Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Research Center Annual Showcase September 25, 2024
The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) invites you to the annual AIS Research and Management Showcase on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 from 8:30am – 5:30pm at the St. Paul Student Center, St. Paul, MN. This one-day, in-person event is a chance to hear updates from our research teams on their latest discoveries in the world of aquatic invasive species (AIS).
Presentations from leading researchers in aquatic invasive species
Lunch with a Researcher: Engage directly with our researchers over lunch.
Lab Tours: Lab tours will offer a firsthand look at our cutting-edge research facilities.
Happy hour demonstrations: a diverse array of demos to explore innovative projects and technologies.
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Upcoming Learning Opportunity SepticSmart Week!
The ‘Being Septic Smart’ webinar, Tuesday, September 17th, 7-9pm, teaches property owners the basics about how their septic systems work, including how to care for and maintain a septic system so it can function during or beyond its design lifetime.
To learn more click here
To register for the webinar click here
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Wright County COLA 2024 Spring Meeting
Attendance was great and over 16 lakes were represented.
The feature presentation was a new initiative “Leave AIS at the Launch”. Wright SWCD will be the source for the DNR-approved signs, posts, and tools for any interested lake association or boat launch owner. The cost of the entire package is only $150 each.
Click here for the presentation link!
Other presentations at the meeting:
Wright Soil and Water 2024 Update on Water Projects
Minnesota Required Boater’s License
Wright County Hot Water Pressurized Decontamination
Lake Steward Program | Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
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Time to pay 2024 WCCOLA Dues! Still only $25/year
Wright County Coalition of Lake Associations appreciates your support! And it is time to pay 2024 dues! Click here for a membership form.
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Engaging with University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
Wright County COLA has a close relationship with the University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center. In 2023, we had two projects with them:
Spiny Water Flea Hunt | Curt Forst, WCCOLA President, led the hunt on Cedar Lake and Howard Lake. Good news–none of the invasive species were found. Click here for more details about the hunt.
Zebra Mussel Safari | David Glass, Cedar Lake Conservation Club, worked with a research scientist over the summer. The goal is to understand the how and why of the shifts in zebra mussel density, abundance, and distribution within a lake.
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Check out the MN COLA website!
- You don’t want to miss the new Best Practices in Action information–great projects and ideas for your lake association to leverage and grow.
- It provides a wealth of links to other relevant sites.
- Current Waters newsletter is packed with the latest and greatest information.
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Starry Stonewort: A formidable foe
Starry stonewort is one of the newer aquatic invaders–particularly fearsome due to its aggressive nature and ability to mat and interfere with habitat and recreation. Here are a couple of great videos to provide more information:
Overview of Starry Stonewort from U of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
4 Minute Video on How to Identify Starry Stonewort
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Wright County Coalition of Lake Associations Directory
Want to connect with other lakes in your area? A Wright County directory of lakes is available. Please email Kathy Jonsrud at kjonsrud@yahoo.com and a copy will be mailed to you.