Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Prepare for your summer excursions and adventures by signing up to receive air quality advisory notices from the DNR. Individuals who sign up for notices receive updates about air quality conditions in their county. Poor air quality can affect children, older adults, people who work outdoors and those with respiratory or cardiac-related illnesses. Staying up-to-date on current conditions can help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being when planning to explore the outdoors. It’s easy to sign up! Just visit the DNR’s Air Quality News and Subscriptions webpage: https://lnkd.in/dbkiCWW

Anglers, have you ever wished your catch could contribute to science? If you take a trip to the Northern Highland Fisheries Research Area (NHFRA), it can! Located near Boulder Junction in Vilas County, WI, the NHFRA consists of five lakes (Escanaba, Nebish, Pallette, Spruce and Mystery) that have been continuously managed for experimental fisheries research since 1946. The best part? Anyone who fishes the NHFRA directly contributes to their long-term angler database. This year at the NHFRA’s Escanaba Lake, scientists have begun studying the effects of predetermined harvest levels on a formerly unexploited walleye population. A mandatory creel survey means that when you opt to fish here, the data relating to your harvest is recorded in what has become one of the largest creel datasets in the world. To learn more about these lake's history, current regulations and how you can contribute to science by fishing, you can visit the NHFRA homepage at https://lnkd.in/gaE4Px_A

We're looking for a Remediation and Redevelopment Regional Program Supervisor to join our team at the DNR Green Bay Service Center. This position is responsible for supervising, directing and implementing all aspects of the Remediation and Redevelopment Program. This position is responsible for developing, managing, coaching, mentoring and supervising permanent and LTE staff. Additionally, this position serves on the Remediation and Redevelopment Program management team and is expected to be an active contributor. Customer and partner groups may include local governments, businesses, consulting firms, manufacturing industries, non-profit organizations, tribal governments, DNR staff, the general public and other government and educational representatives. To learn more about the position requirements and to apply, visit Wisc.jobs and search Job ID 13870. Applications are due June 17, 2024.

The DNR’s E-Cycle Wisconsin program has reached a milestone of 400 million pounds of electronics collected for recycling since its inception in 2010! During the most recent program year, all 72 Wisconsin counties had at least one electronics collection site or event, including at least 60 free collection events in 39 counties. The DNR’s E-Cycle Wisconsin 2024 report provides the latest assessment of the state’s electronics recycling law, including a discussion of current challenges and potential solutions identified through conversations with participants and the public. Read the full report or a quick summary at https://lnkd.in/gjvJF2H.

You probably wash your dishes after you use them, but do you clean your fishing gear? Just like you don’t eat food off a dirty plate to avoid getting sick, washing your fishing gear can help prevent fish diseases and the spread of aquatic invasive species between water bodies. Before leaving your fishing location, remove all water, aquatic vegetation and/or mud from your fishing equipment. All gear, including boats, trailers, boots, waders, nets and float tubes, should be thoroughly cleaned and dried completely before being used again. To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, make sure to: - Remove plants and animals from your boat/kayak/canoe before and after use. - Drain all water from compartments. - Never move live fish away from any waterbody. Learn more about how you can help prevent the spread of invasive species in Wisconsin: https://lnkd.in/gyHnKmgS

We're currently recruiting an Identity & Access Management Administrator based in our headquarters in Madison. As part of the DNR’s central IT team, you'll serve as the agency’s principal technical authority on directory services, directory objects, group policies, scripting and server administration for all enterprise systems and devices assigned to the DNR. If this sounds like the next step in your career, head to wisc.jobs and apply by June 4, 2024. Search for job ID 13675.

Cicadas have now been emerging for two weeks in Wisconsin, and these periodic insects are often misunderstood. So, we're here to clear up a few common misunderstandings. 1. Cicadas don't sing using their mouths like other insects or animals. Male cicadas make their songs using a pair of rigid membranes (called tymbals) on their abdominal segment. The hollow abdomen of a male cicada can act as a resonating chamber, making their songs extremely loud. 2. Cicadas don't sting or bite and have minimal lasting impact on plants. Adults feed by sucking plant fluids from deciduous trees and shrubs, but mature plants can usually survive even the densest emergences of cicadas without permanent damage. 3. Only Brood XIII cicadas, with a 17-year life cycle, can be seen in Wisconsin. These are not invasive; their native range includes the state's southernmost counties. Records back to the mid-1800s show emergences along the southern border.

Want to try fishing this Free Fun Weekend, June 1-2? Borrow some gear for free at a tackle loaner site. There are almost 60 fishing tackle loaner sites across Wisconsin, with about half of them located at state parks. At most of these sites, you'll find basic equipment like rods and reels, bobbers, hooks, lines and sinkers. Learn more and find a tackle loaner site on our website: https://lnkd.in/gHzEcmPg On Free Fun Weekend, you can explore it all with state park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes waived. If you're fishing, remember that all bag and size limits, species restrictions and all other regulations apply.

The DNR's Air Management team, in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a number of Milwaukee-area organizations, is setting up a study to provide publicly available, real-time air sensor data in a Milwaukee community where a variety of air pollutants have been monitored for decades. This project is designed to identify areas where air quality disparities exist and help identify mitigation options that can be locally implemented to resolve the disproportionate impacts. To learn more about the DNR’s initiatives to enhance environmental justice efforts and address climate change, visit https://lnkd.in/gEfE8T8e

Have you ever wondered how certain land and water areas get prioritized for habitat conservation? The answer is driven by data! For Wisconsin waterfowl, a broad range of data points, from wetland proximity to seasonal distribution, are compiled to prioritize areas that, if conserved, will have the most positive impact on local populations. Currently, a study led by the DNR’s Amy Shipley seeks to make this model even more comprehensive by adding additional data points into the mix. “We recently updated the model using data from the community science project eBird, which tells us which areas in Wisconsin have the largest numbers of ducks,” Shipley said. She says it’s important to keep in mind, though, that just because a wetland has lots of ducks doesn't necessarily mean it's the best habitat for producing and maintaining healthy populations. “We are also collaborating with researchers at UW-Stevens Point who are using drones and a heat-sensing camera to count ducklings even in thick vegetation," she said. "This will allow us to confirm whether the areas that we have identified as priorities for conservation are also the most important for maintaining populations.” You can learn more about Shipley's research on our website: https://lnkd.in/ggf-4uST