Agency Capacity: Wisconsin

Oct 12, 2021

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Recreational Boating AIS Prevention Programs

Agency Capacity: Wisconsin

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Legend

Program component has been implemented in this jurisdiction

Program component has not yet been implemented in this jurisdiction

Program Component

Status

Details

Dedicated/pathway-specific funding

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There is a streamlined grant program that allows local organizations to apply for $4,000 to run 200 hours of watercraft inspection. There is currently no cap on this funding and for 2020 about $700,000 was awarded as part of this grant program. Watercraft inspections can also be funded as part of larger surgace water grants and $90,000 of GLRI funding has been used to augment Great Lakes basin inspection efforts.

Pathway-specific dedicated time for program staff

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The Wisconsin DNR funds a position through UW Extension Lakes to manage Wisconsin’s watercraft inspection effort. Support to the program is also provided by UW Extension staff through a DNR contract to extension. Limted term DNR employees are used to help coordinate these efforts at a regional level. AIS coordinators that work for local partners are funded through DNR grants help coordinate these efforts at a local level. There is some GLRI funding being used to fund pathway specialists for the DNR. One of these positions is working to learn more about various recreational water user pathways in WI.

Pathway-specific dedicated time for outreach staff

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The Wisconsin DNR funds a position through UW Extension Lakes to manage Wisconsin’s watercraft inspection effort. Support to the program is also provided by UW Extension staff through a DNR contract to extension. Limted term DNR employees are used to help coordinate these efforts at a regional level. AIS coordinators that work for local partners are funded through DNR grants help coordinate these efforts at a local level

Pathway-specific dedicated time for law enforcement officers

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While any officer in the state of Wisconsin could enforce regulations, conservation law officers are not assigned specific hours to dedicate to enforcement of the recreational boating pathway. They are, however, allowed a certain number of hours for AIS enforcement and education. The number is low – maybe 40 hours/year total. It could be recreational boating enforcement, but it can also end up being used for responding to new AIS findings and or enforcement in other pathways

Specific AIS training for law enforcement officers

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Wisconsin previously implemented a Water Guards program of seasonal wardens that specifically focused on AIS and boater education. Many of those officers are now full-time wardens and may emphasize the importance of AIS training, but the Water Guards program has since been disbanded and no specialized formal AIS training is implemented currently

FUNDING A dedicated fund to support implementation and/or maintenance of a watercraft inspection/decontamination program is established through legal provisions

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A fund is not specifically established in statute

CLOSURE OF WATERS State-/province-managed boating access points can be closed and boating activities restricted if necessary to respond to an aquatic invasive species threat in that body of water

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Not implemented; additionally, locally managed landings that have received DNR funding are not able to close landings without gaining DNR approval.

PENALTIES Penalties for violations of all relevant AIS prevention regulations are established

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Wisconsin law authorizes both civil and criminal penalties