B.26. WISCONSIN COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO PREVENT 
FURTHER INTRODUCTIONS AND CONTROL EXISTING POPULATIONS OF 
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES 
B.26.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WISCONSIN’S PLAN 
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant 
program, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission partnered to develop the 
Wisconsin Comprehensive Management Plan, which was released in 2003 (available at 
http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/compstateansplanfinalQ903.pdf ). The major goals of the Wisconsin 
Plan are Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) prevention, control, and abatement. As of 2003, the 
Great Lakes contained 163 exotic species of fish, invertebrates, pathogens, and plant species. 
The Management Plan outlines strategies to combat existing ANS as well as to protect inland 
waters from similar threats. The Management Plan also acts as a funding proposal to the 
national ANS Task Force. 
B.26.2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IN WISCONSIN 
Temperatures are projected to increase by 5 tol0°F (2.8 to 5.5°C) in the Midwest region 
by 2100. Precipitation is expected to increase by approximately 10 to 30%. Increasing 
temperatures are expected to increase evaporation, triggering a soil moisture deficit, reduction in 
lake and river water levels, and diminished groundwater recharge. For smaller lakes and rivers, 
reduced flows are likely to intensify water quality issues. In particular, eutrophication of lakes 
will likely increase due to increases in excess nutrient runoff from heavy precipitation events and 
warmer lake temperatures that stimulate algae growth (Easterling and Karl, 2001). 
As water temperatures in lakes increase, significant changes in freshwater ecosystems 
may occur. The zoogeographical boundary for fish species may shift north by 500 to 600 
kilometers, leading to invasions by warmer water fishes and extirpations of colder water fishes 
(Magnuson et al., 1997; Easterling and Karl, 2001). Temperature may limit the extent of zebra 
mussel colonization and has thus far kept populations in Lake Superior small. During the 
breeding season, when the water temperature is above 54°F (12°C), each mature female can 
produce several hundred thousand eggs. The longer this period, the more successful colonization 
will be. With summer water temperatures increasing in northern lakes, the currently small 
colonies may become more widespread (Easterling and Karl, 2001). 
B-86 
