Three Combined Sessions

Speakers: Maureen (Ferry) Kalscheur and Laura Holder
Innovation showdown: a collaborative approach to locate New Zealand mudsnails

New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) were discovered in Wisconsin in fall 2013. Due to their small size, resistance to disinfection, and potential impacts to fish, there is a need to identify their distribution and prevent their spread. After 7 years of traditional benthic and exploratory environmental DNA sampling, New Zealand mudsnails have been documented in eight southern Wisconsin streams.  The Department is interested in exploring other surveillance tools. Dogs can be trained to identify species based on odor. The Midwest Conservation Dogs, Inc. have been training dogs to detect species since 2016.  This New Zealand mudsnail project offered unique challenges. Come learn about these snails and see videos of the dogs in action.

Speakers: Maureen (Ferry) Kalscheur
Collaborative detection prevails in a time of crisis

While the pandemic has had negative global impacts, it also showed how we can excel when we work toward a unified goal.  Wisconsin’s Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring Program engages citizens, partners and scientist embraced innovation and exceeded expectations to monitor the landscape for invasive species in different and safe ways. Come learn how the citizens, partners and DNR achieved success in an unstable world. 

Speakers: Alison Mikulyuk and Michelle Nault
Eurasian watermilfoil: Smart prevention, smart management

Not all lakes are equally vulnerable to Eurasian watermilfoil. The different physical, chemical, spatial characteristics of lakes can help predict where EWM is likely to occur and where it is likely to be abundant. Knowing where EWM will arrive, survive and thrive can help achieve our goals of "smart prevention" and "smart management." We present results of two recent studies that give us better grasp of lake-specific vulnerability and invader impacts, helping us direct prevention dollars where they are most needed and ensuring impactful management strategies are deployed only when necessary.