MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank today announced that more than $1.3 million in state grants are headed to local communities to help them prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
State grants helped fund this work party organized by the Golden Sands RC&D Council, and the McDill Pond Lake District, to eradicate remaining Eurasian watermilfoil while McDill Lake was drawn down.
More than 20 local governments, lake districts and conservation groups will be awarded the grants to prevent invasive species from being introduced to new lakes, to control them where they’ve become a problem, and to respond rapidly when an aquatic invasive species is detected in new water for the first time.
“These grants are an important part of Wisconsin’s effort to protect our beautiful waterways, fish habitat and our $13 billion dollar tourism industry,” Frank said. “Governor Doyle has been a leader in fighting aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin and under his administration funding has increased to help stop their spread on inland waters.”
The program, which began in 2003 under Governor Doyle’s administration, has now provided $10.2 million to fight aquatic invasive species. The grants, and the local partnerships and interest they build, are an important part of the state’s overall strategy to tackle invasive species, which can crowd out native species, hampering recreation and industry.
With more than 140 grant applications and requests for twice the amount money available, this round of funding was very competitive, said Carroll Schaal, the DNR’s lakes team leader. The high quality of the projects being funded reflects what works and what research shows is needed, allowing Wisconsin to tackle the problem strategically and on a more regional basis, he said.
New administrative rules governing the grant program effective this summer make some changes for the next round of grant applications, due Aug. 1, 2009, Schaal said. The changes align grant priorities with the best scientific knowledge to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, and to manage them effectively. They encourage regional efforts while ensuring small projects can compete for funding.
SPONSOR PROJECT AWARD AMT
Town of Cloverland Town of Cloverland Lakes Management Planning Project $138,268.54
Lincoln County Land Information and Conservation Dept. Tri-County AIS Coordinator $177,799.89
Golden Sands RC&D Regional AIS Specialist 2 $107,145
Town of Lac du Flambeau Lac du Flambeau AIS CB/CW, Edu & Monitoring Project $44,708
Winnebago Lakes Council Winnebago Pool Lakes Strategic Planning-Ph II $78,353.25
City of Shell Lake Shell Lake Invasive Species 2009-2011 $50,300
Washburn County LWCD Washburn County AIS Strategic Plan Implementation $23,000
Iron River Area Lakes Assn Pike Chain AIS Cont. & Prev. Proj 2009-13 $161,225.25
Minocqua-Kawaguesaga Lakes Protection Assn., Inc. Minocqua-Kawaguesaga AIS Control Project $164,236.50
TLA, Inc. Lake Tomahawk AIS Control Project $149,701
Enterprise Lake P&R District Enterprise Lake AIS Control Project $50,000
Little St Germain Lake P&RD Little St Germain Lake AIS Control Project $50,000
Minong Flowage Assn. Minong Flow. EWM Control Proj 2009-11 $50,000
Town of Arbor Vitae EWM RR Project $4,958.63
Harris Lake Assn. CLP RR Project $9,997.50
Town of Three Lakes Three Lakes Chain $20,000
City of Eagle River Silver Lake EWM Project $17,927.25
Lac Vieux Desert Lake Assn. Lac Vieux Desert EWM Rapid Response $19,998.75
Callahan/Mud Lake Prot Assn. EWM Treatment $12,180
Maiden Lakes Assn. Maiden Lake-Oconto Co $12,273.75
Lake Holcomb Improvement Assn. Lake Holcomb $6,375
Rock River Coalition Knotweed Eradication-Badfish Creek $3,257
Lake Wissota Improvement Assn. Lake Wissota #1 $9,009
Crooked Lake Assn. Crooked LK $5,000
Total $1,365,714.31
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Carroll Schaal (608) 261-6423 or Tom Nowakowski (608) 267-0494
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