Greg Hitzroth, an aquatic invasive species (AIS) outreach specialist with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), has been honored with the 2024 Illinois Lakes Management Association (ILMA) Lake Guardian Award for his outstanding contributions to preventing the spread of AIS in Illinois waters and the Great Lakes region. Each year, ILMA recognizes a lake professional or volunteer who has demonstrated an exceptional effort throughout Illinois to preserve the quality of the state’s lakes. 

Since 2012, Hitzroth has dedicated himself to informing a variety of key audiences—such as boaters, anglers, and aquarium hobbyists—about the dangers of AIS and empowering them to take action. His approach has been marked by a thoughtful integration of social science tools and expertise, including needs assessments and surveys, to understand the mindset and motivations of those audiences. Armed with this knowledge, he has developed a plethora of targeted outreach products over the years to effectively engage Great Lakes communities, including websites, publications, airplane banners, radio announcements, signage, and more.

Hitzroth’s efforts began with a focus on water gardeners and aquarium hobbyists. Leveraging his background in botany, he developed resources to educate them and to help them consider preventing the spread of AIS when they acquire plants and animals for their gardens and when they dispose of unwanted organisms. To improve these outreach efforts, he collaborated with a social scientist from North Carolina State University to better understand when and why hobbyists release unwanted plants and animals. Results of a survey of over 500 hobbyists were used to inform outreach in Illinois and the Great Lakes region and were published in a scientific journal—likely, the first article of its kind.

Among other notable achievements was the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant AIS team’s use of risk assessment research from the University of Notre Dame and Loyola University to develop publications that inform retailers and consumers about alternatives to AIS in trade. These resources, including a suite of publications that focus on species defined as potential threats as well as safer choices, have been widely distributed and promoted at various events and retail locations, reaching thousands of people and encouraging informed decision-making.

Hitzroth’s commitment to outreach has extended beyond traditional methods, however. He spearheaded the Release Zero Retailer Program as part of IISG’s “Be A Hero” campaign, which unifies messaging on AIS prevention and provides a platform to engage diverse audiences. The program empowers retailers to educate consumers about pet and plant alternatives to known or potential invasive species, as well as other important information.

He has also organized takeback events for unwanted aquatic pets, with the goal of preventing the spread of non-native species, and employed creative messaging approaches such as art contests and airplane banners to raise awareness of AIS issues. His leadership also extends to the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative, where he led the effort in 2020−23 and played a pivotal role in addressing research and outreach needs.

In addition to his hands-on work, Hitzroth’s influence is evident in his extensive committee involvement and active grant projects. He has given numerous presentations, authored peer-reviewed publications, and developed over 30 outreach products during his tenure with IISG.

Through his dedication and expertise, Hitzroth has helped position IISG as a leading authority on AIS prevention in Illinois, and he is considered a regional expert regarding the “organisms in trade” pathway. Receiving the ILMA Lake Guardian Award is a testament to his efforts and contributions to preserving the ecological integrity of Great Lakes waterways.

As IISG continues to lead the charge against AIS, Greg Hitzroth brings innovation and leadership in the ongoing battle to protect our aquatic ecosystems. To learn more about aquatic invasive species and what you can do to help protect local waters, visit IISG’s AIS programs and initiatives page.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a partnership between NOAA, University of Illinois Extension, and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources, bringing science together with communities for solutions that work. Sea Grant is a network of 34 science, education and outreach programs located in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Lake Champlain, Puerto Rico and Guam.