Hopefully the warming weather and last weekend’s fishing opener are bringing anglers and recreationists to a lake near you! As always here in Douglas County we welcome locals and visitors alike to enjoy the hundreds of beautiful lakes and rivers our area is known for. However, so many of us are keenly aware of the importance of protecting these surface waters against emerging threats like Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and other issues. The Douglas County Surface Waters Program is here to promote that conservation message, and make sure we can enjoy our lakes and rivers for generations to come! 2023 was a fantastic season with about 12 surface water conservation and AIS projects running concurrently around the County (read on for more details). But there’s plenty more to do! In 2024 I will be launching a new grant to continue and expand the popular “Stop Spiny” project, continuing countywide AIS prevention, conducting AIS monitoring, collecting data on some of our most heavily used lakes, and working with partners to offer a variety of trainings and outreach programming. Work on AIS prevention and management on the Brule River will continue, as will AIS Snapshot Day, and new AIS projects will also be starting in cooperation with our neighbors at the Town of Barnes/Bayfield County to the East, and Big McGraw Lake Group and Burnett County to the South.
Warm Regards, Zach Stewart