Kohl Announces $2 Million to Research Critical Great Lakes Issues, Including Threat From Asian Carp

Federal Funding for Education and Outreach on Invasive Species and More.

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl today announced the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute has received nearly $2 million to support research, education and outreach activities related to Lakes Michigan and Superior, including work to try and prevent the spread of Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species.

Read full text of press release.

E-Books

The Water Library invites you to read this interesting piece about a self-described "book pirate." The gentleman has some creative points on why he doesn't think of what he does as "stealing."

Wonder what Steve Jobs would say?

Read the full text here.

Can Asian carp invasion be averted?

Kathleen Schmitt Kline, science writer with the Aquatic Sciences Center at UW, discusses the science behind the news of an Asian carp invasion into the Great Lakes. This article recently appeared in the Bayview Compass, a monthly newspaper for Milwaukee’s northern neighborhoods and suburbs. The article begins:

In December 2009, an environmental emergency brigade of 450 Americans and Canadians descended on Romeoville, Ill., armed with nets, boats, and thousands of gallons of poison. The urgent, 20-agency response was brought on by recent environmental DNA (eDNA) tests indicating that Asian carp were closer to invading Lake Michigan than previously thought. The tests detect traces of Asian carp DNA in water samples within a 48-hour period.

Read the entire article here.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHS) in Lake Superior

You may have heard yesterday's news from Cornell University that scientists had found the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv), which causes fatal anemia and hemorrhaging in many fish species in fish from Lake Superior.

Press release from Cornell.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued this press release on the scientific findings.

To learn more about this disease in the Great Lakes, read Wisconsin Sea Grant's Phil Moy's questions and answers on the topic.

WDNR has a Web site on VHS.

Featured Web site: The Lower Fox River Basin

The Lower Fox River Basin encompasses 638 square miles in northeastern Wisconsin. The basin stretches from northeastern Winnebago County to the mouth of the Fox River in Brown County. The Lower Fox River originates at the outlet of Lake Winnebago and flows northeast for 39 miles where it empties into Green Bay. Click here to view a 360 ° panoramic view of the mouth of the Fox River where it empties into the bay.

Learn about what is happening in this river basin:

Link.

The care and feeding of your frog

Wisconsin's Water Library receives many questions form children and adults alike on how to care for a frog. We love to help our patrons with those questions. On that note, library staff would also like to offer a few titles you might consider buying if you are thinking of getting a frog for a pet:

Reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates : an identification and care guide Hauppauge, NY : Barron’s: 2001. Hobbyists will appreciate this pictorial identification guide and basic husbandry manual covering more than 250 species, subspecies, and color morphs of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. All animals shown in this volume can be purchased at pet stores and other outlets. The authors advise on the do s and don ts of purchasing, proper caging, and correct feeding.

Frogs, toads, and treefrogs : everything about selection, care, nutrition, breeding, and behavior Hauppauge, NY : Barron’s: 2007. Terrarium keepers will find advice from two of the country’s leading experts on amphibians, their housing, care, and breeding in this helpful title. This book is a title in Barron’s extensive line of Complete Pet Owner’s Manuals . Heavily illustrated with color photos and instructive line art, these books present information on housing, feeding, health care, the title animal’s traits—and where applicable, on grooming, training, and breeding.

Frogs and toads / By Steve Grenard. Hoboken, N.J. : Howell Book House: 2008. The authoritative information and advice you need to have frogs and toads as pets. Include easy-to-care for breeds and intriguing, exotic varieties. 2nd edition.

These books and more are all available for checkout from the library. Please send an email to askwater at aqua.wisc.edu

Reflect on Wisconsin's Maritime Past

With commercially navigable waterways on three sides, Wisconsin has a deep maritime past. From the small Mississippi River ports of La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, to the much larger Great Lakes facilities at Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Duluth-Superior, Wisconsin residents have been sailing, steaming, and hauling goods over our water for generations.

As this year's shipping season closes and lake boats prepare for the winter layup, now is good time to reflect on Wisconsin's maritime history with resources available at Wisconsin's Water Libary and the University of Wisconsin's Digital Collection Center (UWDCC).

The Water Library maintains a number of recommended reading lists. Check out this one on Great Lakes Ships and Shipping.

UWDCC includes a collection and digital portal dedicated to Wisconsin's "proud and colorful" maritime history. Learn more on their Great Lakes Martime History Project here.