an event
like this. Nan said Milfoil man should be used in the Barnes 4th of July parade.
8. Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area update/ Boat wash discussion; Pam Roberts
will be coordinating the NCWMA boat wash schedule this year and will supervise two interns for this.
The boat wash will be used in the counties of Douglas, Ashland, Iron, and Bayfield. It will be used at
boat landings but also for demonstration at events like the Fair and Kids Fishing Day. Nan and John
suggested we use it at the AIS Conference in Barnes on April 20th as well. Discussion followed on
whether a boat wash would be of enough benefit for Bayfield County to have their own. Further would
a boat for surveys or a washer be more beneficial. Conclusion was they both would be worth looking
into, but other solutions are available such as lake residents willing to donate their boat for a day.
9. Public Comment; none
10. Next meeting (set meetings tentatively for rest of 2013); Meeting dates were tentatively set for April
17th, June 12th, and October 9th. This dates will be confirmed after coordination with other committee
members.
11. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn by John Kudlas