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ReadyWisconsin  / September 2012 Editorial

What if you knew that today was the day before a disaster? What if you knew that tomorrow something very bad was going to happen in your community that would put the lives of your family and friends at risk?  What would you do?

You probably would get ready for that emergency. Maybe you would run to the store to get some last minute supplies or put a disaster kit together with items you really need such as food, water and a first aid kit. Maybe you would call your loved ones to make a plan to stay safe.

Of course, no one ever knows when disaster will strike. That’s what September Preparedness Month is all about. It’s about getting ready for all types of emergencies and disasters before they happen.

Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere, from severe weather like tornados and winter storms to chemical spills and other man-caused emergencies.  This September, please prepare in the event your family must go for a few days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or pharmacy, or other local services. Just follow these three steps:

GET A KIT

Keep enough emergency supplies on hand for you and your family – water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, prescriptions, flashlight, and a battery-powered radio. If you own pets, remember to include their food and supplies.

MAKE A PLAN

Discuss and develop an emergency plan with your family.

BE INFORMED

Knowing the dangers and making good decisions can save your life.

For more information, please visit the ReadyWisconsin website: readywisconsin.wi.gov

Individuals and families are the most important members of the nation’s emergency management team. Being prepared can save precious time and save lives.

Live Ready! Prepare like it’s the day before disaster.

It's Swimmers Itch Season

With summer comes another common nuisance, swimmer's itch.  See the fact sheet below for more information.

WISCONSIN DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Department of Health Services

"Swimmer's Itch"

(cercarial dermatitis, schistosome dermatitis)

Disease Fact Sheet Series

What is swimmer's itch?
Swimmer's itch is a skin rash caused by a parasite (shistosomes) which ordinarily infect birds, semi-
aquatic mammals, and snails. Common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, ducks, geese, swans,
muskrats and moles have been found to carry the parasite. As part of their developmental life cycle,
these parasites are released from infected snails, migrate through the water, and are capable of
penetrating the skin of man. After penetration, these parasites remain in the skin and die but can
cause an allergic reaction in some people. The parasite in man does not mature, reproduce or cause
any permanent infection.

Who gets swimmer's itch?
Only about one third of the people who come in contact with the parasite develop swimmer's itch.
People who swim or wade in infested water may experience this itchy rash. All age groups and both
sexes can be involved, but children are most often infected due to their habits of swimming or wading
in shallow water and playing on the beach as the water evaporates from the skin. Swimmer's itch may
be prevalent among bathers in lakes in many parts of the world, including the Great Lakes region of
North America and certain coastal beaches.

How is swimmer's itch spread?
An individual may get the infection by swimming or wading in infested water and then allowing water
to evaporate off the skin rather than drying the skin with a towel. Person-to-person spread does not
occur.

What are the symptoms of swimmer's itch?
Whenever infested water is allowed to evaporate off the skin, an initial tingling sensation may be felt
associated with the penetration of the parasite into the skin. The irritated spot reaches its maximum
size after about 24 hours; the itching may continue for several days. The symptoms should disappear
within a week.

How soon do the symptoms begin?
A person's first exposure to infested water may not result in the itchy rash. Repeated exposure
increases a person's allergic sensitivity to the parasite and increases the likelihood of rash
development. Symptoms may appear within 1 to 2 hours of exposure.

What is the treatment for swimmer's itch?
There is no treatment necessary for swimmer’s itch. Some people may get relief from the itching by
applying skin lotions or creams to the infected site.

When can you get swimmer's itch?
The first outbreaks usually occur in late May or early June. The outbreaks in Wisconsin may last from
2-weeks in the northern lakes to a month in the southern lakes. In some lakes it may last the entire
summer.

- more -

What can be done to reduce the chances of getting swimmer's itch?
• Toweling off immediately after swimming or wading in infested water can be very helpful in
preventing rash development.
• Swim in water away from the shore.
• Avoid swimming in areas where snails have accumulated.
• Don't encourage birds to stay near swimming areas by feeding them.

DEVELOPED BY THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BUREAU OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY SECTION
P-42094 (Rev. 05/04)

Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness

Wisconsin’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 16-20. For the first time, Radio, TV and cable channels will participate in the statewide Tornado Drill on Thursday April 19^th with a mock Tornado Watch at 1pm and a mock Tornado Warning at 1:45pm ending at 2:00pm. This is a great time to make sure your family is ready for tornado season. It is also a great time to remember the important lessons learned from last year’s tornado outbreaks across the country.

On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornados in U.S. history strikes Joplin, Missouri directly killing 159 people and injuring over 1,000. The massive EF-5 with winds over 200 mph hit the city of more than 50,000. That’s about the same size as Wausau. Why were there so many deaths even with a warning? A National Weather Service study on the Joplin tornado reveals important lessons learned:

• A majority of residents did not immediately seek shelter when tornado warnings were issued.
• People needed between two and nine warnings to take action and seek shelter. For example, if they heard the sirens going off they would look in the sky, then go to a TV to get information and then call a friend, etc.
• The time it took between those warnings and seeking shelter cost lives.

Listen, Act, and Live

What you can do during tornado season.

Listen: When severe weather is possible (Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch issued) pick a credible source of information and keep in touch with that source until the danger has past. One of the best tools is a NOAA Weather Radio (also know as an Emergency Weather Radio).  

If your community has a siren, be advised that sirens are intended to warn people outdoors not indoors.  Use a weather radio or local media for your warning source if you are indoors.

Act: When you hear a Tornado Warning (tornado seen by spotters or detected on radar) seek the best shelter you can find immediately. Don’t waste time checking multiple sources of information. You may have only seconds to find a safe place.  

Live: Your chances of survival multiply with a plan. Hopefully the storm will pass with no damage. But don’t risk your life on a hope.

Storm Classifications Explained

·         Tornado Watch- Severe thunderstorms with tornadoes are possible in your area.  Remain alert for approaching storms.  Be prepared to move to safety if a Warning is issued.  Know what counties are in the watch area by listening to NOAA weather radio All Hazards or local radio or television stations.

·         Severe Thunderstorm Watch-Thunderstorms with large hail or damaging winds are possible.  Be prepared to move to safety if a Warning is issued.

·         Tornado Warning- A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.  Move to a place of safety now!

·         Severe Thunderstorm Warning- A thunderstorm with large hail and damaging winds has been reported or indicated by weather radar. 

Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm! 

Actions You Should Take During a Storm

• In a home or building, avoid windows. Move to a basement, and get under a sturdy table or the stairs. A specially-constructed "safe room" within a building offers the best protection. Use an internet search engine and search for "safe room" for more information.
• If a basement is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and cover yourself with anything close at hand: towels, blankets, pillows. If possible, get under a sturdy table, desk or counter. Put as many walls as possible between you and the storm. 
• If caught outdoors, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to shelter, get into a vehicle, buckle your seatbelt and drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have two options as a last resort:
  - Stay in the vehicle with the seatbelt on and place your head below the windows.
  - If you can safely get noticeably lower than the roadway, exit the vehicle and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Do not seek shelter under an overpass.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the designated storm shelter or the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building.

At school, follow the drill. Go to the interior hall or room. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

Actions You Can Take Before the Storm

• Develop a plan for you and your family for home, work, school and outdoors. Know the safest shelter areas in multiple locations.
• Have frequent drills.
• Keep a disaster supply kit in your home including water, food that won’t spoil and needs no heat to serve, first-aid kit, NOAA Weather Radio (also known as an Emergency Weather Radio), a flashlight and special items for children and elderly family members. 

For more information visit the ReadyWisconsin website: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov or contact your local emergency management office.  You’ll find great information on how to protect you and your family from tornadoes and other severe weather threats.

Invasive Species Planning and Control Continues through Multi Disciplinary Workgroup

This is an annual update on progress made toward preventing introduction of new invasive species and controlling present invasive species on Menominee County/ Reservation lands.  The Invasive Species Management Plan (“ISMP”) Committee, which includes representatives from Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW), Menominee County, University of Wisconsin (“UW”)-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (“WDNR”), work off of an approved Invasive Species Management Plan (ISMP) to coordinate all field level work.  This update is aimed at doing two things; 1) provide the public with an update on these issues and activities; and 2) helps the ISMP Committee monitor progress towards prevention, control and mitigation of invasive species.

Outlined below are the 2011 results of work carried out by the different ISMP Committee members along with work performed by MTE Forestry.  A short description of what was done, along with who to contact for more information is included with each invasive species that is either treated or monitored.  Additional information can be found on the MITW website at http://mitw-environmentalservicesdepartment.blogspot.com/. For general questions related to the ISMP, please feel free to contact MITW Department of Trust Resources (“MITW DTR”) at 799-5177, and for specific invasive species please use the identified contact information below.

2011 FIELD SEASON ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Aquatic

Eurasian water milfoil (EWM)

In May 2011, MITW Environmental Services Department in coordination with Menominee County Land Conservation Department (“LCD”) contracted for EWM treatments on 119 acres of Legend Lake and 6 acres of Moshawquit Lake.  Mapping was also contracted for and completed in October 2011, with 123 acres mapped on Legend Lake and 7 acres on Moshawquit Lake. The contracted treatment and survey work was completed by Cason and Associates, with their expenses covered by the Legend Lake Property Owners Association (“LLPOA”). For more information regarding EWM treatments, please contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710(LCD) or Heather Pyatskowit 799-6154 (MITW ESD).

Purple loosestrife

LCD identified several flowing plants around the shores of Southeast Bass Lake in summer.  LCD plans to move a few trap plants from the Keshena area, with Galerucella beetles on them, to these shores to introduce the bio-control beetles in 2012.  ESD surveyed along the Wolf River.  Several small groupings of flowering plants were noted throughout the river system within the Reservation.  For more information regarding purple loosestrife please contact Heather Pyatskowit at 799-6154 (MITW ESD).

Zebra mussels

Adults are spreading westward in Legend Lake and have been identified as far as Spring Lake. ESD sampled for Zebra mussel veligers on LaMotte, Round, Sand and S.E. Bass lakes this season.  The samples were sent to a WDNR lab and have been returned to ESD all being negative for zebra mussel veligers. For more information regarding zebra mussel survey results please contact Heather Pyatskowit at 799-6154 (MITW ESD).

Curly-leaf pondweed (CLP)

Curly-Leaf Pondweed (“CLP”) was identified and surveyed in Moshawquit Lake, but no controls have been implemented yet.  Controls will most likely be implemented in 2012, similar to what Legend Lake has done.  Hand pulling was to be accomplished in summer 2011, but volunteer efforts did not get to it in time.  It was estimated to be at about 7 acres in June 2011.  In addition to the 19.3 acres that were treated in Legend Lake in May, 10.8 acres of new curly-leaf pondweed beds were identified in the June survey. This suggests that curly-leaf pondweed is still increasing in Legend Lake. However it is unlikely that all 30.1 acres of curly-leaf pondweed that were identified will need treatment in 2012.  For more information regarding treatment of CLP, please contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710(LCD) or Heather Pyatskowit 799-6154 (MITW ESD).

Common Reed

LCD completed a foliar herbicide treatment with Rodeo™ brand glyphosate to the area of common reed along Highway 47 north of Neopit.  This treatment was approved by MITW ESD for aquatic application.  A survey will be completed in early summer 2012 to see how effective this treatment was on this reed extent.  For more information regarding Phragmites contact Jeremy Johnson at 799-5710 (LCD) or Doug Cox at 715-799-7086 (MITW DTR).

Terrestrial

Japanese barberry Extent

Several mature plants were found while conducting buckthorn surveys in a few areas by Legend Lake.  Each of them was cut and stump treated with a triclopyr solution in fall 2011.  New infestations of barberry have been discovered around the village of Keshena. An area of numerous plants in the southwestern part of town along the wolf river will need to be treated as soon as practicable.  MTE sprayed approximately 20 small plants with glyphosate on the south-side of Max Martin Road where the road borders Shawano Co.  For more information regarding barberry problems contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 (LCD) or Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246 (MTE).

Garlic mustard

In 2011, LCD treated around 1 acre in 13 separate spots along Hwy 55 prior to seed formation.  10 spots are located in the right-of-ways between Keshena Falls and Spirit Rock, 1 spot is at the intersection with Hwy WW, and one additional spot was found just north of the road to Big Smokey Falls.  Two spots were found and treated in Zoar in 2011 by LCD. LCD also treated a 300 sq. ft. patch near Silver Canoe Road by Legend Lake in follow up to previous treatments.  All areas of garlic mustard treated by LCD were completed with glyphosate.  DoTR coordinated with LCD on survey and treatment plans for large area of garlic mustard at Shotgun Eddy.  MTE spot treated garlic mustard with glyphosate and hand-weeding along Rt. 47 North of the Mill Pond to the Reservation Border, satellite infestations on Camp 23 Rd. and Old South Branch Rd., and forest roads and woods infestations in compartments 333, 104, and 234(west).  There are six sites where the interior forest has become invaded from the road-side infestations listed above. For more information regarding garlic mustard contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 (LCD) or Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246 (MTE).

Gypsy moth

LCD and MITW DoTR completed aerial treatment of 600 acres at Legend, Moshawquit, and Southeast Bass Lakes in 2010.  There was very little problem with gypsy moth caterpillars in 2011.  No treatments will be required in Menominee in 2012.  MTE did not spray in 2011 and egg mass surveys indicate a low probability for defoliation in spring 2012, as well.  For more information regarding gypsy moth contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 (LCD) or Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246 (MTE).

Spotted knapweed

LCD treated around 12 acres at 29 spots around Legend and Southeast Bass Lakes.  Areas treated ranged from small patches with 50 plants to 5 acres around the Legend Lake Dam #3.  LCD used both glyphosate and triclopyr on the knapweed.  Many mature plants in later summer were hand pulled, bagged and disposed of properly.  MITW DoTR and MITW Conservation utilized summer interns and youth employees to coordinate a hand pulling treatment in the middle village area.  Two separate sites were pulled, bagged and disposed of totaling approximately 1 acre.  More follow up will be needed in 2012 and should consist of surveys and treatments.  New sites were discovered within the sustained yield forest areas in the southeastern part of the Reservation.  One of the sites is being managed by MTE Fire Staff and received treatment during the field season.  The other sites are smaller and will be addressed in the same time period.  For more information regarding gypsy moth contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 (LCD) or Doug Cox at 799-7086 (MITW DTR).

Leafy spurge

Same patch along Old South Branch Rd. retreated.  There were only 12 plants left that were treated with glyphosate.  A follow up inspection will be done in 2012 to see if that patch is finally eradicated.  For more information contact Jeremy Johnson at the number listed above.

Cypress spurge

Treatments in 2010 appeared very effective as no signs of this invader were found in 2011 along CTH VV.  A new spot of cypress spurge was located along STH 55 about 1 mile north of Dickie Rd.  It is located on the east side of the highway and about 600 sq. ft. in the ditch.  There may be controls completed in 2012 by LCD if time permits. For more information contact Jeremy Johnson at the number listed above.

Wild parsnip

A large patch of wild parsnip was located by CHD and LCD marked and mapped it along CTH M.  The area on the south side of M is approximately 500 feet long in the ditch. This area is fairly dense with about 200 mature, flowering plants.  The area on the north side has a few scattered plants along 200’ of ditch.  Herbicide controls with glyphosate will be completed in summer 2012.  For more information contact Jeremy Johnson at the number listed above.

Exotic honeysuckles

Many mature shrubs were cut and stump treated in the northeast Legend Lake area in fall 2011.  Another area along Silver Canoe Rd was retreated along with buckthorn and garlic mustard.  Control areas probably totaled around 40 acres.  There are many more in this area that will need to be controlled in 2012.  As was the situation with Japanese barberry, many infestations of honeysuckle have been located within the Keshena area during work on urban forestry data collection.  These areas will need to be attended to in upcoming field seasons. MTE sprayed several patches of honeysuckle with glyphosate on the south-side of Max Martin Road where the road borders Shawano Co., along Co. highway VV, and in compartment 231.  For more information contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 or Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246.

Reed canary grass

No active management in 2011 by LCD.  Additional locations have been noted within areas of the sustained yield lands.  Under the supervision of the ESD the USFWS treated a 1 acre wetland that is shared by the Tribe and by a Berry Lake resident.  For more information regarding reed canary grass contact Heather Pyatskowit at MITW ESD 799-6154.

Buckthorns

LCD cut and stump treated/hand pulled saplings of all visible buckthorn plants on 40 acres around Legend Lake area in fall 2011. Some scattered specimens were located by Southeast Bass and LaMotte Lakes, and each of them within the right-of-way was cut and stump treated.  LCD and MITW DoTR hand pulled, and cut and stump treated a ½ acre area along the Wolf River between MITW Tribal Clinic and Menominee County Veterans Office.  Follow up on this area should be done in 2012. We need to work on controlling additional specimens on tribal lands in 2012; each of them has been marked with GPS coordinates. Several infestations of buckthorn have been located within the Keshena area during work on urban forestry data collection.  These areas will need to be attended to in upcoming field seasons.  For more information contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 or Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246.

Emerald ash borer

Purple prism traps, girdled ash trap trees, and visual searching for signs of the insect were negative for adults, larvae or damage. For more information contact Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246.

Oak wilt

24 prevention permits written out to landowners needing to cut oaks for construction or hazardous circumstances.  Vibratory plowing was completed at 3 sites for control of 2 existing pockets at Legend Lake in 2011.  MTE logged and severed root grafts among diseased and healthy oak trees at 120 sites, primarily in the eastern 1/3 of the forest, to prevent the spread of the disease.  For more information contact Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246.

Norway maple

No controls done to date.  All agencies need to keep watch for potential areas on routine survey activities.  Forest infestations of Norway maple will most likely occur nearby homes and yards.

Tansy

Several areas have been found within the sustained yield forest lands since 2010.  Two of the sites were treated by MTIW Community Development, but it has not resulted in control of the invasive due to the mechanical method used and this will also require further monitoring to detect additional spread that may have resulted due to inadequate treatment methods.  Other sites should be treated in the upcoming 2012 field season, but limited resources may be an issue. For more information regarding tansy contact Jeremy Johnson 799-5710 or Doug Cox at 799-7086.

Japanese knotweed

An area of knotweed was identified in the LLPOA yard waste site along Silver Canoe Rd.  It is on a berm around the brush/burn pit and about 1,000 sq. ft.  All stems were cut and placed on the burn pile by LLPOA and LCD in fall 2011, and all newly growing shoots will be treated with glyphosate in early summer 2012. For more information contact Jeremy Johnson at the number listed above.

Dutch elm disease

MTE observed that elms that reach poletimber size continue to succumb to this disease during general forest health surveys.  No potentially resistant trees were located.  For more information contact Dave Mausel 799-3896 ext. 2246.

Invasive basswood thrips

MTE observed that early spring damage to new leaves by this small insect were very minor during general forest health surveys. For more information contact Dave Mausel at number listed above.

Beech bark disease

MTE did not detect beech scale insects during forest health surveys in the northeastern 1/3 of the forest.  For more information contact Dave Mausel at number listed above.

Annosum root disease

MTE did not detect any signs or symptoms of this pathogen in collaboration with UW-Madison researchers.  Preventative treatment of conifer stumps with Cellu-treat wood preservative continued during logging operations due to infestations in Shawano and Oconto Co. For more information contact Dave Mausel at number listed above.

White pine blister rust

MTE continued to manage this pathogen by pruning during forest development projects to remove diseased branches and increase airflow in the stand. For more information contact Dave Mausel at number listed above.

Invasive earthworms

The College of the Menominee Nation staff and students and MTE collaborated with UW-Platteville researchers and students to study the impacts of night crawlers on forest soils and tree growth. For more information contact Dave Mausel at number listed above.

Butternut canker

MTE observed the continued decline of butternut trees due to this pathogen during general forest health surveys.  No practical integrated pest management methods exist, unfortunately, and no resistant trees were located.  Long-term studies on how to regenerate butternut with WI-DNR Forest Health Protection staff are ongoing.  For more information contact Dave Mausel at number listed above.

For a map of invasive species locations click on the link below.

Invasive Species Map