The Wood County Land & Water Conservation Department invites nature-lovers of all ages to Snapshot Day, a search for aquatic invasive species (AIS) on August 9th, 2024 at Nepco County Park. 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. 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.
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. 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,” says Dawn Nelesen, Snapshot Day 2023 volunteer.
This will be the first time the Wood County Land & Water Conservation Department hosts Snapshot Day, working alongside over 20 other conservation organizations to prevent the spread of invasive species across Wisconsin. The Wood County Land & Water Conservation Department is excited to build rapport with dedicated volunteers and build upon this event in future years.
EVENT DETAILS:
Friday, August 9th ~ 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Nepco County Park
1410 Griffith Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Volunteers will search for invasive species at critical monitoring sites. Any potential invasive species will be verified and cataloged with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help tailor species removal and conservation plans accordingly.
This 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 8 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
REGISTRATION:
Register and see all event details at: https://wateractionvolunteers.org/event-page/aquatic-invasive-species-snapshot-day-2024/.
Advance registration is requested to help Site Leaders build monitoring plans, but will remain open until August 9th.