Focus Area 2 Wisconsin Assessment Reports Released

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released for public comment eight draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for the State of Wisconsin. The purpose of each report is to evaluate key evidence to estimate the likelihood of an aquatic pathway forming and the possibility of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) using it to reach the adjacent basin, as part of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS).

The Wisconsin reports are available for download on the Focus Area 2 Documents page.

The reports, which were developed in coordination with federal, state and local partners, show that Portage Upstream (Columbia County), Portage and Canal Downstream (Columbia County), Rosendale-Brandon (Fond du Lac County) and Brule Headwaters (Douglas County) have a medium probability for the potential transfer of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv) from the Great Lakes Basin into the Mississippi River Basin.

Jerome Creek (Kenosha County), South Aniwa Wetlands (Marathon-Shawano County), Hatley-Plover River (Marathon County) and West Menomonee Falls (Waukesha County) have a low probability for the inter-basin movement of ANS.

Comments for the eight draft Wisconsin reports will be accepted from Nov. 27, 2012 through Dec. 27, 2012. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Focus Area 2 Documents page or mailed to:

USACE will host a stakeholder conference call Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 at 10 a.m. (Central) to answer questions regarding the Wisconsin reports. Call-in information is:

The overall objective of the Focus Area 2 portion of GLMRIS is to produce an interim report for each of the 18 potential aquatic pathways found between the two basins (outside of the Chicago Area Waterway System or Focus Area 1). These reports are the next step in a tiered approach to assess the probability associated with the spread of ANS between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

Additional reports focusing on potential pathways in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania will be released over the next few months, as they are completed.

Reports include: study methodology; aquatic pathway characterization; aquatic pathway viability for ANS of Concern; overall aquatic pathway viability and some potential opportunities that, if implemented, could prevent or reduce the probability of ANS transferring between the basins.

USACE will review and incorporate public input before finalizing and re-issuing the reports early 2013.

If you have any questions about this document, please contact the GLMRIS Focus Area 2 Team at 716-879-4260 or [email protected].