August 9th

Join the statewide search for aquatic invasive species!

Follow us on Facebook for event updates and all things invasive species: https://www.facebook.com/uwaisprogram

An Overview of Snapshot Day

Snapshot Day is a statewide, one-day event connecting volunteers, water lovers, and local conservation groups in a search for aquatic invasive species (AIS). You can help protect Wisconsin’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands from these invasive plants and animals that may negatively impact habitat, wildlife, recreation and health. This event is coordinated in partnership with UW-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local partners, and YOU!

Check out our story map from 2022 and our blog post of the results of Snapshot Day 2024! And for an even more detailed look at Snapshot Day, check out our volunteer handbook.

What You’ll Do

You will meet at a local training site of your choosing, hosted by one of our local partners. After a short training on how to identify target aquatic invasive species and how to follow search protocols, volunteers will look for invasive species at critical monitoring sites, and potential invasive species will be verified and cataloged with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to guide species control and conservation management plans. This is a free event and no experience or special equipment is required.

This is event is recommended for ages 8 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult.

A virtual volunteer training will be held on August 1, 2025. The training will review event history and goals, search protocols, what to wear and how to prepare, and more! It will be recorded for those unable to attend live. To attend the live training, please register HERE.

Schedule – Day Of

8:30 AM    –   9:00 AM     Sign in at your Snapshot Day location and receive monitoring site assignments.

9:00 AM    –   9:30 AM     Brief training tailored to your monitoring sites.

9:30 AM    – 11:30 AM     Search for aquatic invasive species at monitoring sites.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM     Return to your Snapshot Day training location to report your finds!

*Times may vary slightly by location

Locations

You will choose the location where you would like to participate when you register. You will be contacted by your Site Leader with specific details prior to the event.

• Amery – Polk County (Lakeside Shelter at Garfield Park) Event held August 8
• Beaver Dam – Dodge County (Edgewater Park)
• Brodhead – Green County (Three Waters Reserve)
• Campbellsport – Fon du Lac County (Dundee Mill Park)
• Cedarburg – Ozaukee County (Covered Bridge County Park)
• Elcho – Langlade County (Post Lake Improvement Association Community Building)
• Elkhorn – Walworth County (Walworth County Government Center at Veteran’s Park)
• Fountain City – Buffalo County (Merrick State Park)
• Hartland – Waukesha County (Nixon Park)
• Hubertus – Washington County (Glacier Hills County Park)
• Jefferson – Jefferson County (Rock River Landing Park)
• Lake Tomahawk – Oneida County (Newbold Memorial Park)
• Madison – Dane County (Warner Park)
• Manitowish Waters – Vilas County (Rest Lake Park Pavillion)
• Manitowoc – Manitowoc County (Lower Henry Schuette Park)
• Milwaukee – Milwaukee County (Estabrook Park Pond)
• Montello – Marquette County (Marquette County EMS Station #1)
• Necedah – Juneau County (Petenwell Dam Boat Launch)
• New Richmond – Saint Croix County (Orf Family Overlook on Bass Lake)
• Richland Center – Richland County (Old Mill Pond Park Shelter)
• Sheboygan – Sheboygan County (Maywood Environmental Park)
• Tomahawk – Lincoln County (Wayside Park)
• Turtle Lake – Barron County (Wayside Park)
• West Salem – La Crosse County (Swarthout Park and boat ramp on Neshonoc Lake)
• Wisconsin Rapids – Wood County (East Wazeecha Picnic Area)

Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/667js4