Sawyer County created an Aquatic Invasive Species Program in May, 2006 with funding from a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species grant. The primary goal of the program has always been to prevent the introduction or spread of aquatic invasive species in Sawyer County waters. Objectives of the program have included education of the public about AIS issues, map and monitor aquatic invasive species in Sawyer County, ensure lake associations have assistance to properly manage AIS issues, and provide displays and materials to spread the work about AIS. Since 2006, the AIS Coordinator, along with Sawyer County Zoning and Conservation staff have made hundreds of lake visits, presented information to many lake associations, and have assisted on many lakes throughout the county with AIS issues. As of 2014, few lakes have aquatic invasive species in Sawyer County that do not have a control plan in place. Assistance has been given to lakes with Eurasian Water milfoil, purple loosestrife, curly-leaf pondweed, mystery snails, flowering rush, and any other AIS or unusual native plant that caused concern. With no one specifically working on AIS in the Hayward Department of Natural Resources office, the Sawyer County program has been of real benefit.

PROJECT SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION OF DELIVERIES

email response

AIS Grant Supporter Letter [AEPP-322-12]

Video Review Worksheet.

grant close-out checklist

Management Guidelines

Project Proposal

AIS Control Grant Application

Grant Approval Letter

2013 proved to be a year with new discoveries of EWM in Sawyer County and a mixed bag of increasing and decreasing EWM populations. Other lakes in Sawyer County were found to not need herbicide treatments including Whitefish Lake (EWM) and the Spider Chain of Lakes (CLP) and Lake Hayward was the only known large outbreak of EWM found. While the new findings of EWM in Lake Hayward, Tiger Cat Flowage, and Lost Land Lake kept the AIS Coordinator busy, other lakes were also surveyed and a lot of education for local residents and visitors took place. Overall, AIS work in Sawyer County seems to be slowing the spread and greatly helping in the control of the AIS that is found in the county.

Watercraft Inspections on Big Round Lake