Invasive Species Council

• Summary of Wisconsin's Comprehensive Management Plan
• Comprehensive State Management Plan [PDF 1.4 MB]

Establishment of the Council

Section 15.347 of the statutes, 2001 Wis Act 16, created the invasive species council, attached to the department of natural resources under s.15.03.

Council membership

The council consists of the following members:

• The secretary of DNR or his or her designee.
• The secretary of administration or his or her designee.
• The secretary of DATCP or his or her designee.
• The secretary of commerce or his or her designee.
• The secretary of tourism or his or her designee.
• The secretary of transportation or his or her designee.
• Seven other members appointed by the governor to serve 5-year terms. The members appointed shall represent public and private interests that are affected by the presence of invasive species in the state.

Governor Doyle appointed the following members in late December 2003 but no directive came to the Department to initiate the council. Those members include:

• Charles Henriksen - Henriksen Fisheries
• Gregory Long - Needles & Leaves Nursery
• Peter Murray - Wisconsin Association of Lakes
• Kenneth Raffa - UW Department of Entomology
• James Reinartz - UW Milwaukee Field Station
• Rebecca Sapper - The Nature Conservancy
• Dennis Seevers - retired
• Laurie Osterndorf - Department of Natural Resources
• Patrick Farley - Department of Administration
• Esther Chapman - Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection
• Bernice Mattsson - Department of Commerce
• Will Christianson - Department of Tourism
• Richard Stark - Department of Transportation

Council duties

The council shall make recommendations to the Department for:

• A system for classifying invasive species under the invasive species program.
• A procedure for awarding cost sharing grants to public and private entities for up to 50% of the costs of eligible projects to control invasive species.

In addition, the council shall conduct studies of issues related to controlling invasive species. The studies shall address all of the following:

• The effect of the state’s bait industry on the introduction and spread of invasive species.
• The effect of the state’s pet industry on the introduction and spread of invasive species.
• The acquisition of invasive species through mail order and Internet sales.
• Any other issue as determined by the council.

Council structure

To assist the council in its work, the council shall create 4 subcommittees on the subjects of education, research, regulation, and interagency coordination or additional subcommittees as needed.