Explore the latest research on starry stonewort, zebra mussels’ impact on fish mercury levels, eDNA for volunteer AIS surveillance, and machine learning-driven boater movement modeling. Plus, discover new strategies for restoring native plant communities after invasive species removal, paving the way for more resilient lakes.

The Whitefish Area Property Owners Association (WAPOA) is again hosting its annual AIS Roundtable on Saturday, May 31st at 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.

It’s free, but you must register. The event will be held at:

Crosslake Lutheran Church

35960 Co Rd 66

Crosslake, MN 56442

Speakers include:

Dr. Nick Phelps/ MAISRC

Dr. Nick Phelps studies emerging threats to aquatic systems at both the macro and microbial
scales in the fields of fish health and aquatic invasive species, which lie at the intersection of
animals, humans and the environment. His goal is to identify threats, understand risks, and
ultimately develop long-term evidence-based management solutions to balance the needs of
all relevant stakeholders.

Denver Link/U of MN,

Denver Link is a research scientist at the University of Minnesota working with Dr. Gretchen
Hansen. His past research has focused on how invasive species, particularly zebra mussels, alter
aquatic food webs and fish mercury concentrations. He has a broader interest in understanding
how freshwater systems respond to environmental changes. He earned his M.S. in the Hansen
Lab and enjoys applying both field and quantitative approaches to address threats to aquatic
systems.

Abha Panda/U of MN

Abha Panda is a Ph.D. candidate working in Dr. Dan Larkin’s lab in the Conservation Sciences
program. She received her B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan and
has previously held research and communications roles related to water resources and
environmental justice. Abha’s current research focuses on actively restoring native plant
communities following invasive plant management in lakes as a means to build more invader resistant
plant communities. Outside of work she enjoys reading, biking, and spending time
exploring Minnesota’s natural wonders!

Molly Tilsen/ U of MN

Molly I. Tilsen is a University of Minnesota Water Resources Science master’s student. Her
research focuses on AIS spread and prevention, leveraging her background in aquatic ecology,
statistical modeling, data management, and human dimensions. By combining machine
learning with insights from infectious disease research, she is developing modeled networks of
boater movements to enhance decision support for AIS management in Minnesota.