About Us

Our Mission

WAMSCO's mission is water conservation for the entire watershed: lakes, rivers, creeks, and groundwater. WAMSCO promotes Best Management Practices “boots on the ground” projects and assists with implementation to protect our natural resources. This includes various education events for our youth and the community year-round. Whether you live on the water, recreate on it, eat the fish out of it, or drink water, this resource affects everyone!

Shoreline Restoration

Shoreline restoration refers to the process of reviving and enhancing the natural habitats along coastlines. This practice aims to counteract the negative effects of erosion, pollution, and human activities on coastal areas. By implementing strategies such as planting vegetation, building seawalls, and removing invasive species, shoreline restoration helps protect shorelines from further damage while fostering biodiversity and improving overall ecosystem health. Proper shoreline restoration not only benefits local flora and fauna but also contributes to coastal resilience against natural disasters like storms and rising sea levels.

Aquatic Invasive Species Management

Aquatic invasive species management is crucial in protecting freshwater ecosystems worldwide. These species, often introduced through human activities, can have devastating effects on native plants and animals. Monitoring, early detection, and rapid response are key components of effective management strategies. Prevention through education, regulation, and enforcement is paramount to limit the spread of invasive species. Collaboration between government agencies, organizations, and the public is essential for successful management efforts. By working together, we can help preserve the balance and health of our waterways for future generations.

Education

At WAMSCO, we emphasize the significance of our city's waterways to the youth in schools. Through education, we aim to inform students about the crucial role these water bodies play in our ecosystem and daily lives. By teaching about the importance of preserving and protecting our waterways, we instill a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship in the younger generation. Understanding the value of our city's water resources is vital for creating a sustainable future for our communities.

Agriculture Best Management Practices

Agriculture best management practices (BMPs) are guidelines designed to help farmers enhance productivity while minimizing negative environmental impacts. These practices encompass a range of strategies such as soil conservation, nutrient management, pest control, water conservation, and waste management. By implementing BMPs, farmers can improve soil health, reduce erosion, conserve water resources, and protect biodiversity. Overall, BMPs play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity with environmental stewardship.

Time for another ‼Aquatic Invasive Species feature!‼ This week is Starry Stonewort! ⭐️ Starry Stonewort is a prohibited species in Wisconsin. In many inland water bodies, it can form dense mats on the bottom and potentially cause an impediment to bo
WAMSCO is so happy with how this property is turning out! 😄 After doing one planting in the spring, a biobag installation in the summer, and now this planting here in the fall, it's safe to say that this property will be one of the most beautiful o
This week's Aquatic Invasive Species feature is the Banded Mystery Snail! 🐌 Many of you water lovers may have seen these little guys in our lakes and rivers here in Shawano and Menominee. Banded mystery snails are a restricted species, so moving th
Wrapping up the last Seawall Removal and Native Planting of 2024! This one is on Shawano Lake! The riprap (rocks) looks wonderful and the native plants are going to fill in so nicely on this property. 🙌 Once again, we’d like to thank @prairie
We finished another one of our Seawall Removal and Native Planting projects! This one is on the Wolf River Pond, and thanks to our volunteers, we were able to finish the planting in a few hours. The riprap (rock) is embedded in the bottom of the riv
WAMSCO just finished one of our biggest plantings yet! With 4,000 sq. ft. of planting area and over 2,500 plants from @stone_silo_prairie_gardens, we were so grateful to have volunteers to help us get this done in ONE DAY! As functioning rain garden
It's time for another Aquatic Invasive Species feature! This week is Yellow Floating Heart! 🌼 Yellow Floating Heart is a prohibited species in Wisconsin. Although it sprouts a beautiful flower, this plant can densely cover areas of waterbodies to t
Youth Conservation Day was yesterday for Shawano's 5th graders! WAMSCO had a great time teaching about aquatic invasive species and the ways that everyone can help stop the spread! 🛑 Thank you to Shawano County Land Conservation and @navarinonature
What a fun time it was at Youth and Lady Day over at @jh_game_farm! We were so excited to share our organization with the community while they painted their very own fishing lures! 🐟 We hope you try them out and catch something cool! 😊 #wamsco #co
Announcing our Where's WAMSCO winners! 🥳 Congratulations to Jolene Tetzlaff, the Wichrowski Family, the Wiersma Family, the Lisowe Family, and the Johnson Family! We are so excited that you found all of our treasure boxes 🎁 around Shawano County...
✨LAST CHANCE!✨ You can still submit your Where's WAMSCO photos to wamsco.edu@gmail.com by the end of the weekend! WAMSCO will do a drawing on Monday, Sept. 2nd for each submission to win a BIG PRIZE! 🎁 #wamsco #scavengerhunt #treasurehunt #shawano
It's time for another Aquatic Invasive Species feature! This week is Non-native Phragmites! 🌾 No doubt many of you have probably seen this invasive species along riverbanks or roadways. It's most commonly identified by it's enormous height of over