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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAquatic Invasive Species Committee - Minutes - 2/15/2023MINUTES February 15th, 2023 (to be approved) Present: Sally Pease-Vice Chair & Friends of the Eau Claire Lakes Association; Reed Saam-Red Cliff Treaty Natural Resources Division; Larry Fickbohm-County Board Supervisor; John Rautio-County Board Supervisor; Andrew Teal-AIS Coordinator/Surface Water Conservation Technician; Ramona Shackleford-Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area Coordinator; & Melissa Kraft-LWCD Assistant Absent: Nan Olson-Chair; Ben Dufford-Director of Land & Water Conservation Dept.; Mike Higgins-Town of Iron River-Pike Chain of Lakes Association Board; Jim Giffin-Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District in Douglas County; Alex Selle-Lake Superior AIS Coordinator w/ DNR Sally Pease-Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Introductions: No introductions needed. Public Comment: None. Approval of Minutes from 11-16-22: Motion by John Rautio, 2nd by Larry Fickbohm, to approve the minutes from November 16th, 2022. Motion carried. Grant Updates: The 2023 CBCW-IR Lakes grant application was submitted. We should hear back this week whether we received the grant award. Andy reminded group that the Iron River Pike Chain of Lakes Association Treasurer John Coffey agreed to process the payroll for 2023 for the Clean Boats Clean Waters-Iron River Lakes grant. The LMPN/AIS#8 grant application was submitted and we should hear more by the end of the week if we are grant approved for 2023. The amount of the grant award should be close to the same amount as last year of $20,090.27. AIS Coordinator Report. Andy Teal discussed his report, in detail, which is on file. Additional discussion on zebra-mussel forum that Andy attended online on MS TEAMS. Basically, they covered identification, methods for managing populations, and future focuses. Bayfield County Lakes Forum (BCLF) met and Andy participated in that meeting to provide updates from his end, mostly big picture things that have been done since fall 2019 (BCLF could not meet due to COVID). BCLF Directors had questions about Pigeon Lake regarding dead trees because of the high water levels. These were of concern during that meeting and Andy is waiting to hear back from the Zoning Dept. and DNR office regarding those questions posed, because the trees exist above the ordinary high water mark (which is Zoning’s coverage area), but it was extraordinarily high water that caused the tree deaths, and felling them could drop them into the lake (DNR’s coverage area). During the BCLF meeting, one of the Directors also expressed interest in joining the Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference Planning Committee, and she attended her first meeting on February 13th. Partner/Department Reports: Ramona Shackleford-NCWMA Coordinator- Ramona discussed her report, which is on file. She noted we are waiting to hear from the U.S. Forest Service on a grant that was applied for last November. She noted we have a 5-year knotweed grant that we have funds for, which partly funds the summer interns. There are a few cooperative weed management area private forest grants which are mostly for managing garlic mustard and invasive buckthorn. Ramona talked about a presentation she did at the Upper Midwest Invasive Species conference on Butterfly Dock that can grow along water. It is in Marquette, MI along the rivers there and has been found at a site in Superior that they treated. It has been found in other areas of Wisconsin and been treated. People can buy this plant off the internet so it can get away and spread quickly. There is a 2nd species, Japanese Butterfly Dock, which isn’t on Wisconsin’s NR 40 list of invasive species, but there is an infestation by Copper Falls State Park which was planted. If anyone is interested, the next NCWMA meeting is April 5th in the EOC. Ramona noted she anticipates hiring two seasonal interns that will work Wednesday-Sunday. She hopes to have them do invasive species work Wed-Fri and Sat-Sun they will use the boat wash unit at the boat landings. The advertisement for the intern positions closes February 26th. She has been using a website called Handshake where you can connect with different colleges and students that have an account list their resume, so employers can invite them to apply for positions. Ramona is in the process of putting together contracts for knotweed treatments. Some of the money will go towards having a contractor to treat the knotweed. She also has a contractor lined up to treat garlic mustard in Iron County along the Montreal River and treat buckthorn in Bayfield County. Garlic mustard isn’t technically an aquatic invasive species; however, it tends to grow along rivers and is frequently found in floodplains. In addition to the Montreal River, garlic mustard is also found in the Bad River floodplain in Ashland County. She is working on getting landowner permission to survey a large area on private property along the Bad River. There is a workshop that is planned for July, at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, on managing invasive species manually and by using bio-controls (like beetles). The public will be invited as well. More information will available as it gets closer to the date. Larry suggested that Eddie Shea-WI DNR, may be a good contact person for Ramona to coordinate with if he runs into invasive species. Ramona said that he is on her email list and agrees that would be helpful. Sally Pease- Noted that the Barnes AIS Committee did have an AIS meeting but unfortunately, she was unable to attend as it was short notice. Reed Saam- Discussed samples that are being analyzed at UW-Superior. Last year they saw an increase in zebra mussel veligers and they are hoping to not see that trend continue. He has funds to continue the research project for the next 2 years. Future AIS/Surface Water Activities: A. Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference, June 23, 2023 from 8am-3:30pm, Spooner High School B. Wisconsin Lakes & Rivers Convention, April 19-21, 2023, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Stevens Point, registration is open. C. Invasive Species ID Days at the David R Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center-planning is still in the works and are hoping to have some speakers. D. Planning to conduct early detection surveys on Bismarck, Carroll, Mullenhoff, & Richardson Lakes, pending completion of timber sales & construction of carry-in boat access at these waterbodies. Andy also discussed the proposed AIS early detection survey of Lake Namakagon in 2023, and hopes of conducting the survey by including multiple partners and boats. Reed noted that Red Cliff would possibly be able to supply a boat and staff members to help with the survey, as Lake Namakagon holds a key walleye population that they want to keep healthy for rearing and spearing. Andy will keep him in loop as the conversation progresses. Other Business: Andy and Travis were recently contacted by Bay Area Environmental Consulting LLC, which is doing work at the Brickyard Beach condo association. They wondered if we had input on their plan and if potential cost-share funds were available, as it is a restoration project and there are also invasive species at the site. They are trying to restore a sand dune and re-establish native plants that grow in a dune system. He will keep the committee updated as more information is gathered. Adjournment: Motion by Larry Fickbohm, 2nd by John Rautio, to adjourn meeting. Motion carried. Meeting ended at 9:33 a.m. Reminder of Future meeting date(s) for regular AIS Committee meeting: • May 17th, 2023 at 9AM in the EOC • Aug. 16th, 2023 at 9AM in the EOC • Nov. 15th, 2023 at 9AM in the EOC Respectfully submitted by Melissa Kraft.