eNews
Discovery Center Staff Take the Plunge in Cold Dip Fundraiser on April 11
Discovery Center Staff Take the Plunge in Cold Dip Fundraiser on April 11 Join us for a fun new way to support the Discovery Center at our Discovery Center Cold Dip Fundraiser! Donate to support staff teams as they take the plunge into the icy waters of Statehouse Lake, helping us reach our goal of raising $10,000…
OCLRA eNews – March 2026
Also, follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/people/OCLRA/100089436967560/. 6-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting set for July 17 Celebrating art at the Lakes and Rivers Convention VCLRA publishes winter 2026 newsletter VCLRA recognizes two couples with Blue Heron Awards Lawsuits looming over limitations on enhanced wakes Two events to celebrate “Tying Land and Water” Oneida County Lake Classification…
Protecting Wisconsin Lakes from Damages of Wake Surfing
Why Towns and Lake Groups Must Act Now By Mary Jung March 3, 2026- February was a chaotic month for Wisconsin’s lakes that ended in a legislative stalemate. · Industry-backed wake-surf bills (AB1033/SB1025) which offered no meaningful protection and sought to preempt local authority were introduced; and AB1033 passed the Assembly, but only after…
Rescinding the endangerment finding will make it harder to mitigate climate change-related health risks
From WXPR by Katie Thoresen The Trump Administration recently rescinded the central scientific finding that’s the basis of much of the nation’s climate pollution rules under the Clean Air Act. The endangerment finding is a 2009 scientific finding that six particular greenhouse gases cause significant harm to human health. CONTINUE READING…
Urgent and New Opportunity for Action on Wake Boats
Call your legislators about wake boat bill SB 1024 Here’s the latest February 13, 2026: Earlier this week, we reached out encouraging you to contact your legislators about AB 1033 related to wakesurfing. We at Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) oppose AB 1033. Two new bills are now out as of yesterday afternoon: Senate Bill 1025, which is…
HEADS UP – Destructive Clear-cutting
As the bad wakeboat bill has dropped in the state legislature, another critical issue is brewing here in Oneida County. There is nothing you need to do at the moment – just please be attuned and watch for updates. There is a gaping hole in our county’s Shoreland Protection Ordinance (SPO) – one that threatens…
OCLRA eNews – February 2026
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, February 9, at 9 a.m., at the ADRC building in Rhinelander, across the parking lot from Trig’s grocery. All are welcome. Our meetings…
A crisis emerges across the US as ‘forever chemicals’ quietly contaminate drinking water wells
By MICHAEL PHILLIS and HELEN WIEFFERING Updated 9:36 AM CST, February 2, 2026 STELLA, Wis. (AP) — Kristen Hanneman made a small decision in 2022 that would upend life for her entire town. State scientists were checking private drinking water wells across Wisconsin for a widely used family of harmful chemicals called PFAS. They mailed an offer to test…
Lakes in the Northwoods are getting saltier
After two mild winters, drivers are being reminded ice and snow can make for some messy roads. Salt and brine have shown to be effective tools to help keep roads clear and safer to drive in the winter, but it comes with a cost. One study out of Minnesota found that salt damage to infrastructure, cars, and…
Oneida County creates lakes classification system with emphasis on protecting high quality watersheds
Lakes in the region face a lot of threats. Public access, shoreline development, enhanced wakes, and aquatic invasive species are all key risk factors identified by the Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department. Special Projects Coordinator JoAnne Lund says, so far, lakes in the county have held up well against these risks. “Our lakes…