Hope

Learn About Your Land classes for woodland owners have begun

3/4/2010 The first week of classes for woodland owners started this week and will continue for six weeks. The classes are offered across the northern tier of Wisconsin Counties (Iron, Ashland/Bayfield and Douglas Counties). Topics range from learning the context of your land in the Lake Superior Basin (what trees where here pre-European settlement, what is here now, soils, water considerations) and how a forest management plan and different activities can help you meet your goals for your land while protecting the health of our streams and Lake Superior.

For more information, see the class brochure. And find classes offered all over Wisconsin (including our internet version of the classes) along with many publications at our Woodlandinfo.org forestry website for landowners.

Walk-in registrations are welcome at $10/class. Contact me with any questions. Ruth Oppedahl, University of Wisconsin Extension, 715-685-2676.

Draft Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Plan

Public comment is open for the new Lake Superior Aquatic Invasives Species Plan. For more information follow this link:

Great Lakes Environment: Draft Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Plan





Zebra Mussels in Lake Superior
Map & photo by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Bad River Watershed--First Person Local Jan 16, 2-3pm

This event is a great way to build community interested in a watershed. Sponsored by the Bad River Watershed Association, First Person Local is a panel of community members--many who have lived their wholes lives in the watershed, sharing stories of the history of the place and the rivers.

This year's panel includes:

MODERATOR: KENT GOECKERMANN
SPEAKERS: KEN LINDQUIST, HIGHBRIDGE
MIKE WIGGINS SR., ODANAH
DANA JACKSON, ODANAH
DAN VAILLANCOURT, MARENGO R. LANDOWNER

The event will be at the Senior Center in Ashland, Wisconsin (400 Chapple Street).

Tundra Swans in Chequamegon Bay

For the last week or so we have had about twenty tundra swans hanging out in Chequamegon Bay near the mouth of Fish Creek. The swans are on their way to Chesapeake Bay. Tundra swans are a larger-than-life reminder of the amazing migration many birds make from their arctic breeding/nesting grounds across North America to their wintering sites.

Some places along the Upper Mississippi receive thousands of swans each fall near Alma, WI and Weaver Bottoms, MN.

On a day like today, with a warm gray mist hanging over the lake, I feel lucky to witness these beautiful birds on their long journey.



Tundra Swans at Alma, Wisconsin by rontaube

Underwater Glider

The Great Lakes Observing System reported on the University of Minnesota-Duluth launching an underwater glider in Lake Superior.

On Sept. 26, 2009, Jay Austin, professor at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, successfully recovered his Autonomous Underwater Glider (AUG) after a nine-day data collecting mission. During its mission, it "flew" approximately 250km in the western arm of Lake Superior, making an equivalent of nearly 1000 conductivity, temperature and depth (CDT) casts.

The AUG's first mission was to move back and forth along the waters near Two Harbors collecting data, making 16 crossings of the shelf over about 4 days. After that, the glider swam over to the Wisconsin shore and back, producing a 30-km long section (see chart for raw, not-yet post-processed data). According to Austin, the cross-lake sections took about 24 hours to complete. He recalled the glider typically ran at about 35cm/s, slower than advertised, but thinks there are some things he can do to improve this.

The AUG is designed to collect real-time data at least once every three hours or when the AUG has completed a mission, whichever comes first. "While running it can be a bit un-nerving, this thing is really cool and provides a sort of data impossible to collect from ships or moored platforms," Austin said. "Hopefully this is just the first of many gliders in the Great Lakes!"

GLOS assisted with financing the daily operating costs which were on the order of $100-$150 per day (excluding boat time to get it out and back). Currently, the data the AUG is collecting is limited to temperature. Eventually Austin would like to collect data on a wide range of parameters, from oxygen levels to chlorophyll content.

For more information contact Jay Austin, 218-726-8773 or jaustin@d.umn.edu.

Wisconsin's New Invasives Rule

Gene Lemmenes, Charly Ray and Gene Brevold cut and treat Japanese Knotweed in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Invasive species classification administrative rule (NR 40) went into effect on September 1, 2009.

This rule is important for Wisconsin because invasive plants and animals displace native species, disrupt ecosystems, and harm recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. They also damage commercial, agricultural, and aquacultural resources.

Because invasive species lack the predators and competitors they faced in their homelands, invasive species can spread rapidly and aggressively. Controlling invasive species is difficult, and getting rid of them is often impossible. People play a major role in spreading invasive species, and can also help keep them from spreading.

Some of the prohibited or restricted species found in northern Wisconsin include: Japanese Honeysuckle, Garlic Mustard, Spotted Knapweed, Leafy Spurge, Japanese Knotweed, Common and Glossy Buckthorn, non-native fish, zebra mussels, emerald ash borer and European gypsy moth.

The rule also requires several preventative measures to limit spread of invasive species, and includes permit and enforcement provisions. More information about the rule is online the Department of Natural Resources website.

In the Lake Superior Basin, we are lucky to have the Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area, a group of agency and nonprofit partners that meet regularly to coordinate work across the basin. CWMA members lead work parties to train volunteers in invasive control work, they coordinate regional strategies and initiatives for managing invasives and provide information to the community on actions we can take to prevent or control the spread of invasive species.