Lake Leaders Handbook

Temporarly out of print! The Lake Leaders Handbook was available from the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership through UW-Extension at Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Lakes Partnership

The intent of the Handbook is to provide support in carrying out your responsibilities as a lake leader. It contains the largest collection of lake management information, customized for ciitizen leaders, ever brought together in one document. The Handbook concentrates on who, what, why, where, and how of running a lake organization (both districts and assocations) from start-up through day-to-day business. The Handbook came in a ring binder format and contains 12 sections with 22 chapters, covering an extensive range of subjects including Insurance, Motivating People, Grants, Land Use, Open Meeting Laws, Working with Government, and the latest in Lake Law.

KEY:
= Unbound paper, web pages or fact sheet
= Free-standing publication or Powerpoint/Show

Section 1 WISCONSIN'S LAKES: A history and overview of the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership
-Wisconsin Lake Management-The Evolution of a Partnership.
-The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership
-The Water Way is the statewide Lakes Partnership strategic plan

Section 2 LAKE ORGANIZATIONS: Formation and operation of lake districts and lake associations
-A Guide to Wisconsin's Lake Management Law, 10th Ed.
-What is a Lake District? More...
-What is a Lake Association?
-What is a Qualified Lake Association?
-Starting a Lake Association

Section 3 PEOPLE: How to get people involved
-Motivation and Volunteers
-Conflict Resolution
-Building a Board That Works

Section 4 PLANNING: Long range planning for the future of your lake
- A Model Lake Plan for a Local Community - pdf

Section 5 GOVERNMENT: Understanding government
- Local Government - pdf
- How a Bill Becomes Law - pdf
- How a Bill Becomes Law - web page

Section 6 MEETINGS: Ideas on running a proper meeting
- How to Run a Meeting a pdf; Tips
- Wisconsin Open Meetings Law: A Compliance Guide
- 2005 Open Meetings Law Compliance Guide - pdf

Section 7 INSURANCE: Risks, requirements, types and coverages
- Liability Risks and Protection in Wisconsin and Insurance Coverage
- Insurance, Liability Risks and Protection For WISCONSIN LAKE ORGANZATIONS

Section 8 GRANTS: Mere to look for help; how to start
- How to Look for Lake Grants, Help with Lake Grants
- Grants and Other External Funding Sources
- Other Methods of Raising Capital

Section 9 EDUCATION: Programs and materials for educational opportunities
-Developing an Effective Educational Strategy
-Image Packaging
- A Guide to Designing a Lake Fair
- Adopt-A-Lake Guidelines
- Training Leaders to Take Care of Wisconsin's Lakes

Section 10 LAKE MANAGEMENT: Harvesting, dredging, access and dams; techniques for lake organizations to understand
- Lake Management Activities
- Understanding Lake Data
- Limnology and Lake Management - Buzz Sorge

Section 11 LAKES AND LAND USE: Ordinances, permits, regulations and land use; influencing local land use decisions that affect water quality
- A Guide to Wisconsin's Lake Management Law (pdf 403KB)
- Wisconsin Water Law, A Guide to Water Rights and Regulations (pdf 2765KB)

Section 12 WHO'S WHO: Directory of people working in lake management
- The Lake List 2004

Section 13 PUBLICATIONS AND REFERENCES: Additional sources of information
- Wisconsin Lakes Partnership web sites

- DNR Information List/Contacts

APPENDIX:

Cover, Section Divider pages and Binder label.

A LAKE LEADERS HANDBOOK
1995+
PREFACE

If you are reading the pages of this handbook, chances are you have already made an investment in the future of your lake. Our region's lakes mean different things to different people. The extent of your care and concern may be based on various factors: a personal issue, a respect for nature or an altruistic call to leadership. No matter your motivation, you have taken a path that can lead you on a challenging and satisfying journey. You will play a part in balancing the freedoms of today's society against the possibilities of tomorrow's, bequeathing a legacy of lakes that retain some of the magic and wonder that captivated you as a youth.

Address any questions or comments on this handbook to:

UWEX-LAKES PROGRAM
ATT: Robert Korth
College of Natural Resources - University of Wisconsin
2100 Main Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897

ABOUT THE HANDBOOK

This handbook contains the largest collection of specialized lake management information for citizen leaders ever brought together in one document. The handbook represents the combined efforts of the members of the Wisconsin Lake Partnership: the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, the University of Wisconsin Extension and the Department of Natural Resources. The handbook is an updated and expanded version of one produced about twelve years ago by Lowell Klessig, University of Wisconsin Extension at Stevens Point and Richard Wedepohl, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The intent of the handbook is to support you in carrying out your responsibilities as a lake leader. The handbook is a compilation of lake management information for leaders of lake organizations (both districts and associations). Sections that interpret specific legal procedures are only advisory. When borrowing money or dealing with controversial decisions you should consult professionals.

The handbook concentrates on the who, what, why, where and how of running a lake organization, from start-up to day-to-day business. It focuses on interaction with state and local governments, with business, as well as social and cultural implications in lake management. The handbook also includes listings of contact persons and specialists from public agencies, private firms and other lake organizations.

A necessary prerequisite for deciding how to protect a lake is a basic understanding of its physical, biological, chemical and cultural properties. While data and details are important to lake management, perceptions and attitudes are crucial to achieving remedies to any challenges. This guide focuses on the cultural and social aspects of lake stewardship. You will not find detailed information covering limnology, aquatic plants, water quality or non-point source pollution (runoff), except in regard to regulatory concerns. There are many good sources for this information listed in the bibliography. You may want to add some of those materials to this ring binder.

We hope this handbook will be a helpful tool as you navigate through the world of lake management. What the future holds for Wisconsin's lakes and its natural ecosystem is unclear. The only certainty is that people like you will play a vital role in determining the future of our lakes.

NOTICE:

This handbook is for general use and while we believe all information to be reliable and accurate, individual situations may be unique. The handbook discusses, in general terms, some matters to consider regarding a wide variety of concerns for lake organizations and the people who help run them. This is not intended to be legal advice. Officials are urged to consult their insurance broker, attorney and perhaps other professionals for advice and direction concerning individual needs. This material was current in January 1995, however changes may occur over time.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The chapters and information in this handbook were written by individuals who have an unwavering commitment to the future of Wisconsin's lakes. It would be impossible to list everyone that has contributed their wisdom to this project, however we gratefully acknowledge all their contributions.

Editor: Robert Korth
Associate Editor: Dorothy Snyder
Consulting Editors: Lowell Klessig, Jo Temte, Libby McCann, Lisa Conley, Jeff Bode

Authors and Contributors: (listed in alphabetical order)

Judi Ahrikencheikh, DNR Community Assistance
Kathy Aron, Wind Lake Management District
Bradley Bauer, UWEX-Calumet County
Jeff Bode, Chief, DNR Lakes Section
John Carver, Center for Public Skills Training
Lisa Conley, President, Wisconsin Association of Lakes
Mary Danoski, Board of Directors, Wisconsin Association of Lakes
Michael Dresen, UWEX-Lakes Program Specialist, UW-Stevens Point
Larry Freidig, DNR Community Assistance
Elmer Goetsch, Chair, Wisconsin Association of Lakes
Dave Hinds, UWEX-Local Government Education Specialist
Bernie Kasierski, UWEX-Green Lake County
Lowell Klessig, UWEX-Environmental Resources, UW-Stevens Point
Robert Korth, UWEX-Lakes Program Specialist, UW-Stevens Point
Jim Leverence, DNR-SD Lake Coordinator
Barbara Liukkonen, Minnesota Extension Service
Frank Martinelli, Center for Public Skills Training
Elizabeth McCann, UWEX-Lakes Program, Adopt-A-Lake Coordinator, UW-Stevens Point
Christine Mechenich, UWEX-Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center
Tim Mentkowski, Riordan, Crivello, Carlson, Mentkowski and Steeves
Rob Mentzer, Bliss-McKnight
Bill O'Connor, Wheeler, Van Sickle and Anderson, S. C.
Jeff Pagels, DNR-LMD Community Assistance
John Panuska, DNR-Lake Planner
Tim Rasman, DNR-LMD Lake Coordinator
Dan Ryan, DNR-NWD Lake Coordinator
Carroll Schaal, DNR Lakes Program
Mark Sesing, DNR-SD/Horicon Lake Coordinator
Norm Sonderman, UWEX-Langlade County
Buzz Sorge, DNR-WD Lake Coordinator
Jo Temte, DNR-Self-Help Lake Monitoring Coordinator
Jim Vennie, DNR-Lakes Data Coordinator
Bob Wakeman, DNR-SED Lake Coordinator
Barb Wallock, UWEX-Environmental Resources, UW-Stevens Point
Bob Young, DNR-NCD Lake Coordinator

Produced by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Watershed Management
More information on this topic: James Vennie, Web Worker of Watershed Management Bureau, 608-266-2212

Lakes Partnership | Watershed Management | Fish Wisconsin | Fisheries Management

Last Revised: Thursday January 18 2007