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Lakes component example from DNR North East Region (Mark Sesing)

The county LWRC Plans present an opportunity for sensible integration and mutual support in protecting our natural resources for the public’s benefit.

The level of integration can be broad (county wide) or watershed or more specific, directed at one lake or group of lakes. Integration occurs when lake related goals, objectives, or strategies are mutual or complementary between the WDNR and County agencies.

Many NER lakes are without local management units. These lakes are often weakly represented for protection or restoration action. Lakes with strong management units are relatively effective in protection and restoration. Considering this condition, lakes without strong local representation might be a higher priority for LWRCP inclusion. These lakes could be small or very large. Lakes like Winnebago are large and valuable but unified representation of management needs is very weak. Small lakes might be under threat of poor development and without an effective “voice”. Resource management plans, whether state or county, take on an added urgency for these waters.

Inclusion of lake related recommendations within a County LWRCP should not commit the county or anyone else to subsequent action. But inclusion should open the door for partnership action, heightened awareness of county resource needs, and greater support for the protection of public value on our lakes. Recommendations in LWRCP could be appropriately lead by WDNR, County, Town, lake district, lake association or some combination of.

Having sensible recommendations

• strengthens partnerships
• advances lake program grant opportunities
• strengthens public support

In writing plans you might consider including, at a minimum, generic language supporting lakes and the public values lakes provide. Better yet, specific recommendations for all county lakes as a group. Taking it one step further, recc’s directed at one specific lake or group of lakes would be ideal. Regardless of the level a county might feel comfortable with, the action areas (issues?) listed below could be considered. This list is not intended to be all inclusive but should provide some basis for a LWRCP development.

Issues (action areas) for consideration within LWRMPs:

• Aquatic Plants and Habitat

  • AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species) management
  • Aquatic Plant Management threats or infestations and subsequent watershed studies to locate and reduce / remediate sources of nutrients.
  • Aquatic plant sensitive area designation or protection
  • Shore restoration needs and priorities. Example actions could include adopting broad goals or identifying specific areas where the need is.
  • Preservation & protection of existing native shoreland areas.

• Land Management

  • Land acquisitions and easements. Example actions could include identification of priority land acquisitions areas or recc’s regarding the definition process for prioritization
  • Identification of watershed areas that are vulnerable to erosion and other serious environmental threats that could be used to target watershed protection tools and/or limited funds for actual implementation.
  • Public access improvements
  • NPS modeling and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) determinations leading to watershed actions at priority sites
  • Best Management Practices (BMP) in lake & river watersheds

• Lake Monitoring

  • Monitoring needs, appraisals (it’s existing condition) and evaluations (did our approach work?) These could be related to fish, plant, water quality, or some other ecological component or socioeconomic.

• General Lake Protection

  • Wild lakes identification, listing, and protection
  • Ordinance development directed at managing lake use
  • Lakes classification development or maintenance
  • Performance standards (NR 151, ATCP 50)

• Partnerships

  • Integration with partners like Sanitary Districts, Lake Districts, WDNR, USGS, Towns, Lake Associations, UWEX
  • Referencing state, local, and other county plans while committing support
  • Documenting land & water survey results in easily accessible location (i.e. WADERS)

Contact Information

For more information about this page, please contact: Lynn Goldade
608-264-9223