By Patty Murray, Wisconsin Public Radio

MADISON (WPR) Wisconsin is using federal stimulus money to put young people to work combatting invasive species.

They're stationed at state parks to instruct boaters on how to contain zebra mussels and fish viruses.  The program only costs about $100,000, but it will employ 55 people under the age of 24.

They'll pass out brochures at boat landings and instruct people on how to clean off their boats so to stem the tide of invasive species.  The Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development, Roberta Gassman, said it's something the DNR has relied upon volunteers to do up until now.

The jobs were targeted at young disadvantaged young people.  They'll be paid above the minimum wage -- at eight dollars an hour.  The money for the program is expected to last until June of 2011. 

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Information from Wisconsin Public Radio, www.wpr.org