Monday, February 22, 2016

Summary of Kid’s Ice Fishing Clinic

Brenda Rosin-Schaff led the discussion. 167 Kids were at the parks for the clinics. The Lannon quarry unit caught 25 fish for the record. Last year’s coloring books were destroyed, so she is looking for donations to print more, and evenly distributing those we do have. Brenda is looking for extra rods, and some help fixing up a few she has on hand. Matt Coffare, fish biologist for 31 years, and originator of the clinics has retired, and the group has decided to do something for him. Various clubs are raising enough money to have Al build a rod, George turn a handle, and someone buy a reel, and award him with it.

Report from Wisconsin Fishing Club

Wisconsin Sea Grant to Invest $1.96 Million in Science-Based Projects to Enhance the Great Lakes Economy and Regional Quality of Life

February 22, 2016
By Moira Harrington

The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, which is dedicated to the sustainable use of Great Lakes resources through research, education and outreach, today announced the award of $1.96 million in research dollars for 2016. Sea Grant will fund 19 projects on six Wisconsin campuses, along with a shipwreck exploration project in Lake Michigan in partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society and an education project with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. 

“We often say the Great Lakes are a gift from the glaciers,” said Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley. “This gift is a valuable one—a 2011 study found 1.5 million jobs are tied to the lakes, with $62 billion in annual wages. Just as the lakes fuel our economy, they also enrich our quality of life. That’s why we are pleased that these science-based projects, 15 new ones and three continuing from 2015, can further Wisconsin’s economic, cultural and public health needs as tied to lakes Michigan and Superior.”

Researchers will look into the health of the waterways, better ways to grow tasty walleyes destined for people’s dinner plates, methods to prevent Great Lakes beach contamination, possible ways to lessen the destruction of floods and more.


In all, nearly 100 researchers, staff and students will be engaged in this work, said Hurley. The campuses are La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and Stevens Point, along with Northland College and St. Norbert College. 

Friday, February 19, 2016

Wisconsin Sea Grant Researcher Speaks About Chequamegon Bay Climate Change Projects at UMD

Wisconsin Sea Grant Researcher Speaks About Chequamegon Bay Climate Change Projects at UMD
February 15, 2106

By Marie Zhuikov
Wisconsin Sea Grant Researcher and Northland College Professor, Randy Lehr, was in Duluth on Feb. 2, speaking about his climate change research in the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior and a new integrated assessment project he’s starting for the same area.

Lehr spoke at the invitation of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Anthropocene Research Center along with Peter Annin, with whom he co-leads the new Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation.
Lehr said that the Ashland, Wis., area is the focus of hard rains for some reason -- “Harder than most other places studied in the region.” He said the area can expect warmer, wetter weather in the future. With his Wisconsin Sea Grant funding, Lehr and his team are studying the impacts of these hard rains and warming temperatures on the bay and what tools city and natural resource managers can use to address and adapt to these impacts.

The related two-year integrated assessment he is just beginning, also with Sea Grant’s help, blends social and natural sciences. With this “Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Adaptation Planning in the Chequamegon Bay Region of Lake Superior,” Lehr and his colleagues will survey what the most valuable resources are in the area to people and will prioritize them in terms of their natural/social/ecological importance and how likely they are to be impacted by climate change.
“People love their lakes,” Lehr said. “Even if they move away from Wisconsin, surveys have found they are still willing to support local lake associations in their efforts to care for lakes.”

Community leaders and elected officials will be engaged in conversations as part of the process led by Northland College faculty. Decision tools will be developed to help communities decide what actions to take. Local cities (Ashland, Bayfield, Washburn), towns, tribes, the National Park Service and the Forest Service will be involved.

This type of integration is a first for Wisconsin Sea Grant, and may lead to similar assessments elsewhere in the state. The project will kick off with a meeting where all technical and subject-matter experts interact with community leaders, elected officials and their designated staff members.

The Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation that Lehr co-leads is co-located on the Northland College campus in Ashland, Wis., and in Cable, Wis., at the former summer home of the Burke family, Forest Lodge. Its operation is funded by an endowment by the Burke family and the focus is on aquatic research, communication and leadership on freshwater issues throughout the Great Lakes. The center and its 900 acres are being operated in partnership with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

For more information, please contact Randy Lehr at rlehr@northland.edu.

DNR wardens seek tips in damaged ice shanty case


The Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement is asking for the public's help in solving a case of property damage and interfering with lawful fishing/harassment. Sometime after close of sturgeon spearing (1 p.m.) on Sat., February 13, and opening of spearing (7 a.m.) on Sun. February 14, an individual had his spearing shack completely plowed in by snow. The amount of snow prevented the individual from being able to spear out of that shanty. Later, it was found that the sides of the shanty were pushed in and damaged, making the shack unusable. This incident occurred on the north end of Lake Poygan near Alder Creek in Winnebago County.

Wardens spent considerable time investigating Sunday and now are seeking help from the public. If anyone has any information on who did this or what vehicle was used, you can confidentially call or text tips to the DNR Hotline at 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).


http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/WardenWire/WardenWire_Lookup.asp?id=430

Wisconsin Fishing Club Notice

The Wisconsin Fishing Club meets every 2nd and 4th Monday during Jan. Feb. March, May, Sept, & Oct, on the 4th Monday in April and on the 2nd Monday the remainder of the months.  We meet at Grainger's, at 3400 W Loomis road in Greenfield at 7:00. We schedule several outings every year, we usually have an informative speaker, and each March we have an annual fishing rod building class and a fishing rummage sale. We always welcome visitors.

Thank you.    Ray Letourneau, Club Secretary

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Thursday, February 18, 2016

February River Talk Puts a Dollar Value on the Watershed


The next monthly River Talk is scheduled for Wed. Feb. 24, 7 p.m. at Barker’s Waterfront Grille (Barker’s Island Inn, 300 Marina Dr., Superior, Wis.). Nancy Schudlt, water projects coordinator with the Fond du Lac Band will present, “The Value of Nature’s Benefits in the St. Louis River Watershed.”


The Wisconsin and Minnesota Sea Grant programs and the Lake Superior Reserve have teamed to offer this series of free science cafĂ©-type evening talks about the St. Louis River Estuary. Everyone is invited to these informal “River Talks,” which are held monthly through May. Check the River Talk website for details. If you miss a talk, visit Wisconsin Sea Grant’s “Great Lakes Takes” blog for a summary.