On August 10, 2024, the Friends of Cherokee Marsh were Madison hosts for the annual search for aquatic invasive species on Snapshot Day. Volunteers gathered at Warner Park, then fanned out to survey 15 critical monitoring sites at nearby streams, lagoons, lakes, and wetlands.
Snapshot Day is a one-day, statewide event connecting volunteers, water lovers, and local groups in a search for aquatic invasive species (AIS). The Friends of Cherokee Marsh partnered with UW-Madison Division of Extension (the statewide coordinators), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Dane County (who provided AIS experts for training and verification), Wild Warner, and Friends of Starkweather Creek.
Invasive plants and animals can negatively impact habitat, wildlife, recreation, and health. Among the invasive species that our volunteers documented were the continuing presence of Zebra Mussels and Eurasian Water Milfoil in Lake Mendota and a new discovery of a patch of moneywort (aka Creeping Jenny) in Castle Creek at Warner Park. The invasive species we found will be verified and cataloged with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to guide species control and conservation management plans.
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