Research Project at Big St. Germain Lake Wisconsin and Lake Gogebic
August 2006
S-K Environmental contracted with the University of Notre Dame’s Department of Biology Sciences, and worked with John Rothlisberger, a Notre Dame graduate student in charge of collecting all data and sending to the lab to be analyzed as part of a research study on the practicality and effectiveness of removing aquatic invasive species (AIS) from boats and trailers at boat landings at several locations around the Great Lakes.
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Two phases of field work took place: first, controlled experiments to compare the efficacy of various methods for removing known quantities of AIS from boats and trailers and real-world trials of the wash/reclaim system in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin.
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The wash/reclaim system puts out 20 gallons of water per minute at 2000 psi through two under-body spray units and an articulated hand-wand.
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John Rothlisberger collecting data after boat was washed. |
Aquatic plant materials collected. |
The aquatic organisms that used in these trials were Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus).
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John Rothlisberger was interviewed for nightly news channel 12 special report. |
Public response after the News Story |
Project Partners included: USFS, The Nature Conservancy, Lakes Association, University of Notre Dame and S-K Environmental.