Invasive Species Team

• Summary of Wisconsin's Comprehensive Management Plan
• Comprehensive State Management Plan [PDF 1.4MB]

Dave Blumer - NOR, Spooner, Lakes Self-help Coordinator
Jane Cummings-Carlson - Forest Health Coordinator
Eric Ebersberger - Bureau of Legal Services
Brad Eggold - SER, Water Institute, Lake Michigan Fisheries
Mark Endris - WCR, Eau Claire, Regional Fishery Biologist
Peter Flaherty - Bureau of Legal Services
Lisa Gaumnitz - Bureau of Communication & Education
Jennifer Hauxwell - Bureau of Integrated Science Services
Bill Horns -Bureau of Fisheries Management & Habitat Protection
Kelly Kearns - Bureau of Endangered Resources
Sherry Klosiewski - Bureau of Parks & Recreation
Paul Kooiker - NOR, Grantsburg, Wildlife Biologist
Bryan Lockman - NER, Sturgeon Bay, Conservation Warden
Ron Martin - Bureau of Watershed Management
Eunice Padley - Office of Forest Sciences
Mike Sieger - SER, Eagle, Forester
Matt Zine - SCR, Fitchburg, Endangered Resources

The above members represent the core team while an expanded team will be comprised of their supervisors and possibly others. The team members are chosen to represent specific programs, and together provide expertise on the breadth of invasive species issues in the Department. When a member leaves the team, the program should designate a replacement that will maintain the balance of the team.

The team will be a standing cross-divisional team. Members will serve for two years. At that time, their continuance on the team will be evaluated and they may be replaced or continue, as desired.

The team will help guide and organize the Department’s efforts on invasive species and report to and advise the guidance team on invasive species issues.

• Recommend actions for implementing the Department’s responsibilities for the statewide invasive species program as spelled out in the state statutes.
• Guide and coordinate efforts of Department programs involved in implementing activities and issues related to invasive species.
• Provide a forum for information sharing and discussion for ongoing and proposed activities.
• Provide recommendations to the Secretary on issues the Governor’s Invasive Species Council is involved in and provide input to the Council as appropriate.
• Evaluate the future threats posed by invasive species and recommend appropriate approaches to countering them.

The team will consider the following activities, and any other potential tasks related to invasive species, before they are adopted:

• Provide support and recommendations to the Secretary on issues related to the Governor's Invasive Species Council.
• Provide advice to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that consistent approaches are applied across all Department programs for prevention, control and mitigation or elimination strategies and monitoring and outreach efforts.
• Help finalize the draft comprehensive state plans for terrestrial species and assist in obtaining funding to implement those plans.
• Assess specific budget needs to implement an effective invasive species management program and recommend assistance to individual programs where needed.
• Help seek public and private funding for program needs.
• Identify gaps in existing department invasive species programs.
• Develop a process and criteria for classifying species according to their degree of invasiveness and recommend which species should be listed as invasive.
• Develop monitoring systems to track the spread of invasive and potentially invasive species.
• Work with partner organizations and agencies to encourage cooperation and to help minimize the introduction and spread of invasive species.
• Provide guidance on how to incorporate invasive species concerns into department decisions (i.e., master plans, environmental reviews and permit requirements).
• Recommend regulations needed to safeguard natural systems from the spread of invasive species.
• Recommend the procedures/rules needed to award cost-share grants to public and private entities.
• Assist in the development and implementation of education and outreach efforts.
• Participate in the development of the biennial reports to be submitted by the Department to the Governor, Legislature and Invasive Species Council.
• Assist in the development of a NR 1 policy on the intentional and unintentional introduction of exotic species.
• Identify specific native species or communities, which have been significantly impacted, or are at risk due to exotic species invasions, and develop protection or restoration plans as needed.
• Identify research needs.

The following decision-making process was adopted by the invasive species team at their December 2003 meeting:

1. Any issue that will be discussed and brought up for a team vote must be placed on the agenda at least one month prior to the team meeting by contacting the team leader, unless this procedure is waived by a majority of the team members.
2. The issue will be presented to the team by the member(s) whose program or region has the esponsibility for the initiative.
3. After discussion of the issue, the team will first try to obtain a consensus of the members in attendance. If that is not possible, a team vote will be taken. A simple majority vote will be required of all the team members before a recommendation can be adopted and advanced to the guidance team. A substitute will be allowed to vote for a team member if that person cannot be present.
4. For those team members not in attendance when a vote is taken, a summary of the discussion will be provided by email and they will have two weeks to weigh in on the issue.
5. For any issue that comes up for a vote, team members should consult with their colleagues and chain of command prior to voting on the issue to ensure they are representing their program or regional interests.
6. The final recommendation endorsed by the team will then be recorded as part of the minutes.
7. Recommendations from the invasive species team will be advanced by the team leader to the guidance team for endorsement/action.
8. If there is significant disagreement on an issue and a majority vote cannot be achieved, the team leader will present the various points of view to the guidance team and seek their advice on how to proceed.