HomeMy WebLinkAboutAquatic Invasive Species Committee - Minutes - 12/7/2021MINUTES
December 7th, 2021 (to be approved)
Present: Nan Olson-Chair, to be determined-Vice Chair, Reed Saam-Red Cliff Treaty Natural Resources
Division, Steve Sandstrom-Board of Supervisor District #, Sally Pease-Friends of the Eau Claire
Lakes Association/Town of Barnes AIS Committee; Ben Dufford-Director of Land & Water
Conservation Dept.; Andrew Teal-AIS Coordinator, Mike Higgins-Pike Chain of Lakes Association
Board, & Melissa Kraft-LWCD Assistant
Absent: David Zepczyk-Board of Supervisor District #11; Ramona Shackleford-NCWMA Coordinator
Nan Olson called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
Introductions: Introduction’s roundtable.
Discussion/possible action on: Nan opened nominations for Vice chair. Sally Pease noted she would be interested.
Nan opened nominations. Steve Sandstrom nominated Sally Pease as Vice Chair. Nan called for other nominations
(3x). No other nominations were made. Nominations closed. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None.
Motion: Approve minutes from August 18th, 2021. Steve Sandstrom/Sally Pease, with one change noted to the future
meeting date as it was needed to be changed to accommodate attendance availability. – motion carried.
Grant Updates: Andy gave update on AIS grant current balance. He discussed the new AIS grant #7 that was
applied for in the amount of $20,090; however, we don’t know if that will be a consistent amount year-to-year, or if it will
be approximately that much. Andy completed the paperwork for grant reimbursement for the 2020/2021 CBCW-Iron
River grant and sent it to Melissa for submission to the DNR with the additional supporting documents needed.
Nan noted that North Lakes Community Clinic will not be able to process the payroll for the CBCW-Iron River grant for
2022. Nan has a town meeting next week to discuss the possibility of the Town of Tripp’s willingness to taking over the
payroll process for 2022 for the CBCW interns.
Ben explained that Bayfield County will offset Andy’s position in the amount that is not funded by the AIS#7 grant
award, however he noted we will try and maintain the position as a 50/50 split workload. Andy stated that most of the
dollars applied for in the AIS#7 grant will go towards Andy’s position. Since the grant is not considered a competitive
grant, as in the past, there are some changes to reporting. One example is that match is not required for AIS grant#7
as it was in the past. Another is that reporting will be mostly in the form of check boxes for tasks completed, as
opposed to long written reports.
Steve stated he will advocate for the county to take on the funding to maintain the AIS program to ensure that it will
continue even if grant funds aren’t available. He asked that Andy compile necessary information to support it. Andy
stated he will get letters of support from Lakes Associations etc., and Reed added that he will seek a letter from Red
Cliff as well possibly from the Treaty Natural Resources Division or the Tribal Chair. Steve also asked Andy for a list of
AIS future project ideas so that Steve can present them prior to budget discussions for 2023 (this would likely need to
be done before the February 2022 meeting). Steve also discussed the carbon sequestration program that Bayfield
County has created, starting in 2022. It’s the first program like it in the State of Wisconsin, and only the third in the
nation. He mentioned that it may be possible to look into that as a possible funding source for the program.
Andy discussed the Midwest Glacial Lake Partnership grant for proposal requests for 2023. He stated that erosion
control, lakeshore restoration work, and native plantings, are a few that could be the focus of projects. The grant
amounts available to apply for are $30,000-$100,000 with typical funding for 3-5 projects annually. Reed suggested
fish passage work that could be done if that falls under the AIS prospective. Andy noted he could check with DNR to
see their position.
AIS Coordinator Report. Andy Teal discussed his report in detail which is on file. He noted that beginning 2022 his
position will officially be 100% a county position. He will continue to work with mitigation/AutoCAD projects along with
his typical AIS projects. He noted he will continue to work with Land Records for drone work located and documenting
invasives. He gave an update on area invasives found, control attempts and discussed some samples that were sent
in for positive identification, such as early detection surveys on Iron Lake (finding Chinese mystery snails, purple
loosestrife, and yellow iris) and Lake Ruth (confirmed a report of freshwater jellyfish). The samples were of a species of
watermilfoil, collected from Delta and Hay Lakes in the Town of Delta, which Andy took to Alex Selle at the DNR.
Andy noted that LEEP day went well with some minor changes with fewer modules due to holding two half-day
sessions and splitting up the seventh and eighth grades versus the typical full day. Sally noted the students seemed to
be more focused with that type of format.
Andy announced the upcoming future AIS activities that are scheduled.
Partner/Department Reports:
Nan Olson- Suggested that Andy write a Thank-You letter to North Lakes Community Clinic for their help processing
the payroll for the CBCW-Iron Lakes inspectors.
Sally Pease- Conservation Club completed the barrier system around the Eurasian watermilfoil for herbicide treatment
at the Tomahawk Lake.
Reed Saam- Discussed his concern with the Viking Ocean Cruises ship service coming from various Great Lakes, such
as Lake Michigan, that plans to dock at Bayfield on Lake Superior next summer. He did not read anything that
discussed a decontamination plan to ensure that they will not bring in invasives on the boat or in ballast water. He
suggested the AIS Committee contact the City of Bayfield Harbor Commission to discuss the concern to make sure
there is an AIS decontamination plan in place. Andy asked if the cruise line would follow one regular loop, or if cruises
would be moving in at least two directions around Lake Superior, increasing the potential of AIS moving to new ports.
Ramona Shackleford- Unable to attend meeting.
Future AIS/Surface Water Activities:
a. WI Lakes Partnership Convention, April 6-8, 2022, in Stevens Point
b. Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference, June 17, 2022, potentially in person and online
c. Town of Barnes CBCW and Shoreline Monitoring training, April 22, and May 20, 2022
d. AIS Snapshot Day, August 20, 2022, rendezvous site TBD
e. Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference, KI Convention Center, Green Bay, October 25-27, 2022
Adjournment: Meeting ended at 10:17 a.m.
Future meeting date(s) for regular AIS Committee meeting:
• Feb. 16th, 2022 at 9AM in the EOC.
• May 18th, 2022 at 9AM in the EOC
• Aug 17th, 2022 at 9AM in the EOC
• Nov 16th, 2022 at 9AM in the EOC