Invasive Species
Invasive species have a wide range of adverse effects on Wisconsin’s environment and citizens including negative impacts to natural resources, costs to control damaging species, alteration of aesthetic values, and harm to wildlife and human health. Unfortunately, the costs to manage and control invasive species once they are established represent money that could be spent on something else, or not spent at all, if invasions were prevented in the first place. The following are examples from recent years, including estimates of the economic scope of what is at stake.
Aquatic invasive species such as the zebra mussel financially impact industries that use water for cooling and municipalities that rely on lakes for drinking water. Zebra and quagga mussels cost the U.S. economy up to $1 billion annually. The $7 billion Great Lakes fishery has been adversely impacted by pathogens including viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and invasive fish species like white perch, round goby, and sea lamprey. Costs from invasive species that Originate in the ballast water of ocean-going vessels visiting the Great Lakes have been estimated at $138 million annually, but could be as much as $800 million annually.
Invasive species, including weeds, pests, and diseases, also negatively impact Wisconsin’s $59 billion agriculture industry (350,000 jobs) by increasing production costs and reducing crop yields. For example, Canada thistle, a major agricultural pest, costs tens of millions of dollars in direct crop losses annually and additional millions in control costs.
Wisconsin’s forestry industry, a $28 billion industry (66,000 jobs), is impacted by oak wilt, gypsy moth, and more recently, the emerald ash borer and beech bark disease, which damage and kill trees. Costs to respond to the emerald ash borer in our region, including treatment, removal, and replacement of millions of ash trees, has a current annual effect of $280.5 million on municipal budgets, a figure that does not include the value of trees on private property. This insect also negatively affects electrical utility budgets with the removal of dead trees that could fall onto utility lines. Natural regrowth of tree seedlings, especially of the sugar maple, our state tree, is being limited by invasive plants and non-native earthworms. Over the long term, this will change the composition of our forests and the economic benefits they provide. Terrestrial invasive species, such as garlic mustard and wild parsnip, invade and degrade our forests and grasslands and reduce enjoyment of our trails and parks. Eurasian water milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants harm our lakes and rivers. Chemical herbicides used to control Eurasian water milfoil can cost from $200 to $2,000 per acre. Mechanical control methods range from $300 to $600 per acre and must be repeated all summer.
Outdoor recreation is one of the top reasons visitors come to our state. In 2016, Wisconsin visitor numbers reached 107.7 million and visitor spending created an estimated $20 billion impact on the state’s economy. As invasive species continue to change our environment and negatively impact the use and beauty of our lakes, forests, and hiking trails, Wisconsin may lose valuable visitor spending.
Source: Invasive Species Interim Performance Report. Prepared by the DNR's Invasive Species Team. July 1, 2016--June 30, 2017.
Aquatic invasive species such as the zebra mussel financially impact industries that use water for cooling and municipalities that rely on lakes for drinking water. Zebra and quagga mussels cost the U.S. economy up to $1 billion annually. The $7 billion Great Lakes fishery has been adversely impacted by pathogens including viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and invasive fish species like white perch, round goby, and sea lamprey. Costs from invasive species that Originate in the ballast water of ocean-going vessels visiting the Great Lakes have been estimated at $138 million annually, but could be as much as $800 million annually.
Invasive species, including weeds, pests, and diseases, also negatively impact Wisconsin’s $59 billion agriculture industry (350,000 jobs) by increasing production costs and reducing crop yields. For example, Canada thistle, a major agricultural pest, costs tens of millions of dollars in direct crop losses annually and additional millions in control costs.
Wisconsin’s forestry industry, a $28 billion industry (66,000 jobs), is impacted by oak wilt, gypsy moth, and more recently, the emerald ash borer and beech bark disease, which damage and kill trees. Costs to respond to the emerald ash borer in our region, including treatment, removal, and replacement of millions of ash trees, has a current annual effect of $280.5 million on municipal budgets, a figure that does not include the value of trees on private property. This insect also negatively affects electrical utility budgets with the removal of dead trees that could fall onto utility lines. Natural regrowth of tree seedlings, especially of the sugar maple, our state tree, is being limited by invasive plants and non-native earthworms. Over the long term, this will change the composition of our forests and the economic benefits they provide. Terrestrial invasive species, such as garlic mustard and wild parsnip, invade and degrade our forests and grasslands and reduce enjoyment of our trails and parks. Eurasian water milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants harm our lakes and rivers. Chemical herbicides used to control Eurasian water milfoil can cost from $200 to $2,000 per acre. Mechanical control methods range from $300 to $600 per acre and must be repeated all summer.
Outdoor recreation is one of the top reasons visitors come to our state. In 2016, Wisconsin visitor numbers reached 107.7 million and visitor spending created an estimated $20 billion impact on the state’s economy. As invasive species continue to change our environment and negatively impact the use and beauty of our lakes, forests, and hiking trails, Wisconsin may lose valuable visitor spending.
Source: Invasive Species Interim Performance Report. Prepared by the DNR's Invasive Species Team. July 1, 2016--June 30, 2017.