The results of Northland College’s research, in collaboration with local agencies, will help inform targeted strategies to control the spread of invasive species, ensuring the long-term health of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage—a vital resource for tourism, recreation, and local economies.

Northland College’s Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation is equipping students with real-world research experience while contributing to the protection of Wisconsin’s natural resources.

Through a collaborative initiative with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, Northland students played a key role in surveying and assessing the spread of the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil in the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage.

Eurasian watermilfoil, first detected in the flowage in August 2023, poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and recreational activities, which are vital to Wisconsin’s economy. The Burke Center, working alongside the North Lakeland Discovery Center, deployed student research teams to conduct aquatic plant surveys in the summer of 2024.

Using specialized tools, the students gathered and analyzed samples, helping to determine the current extent of Eurasian watermilfoil and the health of the flowage’s aquatic plant diversity.

“While the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil is concerning, the data we collected will be invaluable for guiding future management strategies,” said Cayla Cavey, the Burke Center assistant operations and lab manager. “Our students are gaining critical field experience that prepares them for careers in environmental science, conservation, and resource management.”

This initiative reflects Northland College’s commitment to experiential learning, where students engage directly with pressing environmental challenges while supporting Wisconsin’s conservation efforts. By collaborating with government agencies and local organizations, Northland students gain hands-on skills that translate into high-demand careers in water resource management, ecological research, and environmental policy.

The results of this research will help inform targeted strategies to control the spread of invasive species, ensuring the long-term health of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage—a vital resource for tourism, recreation, and local economies.