Oneida County Aquatic Invasive Species Program
Stephanie Boismenue
AIS Coordinator & Conservation Technician
Oneida County Courthouse (2dn Floor)
1 South Oneida Avenue
PO Box 400, Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 369-7835
sboismenue@co.oneida.wi.us
AIS Coordinator & Conservation Technician
Oneida County Courthouse (2dn Floor)
1 South Oneida Avenue
PO Box 400, Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 369-7835
sboismenue@co.oneida.wi.us
Resources
- UW Extension Lakes - CBCW and CLMN Programs
- What's In Your Lake? Lakes & Rivers with AIS
- Transport Laws for Boaters and Anglers
- Northwoods Businesses for Clean Waters
- Oneida County Lakes & Rivers Association
- UW Center for Limnology
- WI DNR - AIS Efforts
- WI DNR - Invasive Species
- WI DNR - Lakes
- WI DNR - Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS)
- WI DNR AIS Mapping Tool - Surface Water Data Viewer - This link will bring you to an interactive mapping system where you can select which invasive species you’d like to see. The Surface Water Data Viewer (SWDV) is a Wisconsin DNR data delivery system that provides interactive web mapping tools for a wide variety of datasets including chemistry (water, sediment), physical, and biological (macroinvertebrate, aquatic invasive species) data.
Aquatic Invasive Species, What Everyone Needs to Know!
Invasive species are any kind of living organism - plants, animals, insect, fish, amphibian, fungus, bacteria, and organisms - that are non-native to an ecosystem and their introduction may cause economic, environmental, and recreational harm or harm to human health.
Aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland invasive species are among the leading threats to native habitats and wildlife. Approximately 42 percent of threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species.
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a growing risk to Oneida County’s water resources and values. The introduction of one (1) single AIS may have the potential to negatively impact our recreational activities and enjoyment, fisheries, wildlife, natural resources, ecosystem services, water-related business and commercial trades. Furthermore, managing AIS comes with a hefty price tag and cost the Unites States billions of dollars each year.
AIS in Oneida County Waterbodies
Oneida County has one of the highest concentrations of natural lakes in the world. With over 1,129 lakes and rivers, our water resources are a large part of our lifestyle. Unfortunately, 12 of Wisconsin’s AIS (Regulated under NR40) have made their way into 173 of Oneida County waterbodies.
The following AIS have verified occurrences in Oneida County waters: Curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, purple loosestrife, yellow iris, aquatic forget-me-not, non-native phragmites, banded mystery snail, Chinese mystery snail, and rusty crayfish.
What Makes a Species "Invasive"?
Species within their native range are not invasive because they have native habits, predators, competitors, parasites, and pathogens that create checks and balances. However, when a species enters a new environment, that species is free from the checks and balances of its native range. Non-native species are labeled “invasive” if they: grow and reproduce quickly, spread aggressively, dominate native species, alter the ecological relationship and function among native species, and have the potential to cause harm.
Not all AIS in the United States have come from another country. For example, lake trout are native to the Great Lakes were introduced in Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming and area considered an AIS because they compete with native cutthroat trout for habitat.
For many centuries, humans have contributed, both intentionally and unintentionally, to the introduction and spread of invasive species around the globe.
Examples of Intentional Introductions
Examples of Unintentional Introductions
Wisconsin’s AIS Strategies
Activities that Prevent the Spread of AIS
Prevention
It’s everyone’s job to help prevent the spread of AIS. Whether you are a boater, angler, paddler, seaplane pilot, water gardener/pond owner, nursery owner, aquarium enthusiast or even a teacher, you have an important role to play in keeping our waterbodies free of AIS.
Follow the law: Before launching and when leaving a waterbody, you must
INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment.
REMOVE any attached aquatic plants or animals (before launching, after loading and before transporting on a public highway).
DRAIN all water from boats, motors and all equipment.
NEVER MOVE live fish away from a waterbody.
DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash.
BUY minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer. Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions*
*You may take leftover minnows away from any state water and use them again on that same water. You may use leftover minnows on other waters only if no lake or river water or other fish were added to their container.
To view AIS distribution in Wisconsin, please visit https://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/invasives/Monitoring.aspx
Invasive species are any kind of living organism - plants, animals, insect, fish, amphibian, fungus, bacteria, and organisms - that are non-native to an ecosystem and their introduction may cause economic, environmental, and recreational harm or harm to human health.
Aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland invasive species are among the leading threats to native habitats and wildlife. Approximately 42 percent of threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species.
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a growing risk to Oneida County’s water resources and values. The introduction of one (1) single AIS may have the potential to negatively impact our recreational activities and enjoyment, fisheries, wildlife, natural resources, ecosystem services, water-related business and commercial trades. Furthermore, managing AIS comes with a hefty price tag and cost the Unites States billions of dollars each year.
AIS in Oneida County Waterbodies
Oneida County has one of the highest concentrations of natural lakes in the world. With over 1,129 lakes and rivers, our water resources are a large part of our lifestyle. Unfortunately, 12 of Wisconsin’s AIS (Regulated under NR40) have made their way into 173 of Oneida County waterbodies.
The following AIS have verified occurrences in Oneida County waters: Curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, purple loosestrife, yellow iris, aquatic forget-me-not, non-native phragmites, banded mystery snail, Chinese mystery snail, and rusty crayfish.
What Makes a Species "Invasive"?
Species within their native range are not invasive because they have native habits, predators, competitors, parasites, and pathogens that create checks and balances. However, when a species enters a new environment, that species is free from the checks and balances of its native range. Non-native species are labeled “invasive” if they: grow and reproduce quickly, spread aggressively, dominate native species, alter the ecological relationship and function among native species, and have the potential to cause harm.
Not all AIS in the United States have come from another country. For example, lake trout are native to the Great Lakes were introduced in Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming and area considered an AIS because they compete with native cutthroat trout for habitat.
For many centuries, humans have contributed, both intentionally and unintentionally, to the introduction and spread of invasive species around the globe.
Examples of Intentional Introductions
- Releasing unused fishing bait
- Stocking sport fish outside their native range
- Releasing unwanted aquarium and water garden plants, fish, and animals into a waterbody
- Introducing non-native species for management (bio-control, ecosystem engineering)
Examples of Unintentional Introductions
- Boats, trailers, and equipment
- Moving watercraft from waterbody to waterbody without removing plants, animals, sand, mud and draining water.
- Fishing and waterfowl hunting gear, clothing, and boots
- Ballast water discharge
- Escaped ornamental plants
- Escape of organisms from hatcheries and aquaculture facilities.
- Contaminated plant nursery stock can also act as a vehicle to transport many invasive insect and pathogen species
Wisconsin’s AIS Strategies
- Prevent the spread of AIS into new waterbodies
- Contain the spread of AIS within the waterbody,
- Control existing populations of AIS to minimize harmful impacts, and
- Organize strategies and actions by “invasion pathways”. Pathways are the ways AIS arrives in the state and spread around the state.
Activities that Prevent the Spread of AIS
- Education and outreach
- Clean Boats, Clean Water Watercraft Inspection program
- Monitoring
- Response to new infestations
- AIS Containment to keep if from further spread
- Control and management actions to minimize the impact
- Agency partnerships and collaboration
- Regulation and enforcement
- Research
Prevention
It’s everyone’s job to help prevent the spread of AIS. Whether you are a boater, angler, paddler, seaplane pilot, water gardener/pond owner, nursery owner, aquarium enthusiast or even a teacher, you have an important role to play in keeping our waterbodies free of AIS.
Follow the law: Before launching and when leaving a waterbody, you must
INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment.
REMOVE any attached aquatic plants or animals (before launching, after loading and before transporting on a public highway).
DRAIN all water from boats, motors and all equipment.
NEVER MOVE live fish away from a waterbody.
DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash.
BUY minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer. Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions*
*You may take leftover minnows away from any state water and use them again on that same water. You may use leftover minnows on other waters only if no lake or river water or other fish were added to their container.
To view AIS distribution in Wisconsin, please visit https://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/invasives/Monitoring.aspx
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Visit the AIS Website
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Our 2019 Invasive Species Banquet is Now a Memory!
WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME!
Highlights from the 2019 Invasive Species Awards Banquet.
Seventy-two Lake enthusiasts, Land and Water employees, and friends gathered at the 11th Annual Award Ceremony at Holiday Acres on August 22, 2019. Guest speakers included Brent Hanson, Hanson's Garden Village and Zach Woiak, WDNR Fisheries Biologist.
Oneida County is located in Northern Wisconsin, has over 1,100+ lakes and rivers, and our water resources are a large part of our lifestyle. For this reason an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program was developed in 2007 to protect our waterways from the threat of AIS. Our AIS team is an integral part of the Oneida County Land & Water Conservation Department and consists of an AIS Coordinator (Stephanie Boismenue), a Lead Project Assistant and one Project Assistant. Our program focuses on educational outreach, technical assistance, and AIS management.