Have you seen zebra mussels on docks, buoys, and bottoms of boats in lakes and ponds near your homes? Have you found it difficult to navigate or fish in waters that are clogged with Eurasian watermilfoil? Aquatic invasive species (AIS) can cause serious problems in inland lakes and ponds. They not only affect recreational access to waters, but also impact the region’s ecology and economy. AIS can be unintentionally spread among lakes by boaters, anglers, and recreational water users. We need your help to slow the spread of AIS!
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and the Northeastern Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP) are seeking volunteers to help raise public awareness about AIS and how to prevent their spread. Volunteers will receive training at a two hour workshop and then pass along their new knowledge at boat ramps, marinas, and fishing tournaments during the boating season in Lake and Cook Counties in Illinois and Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana.
The Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Clean Boats Crew program (http://iiseagrant.org/ais/cleanboats.html) is designed to create awareness among recreational water users about AIS and how to prevent their spread. Similar programs have already proven successful in MI and WI. To read a copy of the 2013 edition of our manual click here. The brochures and stickers we hand out to the public are part of the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Program.
We are offer two workshops to train volunteers for the 2013 season. Workshops will provide volunteers with background information about aquatic invasive plants and animals in this region and the issues surrounding them (how they were introduced, history of their control, etc.) and the “how to’s” of talking with the public about AIS. Please see below for our schedule of workshops for this spring. If you would be interested in spending two or three hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon talking with the public about aquatic invasive species please contact us!! We are also happy to give presentations to lake management associations, fishing clubs, etc. upon request. For more information or to volunteer contact NIIPP at cathy.mcglynn@niipp.net. Thank you for your interest.
Training sessions for site leaders and volunteers were conducted on May 15th and May 18th 2013. The presentation used can be found here
Since our last season the Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act has been amended to include provisions for the regulation of the transport of aquatic animals and plants on recreational water user boats and equipment (sea planes, jet skiis, etc.) More information about the amendment can be found here http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=097-0850
The 2013 season kicks off on May 25th and ends August 11th! Come on out and join us! We are working at fewer sites this season and so will be easier to follow:
Cook County, IL:
Diversey Harbor, 2601 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL
Skokie Lagoons, Winnetka (Boat ramp off of Tower Rd. entrance. Located: between Dundee and Willow Roads, east of the Edens Expressway.)
Lake County, IL:
North Point Marina, 701 North Point Drive, Winthrop Harbor, IL
Chain O’ Lakes, 8916 Wilmot Road, Spring Grove, IL
Indiana:
Portage Public Marina, 1200 Marina Way, Portage, IL
Cedar Lake, North Park Access at 7929 Lakeshore Drive, Cedar Lake, IN (near Chamber of Commerce Building)
2013 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SCHEDULE FOR CLEAN BOATS CREW
ILLINOIS-
Cook County
May 25, 2013 Diversey Harbor
May 26, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
May 27, 2013 Diversey Harbor
June 1, 2013 Diversey Harbor
June 2, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
June 8, 2013 31st Harbor, 31 North Harbor Drive, Chicago, IL National Clean Marinas Day!!
June 9, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
June 15, 2012 Diversey Harbor
June 16, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
June 22, 2013 Diversey Harbor
June 23, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
June 29, 2013 Diversey Harbor
June 30, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
July 6, 2013 Diversey Harbor
July 7, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
July 13, 2013 Diversey Harbor
July 14, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
July 20, 2013 Diversey Harbor
Jul;y 21, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
July 27, 2013 Diversey Harbor
July 28, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
August 3, 2013 Diversey Harbor
August 4, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
August 10, 2013 Diversey Harbor
August 11, 2013 Skokie Lagoons
Lake County, IL
May 25, 2013 North Point Marina
May 26, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
May 27, 2013 North Point Marina
June 1, 2013 North Point Marina
June 2, 2013 Chain O’Lakes
June 8, 2013 North Point Marina
June 9, 2013 Chain O’Lakes
June 15, 2013 North Point Marina
June 16, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
June 22, 2013 North Point Marina
June 23, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
June 29, 2013 North Point Marina
June 30, 2013 Chain O’Lakes
July 6, 2013 North Point Marina
July 7, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
July 13, 2013 North Point Marina
July 14, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
July 20, 2013 North Point Marina
July 21, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
July 27, 2013 North Point Marina
July 28, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
August 3, 2013 North Point Marina
August 4, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
August 10, 2013 North Point Marina
August 11, 2013 Chain O’ Lakes
INDIANA
June 1, 2013 Portage Public Marina
June 2, 2013 Cedar Lake
June 8, 2013 Portage Public Marina
June 9, 2013 Cedar Lake
June 15, 2013 Portage Public Marina
June 16, 2013 Cedar Lake
June 22, 2013 Portage Public Marina
June 23, 2013 Cedar Lake
June 29, 2013 Portage Public Marina
June 30, 2013 Cedar Lake
