Enhanced wakes, quagga mussels, Neonics and more from OCLRA

The next OCLRA Board meeting is Monday, October 14, at 9 a.m., at the ADRC building in Rhinelander, across the parking lot from Trig’s grocery. All are welcome.

In this edition:
* Statewide coalition sets policy positions on enhanced wakes
* Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting video available online
* Minnesota Lakes and Rivers presents Lake Steward webinar
* Magazine article exposes American Stewards of Liberty
* Minnesota reports on new AIS infestations
* 2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference Nov. 12-14
* Local enhanced wake regulations and publicity advance
* Video highlights threat of enhanced wakes
* Vilas County Lakes Conservation Partners Meeting Oct. 24
* Quagga mussels verified in Lake Geneva
* Neonicotinoid insecticide forum Oct. 30
* Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership sets webinar series

Statewide coalition sets policy positions on enhanced wakes

A statewide coalition is preparing for a statewide educational campaign to preserve Wisconsin’s lakes. The coalition represents fishing enthusiasts, advocates for local control, lake property owners, sailors, those concerned with AIS, and others concerned about the impacts of wake-enhanced boating. Members include First Chapter Muskies, Walleyes for Tomorrow, Headwater Chapter Muskies Inc. Diamond Lakers, Trout Unlimited, Yahara Fishing Club, Oneida and Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association, Lakes at Stake Wisconsin, Last Wilderness Alliance, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Wisconsin Lakes Association, Wisconsin’s Green Fire, Sawyer County Lakes Forum, Buffalo County Conservation Alliance, and Mondovi Conservation Club. The coalition has settled around principles for wake regulation that include limiting enhanced wakes to at least 700 feet from shore and water at least 30 feet deep, proof of ballast tank decontamination before entering lakes, and local municipalities’ right to enact
rules stricter than state laws.

Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting video available online

Video of the 2024 Northwoods Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting is available here. (https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=3ea9305c4c&e=3c979e360a.)  The meeting on July 12 at Nicolet College attracted some 140 lake advocates enthusiasts.

Minnesota Lakes and Rivers presents Lake Steward webinar

The Lake Steward program in Minnesota is spreading fast and helping to protect lake shorelines with natural vegetative buffers and other best practices. OCLRA is looking to replicate the program here in northern Wisconsin. Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates is presenting a webinar on the program on Oct, 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It will include firsthand stories from Lake Steward property owners, shoreline evaluators, and Minnesota DNR. Details: https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=e0726e6de7&e=3c979e360a.
Highly recommended.

Magazine article exposes American Stewards of Liberty

Kudos to Mike McFadzen, columnist for Silent Sports magazine, for his article (https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=75b78105ea&e=3c979e360a) describing the machinations of the conservative property-rights organization, American Stewards of Liberty. The group helped oppose the Pelican River Forest conservation easement and is working on behalf of timber, mining and other extractive industries and against conservation initiatives in Wisconsin and nationally. This article is a must-read.

Minnesota reports on new AIS infestations

As of July 22, 11 new infestations of the big four aquatic invasive species had been identified in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations. Zebra mussels added eight infestations to the 610 already present. Starry stonewort added two to the previous total of 28. Only one new instance of Eurasian watermilfoil was identified, and there were no new cases of spiny water flea in 2024. The state is gearing up for the “when, not if” arrival of hydrilla, an especially nasty invasive water plant. Learn about hydrilla in this presentation (https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=5adf227cf1&e=3c979e360a) .

2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference Nov. 12-14

The 2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference will be held in Duluth Nov. 12-14 with in-person and online participation. The conference goal is to strengthen invasive species management, especially through prevention, control, and containment. Visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=a7e360b3ad&e=3c979e360a.

Local enhanced wake regulations and publicity advance

The Last Wilderness Alliance reports helping 17 towns encompassing more than 180 lakes to pass local ordinances regulating enhanced wakes – in just the past nine months. This brings the number of state municipalities with local ordinances to 31. More ordinances are in development. See a complete list of local ordinances at lastwildernessalliance.org/wakesurfing.

Meanwhile, news items in print and broadcast media highlight the hazards of enhanced wakes. Fox6 News in Milwaukee had a news story highlighting “monster trucks of the water: https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=a4cac1f0d2&e=3c979e360a. And National Public Radio has a segment on the topic: https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=4da72d93a1&e=3c979e360a.

Video highlights threat of enhanced wakes

Lakes at Stake Wisconsin has released a 7-minute video on the impacts of downward propeller wash from wakeboats on lake bottoms and lake life.. Visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=c8239b663b&e=3c979e360a.

Vilas County Lakes Conservation Partners Meeting Oct. 24

Lake organization representatives, lake professionals and others convene annually at the Vilas County Lakes Conservation Partners Meeting. This year’s event is on Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. It will be held virtually. For details will be found on their website (https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=ba886cc711&e=3c979e360a) .

Quagga mussels verified in Lake Geneva

Quagga mussels, similar to zebra mussels and a scourge of the Great Lakes, were detected this summer in Lake Geneva in southeast Wisconsin. It is the first inland lake in the state in which these mussels have been found. Learn more: https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=9d91588be6&e=3c979e360a.

Neonicotinoid insecticide forum Oct. 30

A forum on Neonicotinoid insecticide pollution will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Institute for Discovery at UW-Madison, 330 N Orchard St. Neonicotinoid insecticides are applied to millions of acres of farm and urban land each year. Learn about their benefits and risks this event, made possible by the DNR Surface Water Grant Program. Visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=5fd1955c43&e=3c979e360a.

Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership sets webinar series

The Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership has announced its fall Lake Conservation Webinar Series. Topics are:
* Learning from the past to manage fisheries for the future
* Shoreline assessment and best practice in Michigan
* National Lakes Assessment: A collaborative survey of lakes
* Basics of shoreline erosion control: New support documents
* MGL Lake Conservation Grant: Information for applicants

Get details at the Lake Conservation Webinars webpage (https://oclra.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=733526d172b760b79d5f3ae78&id=16abb375ce&e=3c979e360a)

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