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Region
3 Dive Team
Scheduled
monitoring dives occur three times each year
on the St. Croix River. Periodic unscheduled
supplemental dives and dive work associated
with research or resource management augment
our understanding of zebra mussel numbers
and locations in the.
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The
Region 3 Dive team was established in 2000
with two dive members. In the first year,
all the diving was conducted with the National
Park Service (NPS). The St. Croix National
Scenic Riverway, NPS, established a Park SCUBA
dive team, in large part, to actively monitor
for the presence of zebra mussels. Members
of the team include staff from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and NPS. 
Ann Runstrom during Dive Training
FWS Photo |
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Scott Yess showing his mussel
FWS PhotoThe Region 3 Dive Team has eight members and active in several projects. Dive members have supported the Endangered Winged Mapleleaf and Higgins' Eye mussel projects. Divers have collected Higgins' Eye for propagation, which is conducted at Genoa NFH. After the mussels are collected, fish are infected with their glochidia (juvenile mussels). |
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Gearing up for a dive
FWS Photo
These fish are then placed in cages and set in rivers by the dive team. In several months the dive team goes back to monitor growth and survival of these young mussels. This technique has been very successful and has produced thousands of young Higgins' Eye. Divers have also collected Winged Mapleleaf to determine their host fish. |
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Dive team members have also conducted mussel surveys on trust areas of responsibility, helped on a Eurasian Water Milfoil removal project, and assisted on search and recovery of lost items. Team members have been trained in underwater photography, ice diving, search and recovery and river diving. Scott Yess, from the La Crosse NFWCO, is the Region 3 Dive Team Coordinator and Ann Runstrom is a dive team member.
The points of contact for this project are:
Scott_Yess@fws.gov
(608) 783-8432 or
Ann_Runstrom@fws.gov
(608) 783-8433
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Last updated:
December 14, 2009
