It's easy to fall in love with Wisconsin's lakes. Enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, fishing, boating, swimming, or just relaxing are favorite pastimes. We appreciate the unique benefits and are learning to accept the challenges associated with "life near lakes." We also recognize that our increasing use is changing the lakes.
These changes may be detrimental to the creatures living in and near the water and some are disagreeable to those who value lakes. Wisconsin's lakes are under stress on many fronts: erosion, loss of native plants and animals, invasion by exotic species, nutrient enrichment, contamination, acidic precipitation, overcrowding and recreational use conflicts. Some of these concerns can be traced back to our growing love affair with our waters, others to land use practices. We wanted a strategy to ensure a healthy and diverse aquatic environment while considering the needs of society.
In Wisconsin "Lake Partnerships" provides such a strategy. Since its genesis in the early 1970s, this unique approach has become a national model of a true partnership. Three groups form the core of this team. The Department of Natural Resources supplies the technical expertise and regulatory authority. The University of Wisconsin Extension (Exit DNR) builds linkages between stakeholders and provides supporting educational materials and programs. Local lake people are the third member, playing an integral role in the success of the partnership. From around the state lake organizations, property owners, and local governments provide the political will and hard work to accomplish watershed restoration and lake protection goals. These three groups concerned with the future of our lakes have joined together in active cooperation and conscientious planning for lake protection.
Complex social, economic and natural resource issues demand innovation and diverse experience to provide answers. Increasingly these challenges require the involvement of those affected as well as the organizations and agencies appointed to deal with the issues in the continuing pursuit to safeguard lakes. Today over 600 lake organizations and thousands of volunteers play a role in the stewardship of Wisconsin's lakes.
The lake partnership is multi-faceted. Components include self- help lake and watershed monitoring, youth and adult education, aquatic plant protection, pollution prevention, land and water regulation, and community assistance grants.
Partners sharing objectives, knowledge, skills and resources can make molehills out of mountainous tasks.
This partnership is a grass-roots example of teamwork between individuals concerned with Wisconsin's lakes and the Department of Natural Resources. The goal is to promote public understanding of lake ecology while building a quality information base on a large number of lakes. Volunteers interested in lakes are equipped and trained in various techniques of data collection. This information is critical in guiding the future of Wisconsin's 15,081 lakes. Six hundred and fifty lakes are being diligently monitored by these environmental custodians.
The DNR also carries on long term trend monitoring and data collection on 50 inland lakes. This information tracks changes that occur and could help to discover the reasons for those changes.
Lake organizations and individuals receive advice on subjects ranging from Aquatic plants to Zoning. District DNR lake specialists and other professionals locate and interpret water quality data and offer strategies to protect natural environments and recreational opportunities. These experts with statewide and national perspectives share experiences about similar challenges and a wide array of management options.
UW-Extension guides the educational campaign, meeting with local groups and organizing regional and statewide conferences(Exit DNR). Extension also develops and distributes information and educational materials. Most publications are free, such as the quarterly newsletter Lake Tides (Exit DNR) and a wide selection of fact sheets and handbooks. Publications are available at DNR district or county Extension offices.
WAL (Exit DNR) is a strong member of the partnership. This advocate organization provides a united voice for lake organizations from around the state.
WAL plays a vital role in all areas of the lake partnership- providing support to strengthen local leadership, deliver education, and promote environmentally sound public policy.
Programs to help people understand the importance of native aquatic plant communities in a lake ecosystem and a strategy to prevent the spread of the exotic plant, Eurasian water milfoil, have been initiated.
The DNR also regulates chemical control of nuisance plants and algae. Permit processing and treatment supervision is provided by each region.
An eye toward the future is an important component of a solid program. DNR and Extension examine a modest number of scientific and social research and demonstration projects. These currently include mercury contamination, acid deposition, lake quality sustainability, a "Northern Lakes" and a "Large Shallow Lakes" initiative, and human impacts on lake ecosystems.
A major goal of lake grants is to develop strong state/local partnerships, which can lead to more effective watershed protection and lake management. The DNR provides funding for the collection and analysis of information needed to protect and restore lakes under a Lake Planning Grant Program (Exit DNR, PDF 99KB). The Lake Protection Grant Program (Exit DNR, PDF 22KB) assists with the purchase of sensitive areas around lakes, the development of ordinances to protect lakes, and wetland restoration. What Lake Associations need to do to qualify. (PDF, 65KB)
This educational effort is designed to give both youth and adults a better understanding of aquatic ecosystems through hands- on activities. These activities increase awareness among youth of the value of Wisconsin's lakes. Youth are encouraged to join adults and examine the challenges that will be their future.
For more information, contact University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point WI 54481 [E-Mail]; the DNR-Lakes and Wetland Section, Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921 [E-Mail] or Wisconsin Association of Lakes, One Point Place, Suite 101 Madison WI 53719 [E-Mail].
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
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