​FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS...
Whether you pull weeds along your shorelines or help us monitor incoming boaters at our landing, your time will count towards future funding/grants for aquatic invasive species control.  In 2024, we did not receive a grant, however it is still important that we have monitors at the boat landing to ward off any potential invasive species on incoming crafts.  
WE'LL HAVE A NEW SIGN AT THE BOAT LANDING THIS YEAR THAT WILL ALLOW INCOMING BOATERS TO DO SELF-CHECKS ON THEIR WATERCRAFT.  THEY'LL JUST NEED TO SCAN THE QR CODE AND FOLLOW THE STEPS.  HERE'S WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE FYI...

PUBLIC BOAT LANDING MONITORS 
All monitoring supplies and information including the watercraft inspection sheet (questions to ask boaters) are in the CBCW tub that you'll take with you.  The CBCW tub is located in 2024 at the McDermot's (14308 Cty Rd V V).  Kay will send out an email reminder prior to your shift.  

The schedule is posted below, so check for available dates/times and email us to sign up [email protected]. 
​Thanks!


SUMMER SCHEDULE 2024:
Every Tuesday from 8-10 AM:  Mike and Jen M
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​​INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER REPORTS - In 2024, it will not be necessary to keep track of any hours that your family spends pulling weeds, as we did not receive a grant.  But please keep pulling and/or removing all of the floating EWM and disposing of it to help prevent the spread of EWM here.
volunteer_hours_sheet_2023.pdf
File Size: 348 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​CITIZEN LAKE MONITORING PROCEDURE
Click here to view several videos from the UWEX on how to interact with boaters @ the boat landing.
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The BLPOA will now be monitoring and reporting all sightings of aquatic invasives here (our main focus at this time is with EWM and Zebra mussels) through the SWIMS site of the UWEX...and just as the BLPOA receives credit for all volunteer hours spent monitoring our boat landing to use towards grant money, we will also be eligible through volunteer hours spent looking for and documenting/reporting AIS.
 
Refer to the photos below of the good (Northern milfoil) and the bad (EWM)
  1. Carefully collect/inspect/remove a plant sample (remember that fragments can re-root and start again).
  2. If the plant has 12 or more pairs of leaflets, if the plant is limp when pulled out of the water, if the stems appear reddish, and if in the late summer/early autumn the plant does not have turions (winter buds) and/or the leaf whorls are several inches apart …it may be the “bad” EWM.  
  3. If the plant has 12 or fewer pairs of leaflets, if the leaves are rigid when pulled out of the water, if the stems are green (only reddish hues on the newest growth), if the plant has formed turions (winter buds) in late summer/early autumn…it is most likely the “good” northern milfoil.  
  4. Anytime that you are out monitoring/sampling/looking for EWM…report  the date, the number of volunteers, and the amount of hours that you spent doing so, as we will get credit to put towards our grant.