World Aquatic Environmental Science Institute - WAESI

03/08/2026

We’re hosting a silent auction for an Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters gift basket, with all proceeds going directly to our mission here at WAESI.
If you're a fan of good coffee, here’s your opportunity to try a local roast while also helping us expand education and engagement for our aquatic ecosystems.

You can place your bid in one of two ways:
• In-person: Visit the WAESI table at the Western Aquatic Plant Management Society - WAPMS conference here in Coeur d'Alene from March 9-11th.
• Online: Send us a Facebook message with your bid amount, your email address, and a phone number.

• Timeline: The winner will be contacted on the morning of March 11th.
• Delivery: We will deliver the basket locally once payment is processed.
• Shipping: If you aren’t local to the area, we can discuss shipping options as needed.

Thanks for supporting aquatic science and our local coffee scene. Good luck!

11/27/2025

Did you know?
Thanksgiving Cranberry

The cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is one of the few commercially harvested fruits native to North America, and is “cousins” (the same genus Vaccinium) with the blueberry and huckleberry. The cranberry belongs to a fascinating ecological group known as hydrophytes: plants physiologically adapted to growing in saturated or submerged conditions.

Unlike most fruit crops cultivated in well-drained soil, cranberries are commonly produced in concave, peat-based wetlands called bogs. During the growing season, the vines remain in moist, acidic sand layers, but at harvest the bogs are deliberately flooded. The fruit’s small internal air pockets cause the berries to float, allowing for the iconic wet harvesting method that turns entire fields into shimmering red expanses.

This adaptation not only makes mechanical harvesting efficient but also reflects an extraordinary strategy for surviving in waterlogged, low-oxygen environments.
So as you enjoy cranberry sauce today, you’re tasting the product of a true hydrophyte, one of the rare fruits that spends much of its life cycle with its roots underwater.

Grateful for the remarkable plants that end up on our plates.

11/16/2025

🌿 Sponsorships Now Open for the 2026 WAPMS Annual Meeting! 🌿

The Western Aquatic Plant Management Society ( ) invites sponsors to join us in supporting innovation, collaboration, and education in .

Sponsoring offers valuable visibility among scientists, managers, industry professionals, and students dedicated to protecting our aquatic ecosystems.

✨ Multiple sponsorship levels are available --> explore the options and secure your spot today!
👉 Visit our website to learn more and sign up --> https://wapms.org/event-6345207

**ds

11/16/2025

Grass Carp can be picked out quickly by looking straight down at the head. It is the only invasive carp with an upper lip you can see from above. If you catch one, do not release it. Take clear photos, note your location (GPS if possible), and report it to EDDMapS.org.

Learn more at https://invasivecarp.ca/grass-carp-identification-and-reporting-guide/

09/26/2025

Recently I traveled to Portugal to speak to the International Aquatic Plants Symposium about a new survey method I developed for aquatic biodiversity. If you have any questions about aquatic plants or how to survey them, identify them, etc— please reach out!

09/13/2025

Battling water stargrass to let salmon shine again 🐟

Since Sept 2, crews have been removing thick mats of this invasive aquatic plant from the lower Yakima River. Left unchecked, water stargrass chokes the river’s flow, blocks fish passage, and reduces water quality.

By controlling water stargrass, WDFW and partners are restoring critical habitat for fall Chinook, steelhead, and coho—species that depend on healthy rivers to thrive. This project runs through Sept 30 and represents a hopeful step toward bringing balance back to the Yakima.

🔗Full article linked in the comments.

Photo by Jim Isleib via iNaturalist (CC0)

09/10/2025

09/03/2025

🌊 Big News & Exciting Update! 🌎

This page is transitioning from Lakeland to a new nonprofit, the World Aquatic Environmental Science Institute (WAESI), based right here in North Idaho. *** Lakeland will still run as usual!

I founded WAESI to connect global science with our local communities in Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Much of what WAESI will do builds on the same values that guided Lakeland Restoration, like healthy lakes, rivers, and wetlands. So, this will be a smooth and natural transition.

💡 A quick note: If you need to reach Lakeland Restoration for services, please continue to use the website, phone, or email, since Lakeland won’t be using Facebook for business inquiries anymore.

Going forward, this page will highlight WAESI’s educational programs, community projects, and opportunities to get involved. I’d love your support as we grow this nonprofit to make an even bigger impact, both locally and (hopefully) send some local students/stakeholders on cultural exchange across the globe.

Thank you for following along. I’m excited to share this next chapter with you!

Warm Regards,

Luke Huffman
Owner of Lakeland Restoration
PhD Candidate, University of Wisconsin

08/27/2020

Join aquatic plant scientists Brett and Eryn as they take over our Instagram account to hunt for invasive plant species. Stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes look at how they protect our waterways.

05/30/2020

has been problematic in since the late 1800s. Pictured here is waterhyacinth covering in 1966 before & after management efforts. Restoring & conserving is a major goal of .



📸: JS