** OCLRA eNews – November 2024
Please share this information and the OCLRA website (www.oclra.org) with the members of your lake association, district and/or friends group and with your personal networks.
The next OCLRA Board meeting is Monday, December 9, at 9 a.m., at the ADRC building in Rhinelander, across the parking lot from Trig’s grocery. All are welcome.
* Wisconsin Lakes Executive Director Mike Engelson announces plans to move on from organization
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Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention March 26-28
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Coalition hails local enhanced wake regulation
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Two wakeboats collide, one sinks
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Two Door County lakes seek enhanced-wake bans
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NALMS issues “Wake-Up Call” on enhanced wakes
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Patrick Goggin launches native plant nursery
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Study: Daphnia affected by road salt
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Center for Limnology releases fall 2024 newsletter
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Wetlands Association offers Coffer Break series
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River Alliance sets River Rat Chat
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Wisconsin’s Green Fire issues fall print newsletter
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MLR offers Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship
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New book highlights the Driftless Area
Wisconsin Lakes Executive Director Mike Engleson announces plans to move on from organization
This week Mike Engleson announced that he would be leaving Wisconsin Lakes in fall of 2025. Engleson has been with the organization for 15 years and executive director for the last 11 years. He has become a welcome and familiar face to many. Engleson has been a champion for the state’s lakes and will be sorely missed. However, Wisconsin Lakes president Dan Butkus said Engleson was poised to help the organization find a new, qualified executive director over the coming months. Read more about Engleson and Wisconsin Lakes on Midwest Conservation (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention March 26-28
“The Power of Words: Working for Our Waters” is the theme for the 2025 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention March 26-28 at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn, The annual convention draws a diverse group of hundreds of lake professionals, volunteers, associations, and stakeholders to learn and network with each other. This event is coordinated by Extension Lakes. To learn more or to register, visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.
Coalition hails local enhanced wake regulation
A fast-growing coalition focused on protecting Wisconsin’s lakes has hailed local communities’ action to protect waters from the impact of enhanced wakes. The coalition notes that 33 towns including more than 200 Lakes and adopted local enhanced wake ordinances, and that those numbers are increasing. The Last Wilderness Alliance, a founding coalition member, helps Wisconsin towns and lake advocates through the process of developing local ordinances to regulate enhanced wakes. Groups seeking such assistance may visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.
Two wakeboats collide, one sinks
Last August two wakeboats collided on Shuswap Lake near Marble Point in British Columbia on August 31, according to a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Both drivers said they did not see the other approaching. The craft involved were a 23-foot Supreme with a surfer behind, and a 26-foot Mastercraft a towing a person on a knee board. The boats were traveling at about 10 mph and struck at a 90-degree angle. The Supreme boat sank. There were no serious injuries.
Two Door County lakes seek enhanced-wake bans
Peninsula Pulse reports (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
NALMS issues “Wake-Up Call” on enhanced wakes
Melissa DeSimone, executive director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, reports on an article about efforts to protect against boat wakes published in the North American Lake Management Society magazine, LakeLine. The article, “A Wake-up call: The Power of multi-state collaboration,” (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
Patrick Goggin launches native plant nursery
Patrick Goggin, former Extension Lakes UW Stevens Point Lake Specialist, has started Yenny’s Wildflowers, a native plant nursery. “After 25+ years in land and water conservation education, I’ve switched gears to another conservation angle, that being a purveyor of native plants for pollinator/butterfly gardens; woodland, prairie and shoreland restorations; and wildlife plantings,” Patrick says. The nursery is three miles south of Phelps at 3576 Deerskin Road. You can reach Patrick at 715-891-4324 or visit his website at www.yennyswildflowers.com.
Study: Daphnia affected by road salt
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reports on a study recently published in Science of the Total Environment indicating that road salt may harm Daphnia, an important link in the lake food chain. Road salt is a growing concern for its impacts on lake ecosystems. To access the report, search on “road salt daphnia science direct.” The Izaak Walton League offers salt monitoring kits (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
Center for Limnology releases fall 2024 newsletter
The fall edition (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
* Science, Scuba and Summer Vibes at Trout Lake Station
* Three Years In, Midwest Climate Science Adaptation Center is Already Informing Management Approaches to Climate Impacts
Wetlands Association offers Coffee Break series
The Wetland Coffee Break series offered by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association helps keep people connected and learning about wetlands throughout the year, from anywhere. Bring your coffee and learn about wetlands, the plants and animals that call them home, and the many natural benefits they provide to our communities. The next presentation, “Aerial Herbicide Application on Invasive Wetland Plants,” will be held on Friday, December 20, at 10:30 a.m. For more information, or to register, visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.
River Alliance sets River Rat Chat
The River Alliance of Wisconsin will hold a free online River Rat Chat on Tuesday, December 3 at noon. Alliance staff will share 2024 successes and give a preview of what is to come for clean water advocates in 2025.
Visit here (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
Wisconsin’s Green Fire issues fall print newsletter
The newest issue of Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s biannual Confluences print newsletter is now available. Staff members and volunteers worked on the fall 2024 issue with emphasis on “Keeping Hope Alive in Conservation.” The issue feature WGF Ambassadors Dr. Stanley Temple and Kathleen Falk on their conservation journeys and reasons for hope. It also includes a “Songs that Keep Us Inspired” playlist. Full color copies of the newsletter are mailed to WGF supporters. You can sign up by making an annual gift of any amount: Visit https://oclra.us3.list-manage.
MLR offers Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates has introduced the Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship (https://oclra.us3.list-manage
New book highlights the Driftless Area
Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless, (https://oclra.us3.list-manage