Friday, February 7, 2025

Public invited to AIS Snapshot Day event at Prairie Trails Park

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For the Tomahawk Leader

MERRILL – The Lincoln County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Team is inviting nature lovers of all ages to help search for aquatic invasive species in local waters.

A local AIS Snapshot Day event will be held at Prairie Trails Park, N2121 County Rd. K, Merrill, on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A release from the Lincoln County Land Services Department said Snapshot Day is a statewide effort to protect Wisconsin's streams, lakes and wetlands by monitoring designated sites for invasive plants and animals that may threaten the state's wildlife and water ecosystems.

“This year is Snapshot Day's 11th anniversary, coordinated in partnership by UW-Madison Division of Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network,” the release stated. “Information collected during the event will provide the Wisconsin DNR with data to help them tailor response efforts accordingly for each site. Volunteer efforts are crucial to the success of this endeavor.”

The event requires no prior experience, and training is provided. Snapshot Day is free and open to volunteers of all ages, but is recommended for ages eight and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

“Last year, 145 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to monitor at more than 130 sites across the state, making for a fun and safe event,” the release said.

The Land Services Department noted that more and more people want to know how they can help protect the local lakes, rivers and streams they love.

“Gathering samples of invasive species on Snapshot Day is a great way to give the Wisconsin DNR a heads up on invasives that may have recently arrived at particular lakes and rivers,” said Dawn Nelesen, Snapshot Day 2023 volunteer. “With this information, gathered by volunteers like me all across the state, the DNR can hopefully get out in front of the problem and reduce their impact. I think that’s very important.”

“Projects like AIS Snapshot Day are a fun and simple way for volunteers to get engaged and for the local site leaders and DNR to collaborate,” said Maureen Ferry, DNR AIS Monitoring Coordinator. “DNR has a long list of sites with suspected but unverified AIS that AIS Snapshot Day monitoring targets. This increases the chances of volunteers finding a species. Plus, each year, we make new detections.”

Advance registration is requested to help Site Leaders build monitoring plans. Registration will remain open until Friday, Aug. 9. For registration and event details, visit www.wateractionvolunteers.org/events/.

For more information regarding AIS Snapshot Day, contact Tom Boisvert at 715-539-1054 or Thomas.Boisvert@co.lincoln.wi.us.

The public is invited to take part in an AIS Snapshot Day event at Prairie Trails Park in Merrill next month. Photo courtesy of the Lincoln County Land Services Department

AIS Snapshot Day

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