Conducted in partnership with the Brown County Health Department, with grant funding, the creative services of O’Connor Connective were retained.
HABs are common in area waters, look like pea-green soup, and can be harmful to people and pets.
Brown County Health Department has posted caution signage from the campaign at Sunset Beach and Bay Shore Parks, with additional postings underway (see enclosed image).
The “Avoid the Ick” campaign includes warning signs, informational posters (see enclosed image), social media graphics, stickers, and an independent website with links to additional resources, including information in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. Those interested in joining the campaign may sign up to download promotional materials that can be customized.
The website is now live and can be viewed here: www.avoidtheick.org.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, NEW Water’s Sarah Bartlett and Jordan Murray, from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services led an informative HABs workshop in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
The workshop was funded by a grant from the Fund for Lake Michigan and supported by the Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Attended by more than 90 individuals, the workshop's goal was to inform local municipalities, health and service workers, and scientists of the current state of research, new outreach materials, unified messaging across human and animal health, and future needs to ensure the safety of those recreating and living by Wisconsin’s waters. Sarah Bartlett also spoke about NEW Water’s Aquatic Monitoring Program and the HABs monitoring collaborations NEW Water has been a part of on the Lower Fox River and Lower Green Bay.
The ‘Avoid the Ick’ campaign (mentioned above) was also presented at the workshop.