2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference

Discounted ticket for confirmed speakers, field trip leaders, and poster presenters attending in person.

Discounted ticket for one day of in person conference attendance for confirmed speakers, poster presenters, or field trip leaders.

Discounted ticket for 3-day, online conference attendance for confirmed speakers and poster presenters

Student Registration for 3 day, in-person, conference attendance. Registrants must have a .edu email address.

One day, in person, student conference registration. Registrants must have a .edu email address.

3-day, online, student conference registration rate. Registrants must have a .edu email address.

Tuesday November 12th 1pm-4pm Gadfly Stratton, University of Toronto This workshop will introduce participants to the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) and why DEIJA is important, specifically in invasive species contexts, so that community engagement efforts can be more effective, and folks doing this important work can feel safe and supported. Participants will also be introduced to concepts such as implicit bias, systemic barriers, and microaggressions. At the culmination of the workshop, participants will be asked to co-produce a commitment to DEIJA principles, with specific goals and objectives they would like to achieve. This document will be shared with the conference organizing agencies as well, to provide valuable insights into the specific DEIJA-focused goals and preferences of attendees.

Wednesday November 13th 8am - 9:40am Paul Skawinski, Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network at UW-Stevens Point, Aquatic Botany instructor at UWSP and author and photographer of Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest: a photographic field guide to our underwater forests"; Michelle Nault, Lakes and Rivers Section Chief for the Wisconsin DNR; Donna Perleberg, Research Scientist and Aquatic Plant Ecologist with the Minnesota DNR; Courtney Schirmers, Aquatic Botanist with the Minnesota Biological Survey. The Upper Midwest has an amazing diversity of aquatic plants. Knowing what to look for is key to distinguishing between the members of this important group of plants. Participants will learn the biology and identification of native and exotic aquatic plants of the Upper Midwest. The instructors will use a combination of laminated teaching specimens and fresh plants (as available) to teach participants to identify common native and non-native species.

Leaders: Deanna Erickson and Kirsten Rhude, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve; and Dr. Matt TenEyck, UW-Superior Lake Superior Research Institute Learn about the St. Louis River estuary at the Lake Superior Estuarium, where interactive displays tell stories of the St. Louis River Estuary, Lake Superior, and the communities on their shores. Second, visit the Ballast Water Testing facility operated by the Lake Superior Research Institute at UW-Superior to learn about large-scale efforts underway to protect the Great Lakes from introduced aquatic species. Third, visit the epic Lake Superior beach of Wisconsin Point, where staff at the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve are working to reduce the impacts of non-local plant species for a future resilient coast. Departure Time: November 12th at 12:00 PM Duration: 4 hours Activity level: Moderate

Tour Leaders: Liz Anderson, Kari Hedin, and Nate Quadhamer, Lake County SWCD; Heidi Rantala, Minnesota DNR; and Mark and Katya Gordon, Sea Change Expeditions Travel to two picturesque harbors on Lake Superior’s North Shore. Your first stop will be at Knife River Marina to learn about recent research into the origin and impacts of didymo. You will also learn about a unique experiential education experience focused on Lake Superior conservation – youth learn from a sailboat! Next, you will visit Agate Bay in Two Harbors, where you will tour a new project to restore shoreline habitat by removing numerous invasive species and replanting with natives. You will also learn about how populations of a state-listed glacial relic species are disappearing due to the introduction of a non-native relative, and consider the complexities of mountain ash. Departure Time: November 12th at12:00 PM Duration: 4.25 hours Activity Level: Moderate

Leaders: Melissa Sjolund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Kate Kubiak and Cliff Knettel, City of Duluth; Eben Phillips, Community Action Duluth; LaRae Lehto, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and Daryl Peterson, Minnesota Land Trust Where the St. Louis River meets Lake Superior, a unique 11,000 acre freshwater estuary is formed. Join us to learn how local, tribal, state, and federal partners are working together to improve and protect this biodiversity hotspot. Walk along the riverfront on the Waabizheshikana Trail and learn about community-driven invasives control efforts. Learn about locations where wetlands have been restored under the Great Lakes Area of Concern Program, manoomin (wild rice) is being reintroduced, and legacy contamination has been removed from the river. Departure Time: November 12th at 12:30 PM Duration: 3.5 hours Activity level: Moderate

Your contribution will help support in person and remote registrations to help ensure diverse and inclusive participation at UMISC 2024.