Invasive species snapshot day is Saturday

Jefferson County Land and Water Department invites nature lovers of all ages to Snapshot Day, a search for aquatic invasive species (AIS) on August 10 at Rock River Landing Park (629 N. Elizabeth Ave., Jefferson) from 9 a.m.-noon.

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.

Snapshot Day is coordinated in partnership by the 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 invasive species that may have recently arrived at particular lakes and rivers,” said Dawn Nelesen, a 2023 Snapshot Day volunteer. “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”.

This will be the eighth time Jefferson County Land and Water has hosted Snapshot Day, working alongside over 20 other conservation organizations to prevent the spread of invasive species across Wisconsin.

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 is available at wateractionvolunteers.org .