Local Volunteers, Professionals Praised for AIS Prevention Work
A number of conservationists in Vilas and Oneida counties have been recognized for their work in the 2025 Wisconsin Invasive Species Council's Invasive Species Action Awards.
Earning honors in the Northwoods are Vilas County Land and Water Lake Conservation Specialist Cathy Higley, Oneida County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Specialist Stephanie Boisemenue, Eagle River Chain of Lakes Association member Dave Mueller, and Clean Boats Clean Waters Coordinator Kenneth Frauenhoffer.
Higley and Boisemenue were both honored in the Professional Individual Category for their work.
As a lake conservation specialist with Vilas County, Higley has assisted more than 100 lake associations in her county. With over 15.6% surface water cover and 18.5% mapped wetland cover, Vilas County is 34% “wet” and garners great interest in tourism. Through her leadership, the Northwoods Businesses for Clean Waters group was established and has united water-using businesses to provide tools and guidance to protect their waters.
Higley's work with Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association (VCLRA) over the last few years to invite businesses to take part in AIS prevention has had positive effects on Northwoods waterways. The Northwoods Businesses for Clean Waters initiative invites businesses that rely or operate on local waterbodies, or are affected by water health to put together conservation plans and remain responsible stewards. These plans oftentimes focus on water quality, potential for runoff, AIS prevention, and shoreline habitat, Higley noted.
The partnership started several years ago, with VCLRA operating the program and staff at Vilas County Land and Water serving in an advisory role. According to VCLRA's website, the program focuses on "marinas, campgrounds, watercraft dealers and rentals, fishing guides, and other businesses that rely on Northwoods' water resources and have a vital role to play."
These business plans — under the guidance of a conservation expert — aim to create a tailored approach that reflects shared goals and values, as well as provide each participating business with useful tools and practices to protect area waters. Higley highlighted one outing last year that invited local students to help clean up a waterway in which the volunteers pulled 200 pounds of trash out of the 4-mile stretch.
Anyone who would like more information on the Northwoods Businesses for Clean Waters can visit VCLRA's website.
In Oneida County, Boisemenue’s passion and enthusiasm as the Oneida County AIS Coordinator is "infectious," according to Tara Bergeson, DNR Invasive Species team leader. In 2024, she and her team trained 180 volunteers, monitored 32 water bodies, reared and released 12,280 purple loosestrife biocontrol beetles, and engaged with 5,418 people at boat landings. "Her skills in education and leadership have greatly benefited her region," Bergeson added.
Individual Volunteers Honored
In the Volunteer Individual Category, Dave Mueller and Kenneth Frauenhoffer were recognized.
Mueller has been leading the efforts to control invasive species, especially Eurasian water milfoil (EWM), on the Eagle River Chain of Lakes in Vilas County since 2007. What started as a 300-acre EWM problem has turned into just 33 acres of manual removal annually. His efforts also include educating more than 1,000 landowners and getting them involved.
Mueller was nominated by Marc Groth, fellow Eagle River Chain of Lakes Association (ERCLA) member, not only for his ongoing work to help keep the chain of lakes a desirable place to recreate, but also for the time and efforts spent to train, manage and retain a swath of volunteers.
"The ongoing EWM management and monitoring program relies heavily on a dedicated set of volunteer surveyors, which are coordinated by Dave," Groth's nomination papers read. "Dave commits an amazing amount of effort to making sure this program runs smoothly and is continually staffed by a team of knowledgeable volunteers from the system. Dave also coordinates volunteer and professional manual removal efforts targeting EWM, yellow iris, purple loosestrife, and yellow garden loosestrife within the Chain. He takes the time to go out with each of the volunteers individually to train them how to identify the EWM vs the other native weeds such as native northern milfoil. Once they are trained, they continue to participate under Dave’s leadership."
Groth noted Mueller's integral role in developing the chain's comprehensive management plan in 2019, as well as his efforts to update ERCLA's Aquatic Plant Management Plan and oversee the submission of a required DNR grant by November of this year.
Thanks to Mueller's management plan project, the decision was made to dissolve all the individual lake associations on the Chain and combine under the ERCLA.
"Overall, the Eagle River Chain of Lakes would not be where they are today without Dave’s expertise, enthusiasm, and passion. Through his role of forming and installing the foundation of the Unified Lower Eagle River Chain of Lakes Commission and the Eagle River Chain of Lakes Association, entities now exist that have the capacity to preserve and protect the Chain moving forward," Groth said.
Bergeson applauded Frauenhoffer for his efforts in education for staff, volunteers, boaters and landowners that have prevented two nearby AIS species — EWM and spiny water flea — from entering Fence Lake, a 3,483-acre lake in Vilas County near Lac du Flambeau. "He also has shown impressive leadership skills as the coordinator for the Clean Boats Clean Waters efforts on Fence Lake," she added.
The Wisconsin DNR congratulated the winners of the 2025 Invasive Species Action Awards, presented by the Wisconsin Invasive Species council during Invasive Species Action Month. The governor-appointed council advises the DNR and the state legislature on invasive species issues.
"The council awards individuals and groups in professional and volunteer settings that positively impact the fight against the spread of invasive species. The winners represent all regions of Wisconsin," Bergeson said. "They used many different approaches in their efforts, but each winner is united in putting in long hours in the ongoing work against the spread of invasive species."
Invasive Species Action Month is celebrated each June. More information about invasive species and resources for helping to prevent their spread is available on the DNR’s website.