New Podcast about Clean Boats, Clean Waters
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Students and mentors of the original Clean Boats, Clean Waters crew (from left to right): Janelle Zajicek, Luke Voellinger, Sandy Wickman, Laura Marquardt, Maree Stewart, and Lisa Ahlers
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The Seventh Graders Who Changed Wisconsin's Lakes
You may have seen folks in blue shirts at boat landings sharing steps boaters can take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by cleaning their boats and equipment - or maybe you are a Clean Boats, Clean Waters watercraft inspector yourself. But have you ever thought about how the program started and what made it so successful?
What started as a science project for three middle schoolers in northern Wisconsin quickly grew into something featured on a national stage. To get there, the science project team needed to recruit a group of experts and volunteers, and of course, make a quick stop at Disney World.
Wisconsin's Sea Grant podcast, Introduced - where Great Lakes stories meet invasive species science - is hosted by Bonnie Willison and Jenna Mertz. In the season three finale, they talk about the history of Clean Boats, Clean Waters and connect with one of the students and some of the mentors who began what is now "arguably the country's strongest volunteer force working to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species."
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Making a Splash: Success Stories
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Shown here at the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention accepting the Wisconsin Lake Stewardship Award for Excellence in Public Engagement on behalf of WAMSCO are (left to right): Dave Zelinger (Lake Leaders - Crew 12), Scott Frank (Lake Leaders - Crew 11), Chris Sampson (Lake Leaders - Crew 12), Shanda Hubertus (Lake Leaders - Crew 10), and Kori Halstead (WAMSCO - AIS Coordinator)
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Lake Leaders Institute: Strengthening Our Water Network
Wisconsin Lake Leaders are a unique group of over 350 individuals who have dedicated time and resources to protect our shared waters. They have inspiring stories and have made powerful connections with their fellow crew members. We hope sharing some of their stories inspires you to join us as a future Lake Leader or connect with one of these leaders in your area to strengthen our water network across Wisconsin.
"Lake Leaders is a unique experience that will stay with you for life."
Shanda Hubertus, Board President of the Waterways Association of Menominee and Shawano Counties, Inc. (WAMSCO), says, “The connections and relationships that I formed in Crew 10 have made an extremely positive impact in my area of Wisconsin. The passion and drive that was organically imprinted within me during my time at the Lake Leaders Institute left me with a feeling that one person truly could have a major impact on our waterways. That was so obviously shared by others in attendance.” As a direct result of Lake Leaders, WAMSCO was formed. In the short 10 years since its formation, and now with full-time staff, WAMSCO has seen the mindset change among youth and community members in the area. WAMSCO is now installing best management practices throughout the counties each year, including: shoreline restorations with native plants, seawall removals, rain gardens, invasive species control, pollinator gardens, increasing the practice of no-till planting and cover crops, nutrient reduction techniques, and erosion control methods. WAMSCO has a very successful and busy conservation education program complete with its own mobile classroom!
“The buy-in and support we see from our local businesses and community is amazing! The most difficult and rewarding accomplishment of WAMSCO is the bond we have formed with our agricultural producers. By this time next year, Shawano County will have its own Farmer Led Watershed Council!”
Nominate a Lake Leader
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Phenology Fun Fact
Did you know the green darner dragonfly can travel all the way from the Gulf of Mexico to Wisconsin for the summer? Just this week the common green darner (Anax junius) was observed in Marinette County near the Menominee River.
Because each wing is powered separately, these acrobats are able to move in all directions, catch their meals in flight, and sometimes avoid predators like birds, frogs, and fish.
If you're in Dane County on June 24, Clean Lakes Alliance is hosting an in-person gathering at The East Side Club from 4:00-5:00 p.m. to hear how and why dragonflies and damselflies are impacted by water quality of the Yahara lakes. Find out more about this event.
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Photo shows a female green darner laying eggs under a lily pad while a male holds onto her.
photo by Robert Korth
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Lakes and Rivers Convention
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SAVE THE DATE for 2026!
“Decades of Dedication”
April 15-17, 2026
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Searchable Convention Collection
Didn't get to all of the Convention presentations you wanted to attend? Maybe you just want to see a specific slide from a particular talk. We have gathered many of the presentations (recordings, PDFs, and additional materials) from 2025 and previous years and put them into a searchable database to make it easy for you to find what you need. This searchable collection is combined with over 2000 articles from our Lake Tides newsletter over the past 50 years, so choose the collection you'd like and type a keyword into the search bar.
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Monthly Lake Org Chats
Extension Lakes is recording informal monthly chats focused on specific topics that are relevant to both lake associations and districts. The goal is to share relevant topics in a fun and engaging way and provide additional resources to lake organizations throughout the state. There are currently five episodes available on our YouTube channel, including:
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- Developing Organizational Capacity for Lake Groups
- Communicating Effectively Using Email
- Planning for the Annual Meeting
- Aligning Budgets with Purpose
- Handling Finances
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Aquatic Plant Management Public Input Meetings - June 4, 5, 10, 11
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host public input opportunities for the state's aquatic plant management (APM) program in June 2025. These in-person public meetings will be repeated in different areas of the state to allow for feedback from the public on the proposed changes to the APM program. 4:00 PM start time
June 4 - Oshkosh - UW Extension - Oshkosh, 625 E. County Road Y, Ste 600
June 5 - Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc Public Library - Lyke Meeting Room, 200 W. South St.
June 10 - Hayward - Hayward High School - Auditorium, 10320 N. Greenwood Ln.
June 11 - Rhinelander - Nicolet College - Northwoods Center Conference Space, 5350 College Dr.
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Clean Boats, Clean Waters Drain Campaign - June 6-8
During DNR’s Free Fishing Weekend, CBCW inspectors will be out across the state reminding anglers and boaters to always drain the water from their livewells, boats, and other equipment before leaving the boat landing and fishing access points. Draining is an important step towards preventing the spread of AIS!
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Free Fishing Weekend - June 7-8
Don’t forget the first weekend in June is free fishing weekend in Wisconsin - no license needed!
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Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference - June 20
This conference provides an annual opportunity for lake enthusiasts, local government officials, and others interested in protecting our water resources to attend educational presentations and network with conference attendees in northwest Wisconsin.
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Invasive Species Awareness Weekend - June 21-22
This weekend aims to raise awareness of the many invasive species that threaten our natural habitats and encourage folks to learn more and take action!
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Surface Water Grant Program Guidance Public Comment Deadline - June 23
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Great Lakes Landing Blitz - June 30-July 13
Wisconsin’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) program launched the first Landing Blitz campaign in 2008 and, thanks to the energy and commitment of our CBCW participants, the outreach event was a great success! Fellow water-rich states took notice. In 2018, the event became a collaborative education effort among all of the Great Lakes states and provinces.
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Wave Watch buoy splashes as it lands in Lake Superior - photo by Jon Okerstrom
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Improving Boater Safety on Lake Superior with Technology
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