OCLRA eNews – January 2025
The next OCLRA Board meeting is Monday, January 13, at 9 a.m., at the
ADRC building in Rhinelander, across the parking lot from Trig’s grocery.
All are welcome.
Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention March 26-28
St. Germain forms enhanced-wake committee
Wakeboat Reform Coalition continues to grow
New enhanced wakes research paints a troubling picture
Report addresses future of Wisconsin forests
Shoreline Contractors Workshop set for April 8
Winter Salt Week stresses prevention of road salt pollution
OCCWA issue last update for 2024
Can your group help encourage fishing in Wisconsin?
Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership seeks grant proposals
A look at lake issues in a neighboring state
Get to know your lake!
Want to birdscape your property? This book can help.
“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://wisconsinwaterweek.org/. Early bird
(lower cost) registration is now open.
St. Germain forms enhanced-wake committee
The Town of St. Germain’s enhanced-wake committee met for the first time
in late December. This ad-hoc group is charged with creating a draft
enhanced wake ordinance. At present, nearly 40 Wisconsin townships,mostly in the Northwoods, have adopted ordinances again the creation of
artificially enhanced wakes.
Wakeboat Reform Coalition continues to grow
The Wisconsin-based coalition working to lobby Madison for wakeboat
reforms had increased to 43 organizations as of December. Members
include a diverse range of lake advocacy, wildlife, hunting, fishing, silent
recreation, and other groups representing potentially hundreds of
thousands of voters. Joining the coalition is free. The coalition supports
statewide legislation that would limit wakesports to at least 700 feet from
shore and water at least 30 feet deep, require boat ballast tanks to be
thoroughly cleaned before boats move lake to lake, and allow localities to
enact stricter regulations if they wish. The aim is to promote this legislation
starting with the new session of the legislature this month. Organizations
interest in joining the coalition can email info@lakesatstake.org.
New enhanced wakes research paints a troubling picture
Wisconsin-based research firm Terra Vigilis has released a report on
research conducted on Lake Waramaug, a 656-acre lake in western
Connecticut. The report can be accessed on the Town of Warren website.
Local officials asked Terra Vigilis to measuring the impacts of divergent
waves and downward prop wash from wakeboats in wakesurf mode versus
typical runabouts one key findings was that to dissipate a wake from a
wakeboat in surf mode wave to the same height and energy as a ski boat
wake at 100 feet “requires increasing the distance from shore to over 500
feet. This corresponds with results from other studies.”
Report addresses future of Wisconsin forests
Wisconsin’s Green Fire has produced a report on the challenges facing our
state’s forests and forestry practices. The report, “Wisconsin Forests at
Risk: Engaging Wisconsinites in Another Century of Forest Conservation,”
will be the subject of a free webinar on January 15, 2025 from noon to 1
p.m. Attendees will hear from a panel of forestry and conservation experts.
Visit here for more information or to register.
Shoreline Contractors Workshop set for April 8If you hire a contractor for shoreline restoration, excavation or tree services, send them notice of the Shoreline Contractors Workshop to be
held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Arbor Vitae
Town Hall. Shorelines are protected areas, but sometimes erosion
concerns necessitate work on the landscape. This course will cover
regulations, construction techniques, materials, and funding options for
properties located in Vilas and Oneida Counties. For more information
contact Quita Sheehan, mashee@vilascountywi.gov.
Winter Salt Week stresses prevention of road salt pollution
The Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership, a coalition working to reduce salt
pollution in our lakes, streams and drinking water, will sponsor Winter Salt
Week January 27-31. In Wisconsin and much of the United States, chloride
from salt is infiltrating into our lakes, streams and groundwater. It only takes
one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water to a level that is toxic
for freshwater ecosystems. Learn more at https://www.wisaltwise.com/.
OCCWA issue last update for 2024
OCCWA Oneida County Clean Waters Action has issues its December
update. The December Clean Water Minute looks at woolly alder aphids –
what they are and look like. Another post reports on a potential study
testing the blood of Town of Stella residents for PFAS. A new contributor
shared a letter to the county planning and Development Committee asked
members to stay true to the principles of the 2013 Comprehensive Plan's
natural resource objectives. There is much more. Visit https://occwa.org/.
Can your group help encourage fishing in Wisconsin?
The DNR wants help in getting more people get into fishing. The
department is now accepting applications for the Angler Recruitment,
Retention and Reactivation grant program, offering up to $5,000 per project
to promote fishing in Wisconsin. Grants support education programs,
accessible fishing initiatives, and activities for adults and youth.
Applications are due by February 18. Visit here to find out more.
Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership seeks grant proposalsThe Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership is seeking proposals for grants to
support conservation projects that benefit glacial lake fish habitats,
especially those that benefit imperiled, endangered, and recreational fish
species. The organization typically funds three to five projects annually at
$30,000 to $100,000, but larger projects will be considered. For more
information contact Joe Nohner at nohnerj@michigan.gov, or 517-599-
6825. Applications are due January 17.
A look at lake issues in a neighboring state
The Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations held a December 4 webinar
on issues facing the state’s lakes. It should be of interest to Wisconsin lake
advocates, since the issues here are similar. The webinar provided
thoughtful and timely information about the three biggest challenges MN
COLA members see as facing Minnesota waters: water quality, aquatic
invasive species, and enhanced wake activities. You can view the webinar
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn8OvYsLV9c
Get to know your lake!
The Michigan State University Extension’s six-week Introduction to Lakes
Online online class can help you gain a greater appreciation for the lake
you love. The course covers topics including lake ecology, watershed
management, shoreline protection, aquatic plants, and community
engagement video lectures, interactive activities, and discussion forums.
Registration is open now through January 28.
Want to birdscape your property? This book can help.
Attracting birds to your property can be much more than putting out feeders
and hanging suet. If you want to turn your yard into a bird paradise, you
might consider a new book from The University of Wisconsin Press:
Birdscaping for Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region: The 50 Best Native
Plants to Attract Birds to Your Midwestern Garden. Author Mariette Nowak,
a gardener, educator, and ecologist, explains the value of particular plants
for birds and other wildlife, not only as food sources but for nesting sites
and protective cover.