The short answer is no. As water levels decrease, very beneficial plants are stimulated to grow along the shore. In fact, one of our rarest shoreline plants, Fassett’s Locoweed, requires big fluctuations of water levels to grow. This plant is found on six lakes on the planet and all of these lakes are subject to wide fluctuation in water levels. All of these native plants benefit a lake in one way or another, making it important to protect these plants. That is why manual removal of aquatic plants is confined to a path 30 feet wide. Anything more than that, or by any other mechanical or chemical means, needs a permit from the DNR. It should also be noted that in most cases the plants that are expanding across the lake bed are actually public property, no different than the trees in a federal, state or county forest.

In many ways the Northwoods lake country is unique in Wisconsin and perhaps in the world. Not only does the Northwoods hold the largest number of lakes in Wisconsin, but also one of the largest concentrations of freshwater lakes in the world. What a remarkable asset to protect and conserve!

People often say they are going "up north" or "to THE lake." The meaning of those expressions is often quite different for different folks. During my years of involvement with Wisconsin lakes I have heard "up north" and "THE lake" described in many ways: peace, quiet, beauty, dark skies, northern lights, clear water, cool nights, loon calls, sunsets, swimming, teaching grandchildren to fish, canoeing, kayaking, ducklings and swans, fly fishing, and water skiing. Some of these words likely draw a mental picture for you and are likely drawn from a personal experience…unique to you.

Lakes are unique too. Lakes are ecosystems and ecosystems are communities and communities have parts that fit and work together in exquisitely intricate ways. When lake systems are healthy, their parts work together in concert, rather like a symphonic orchestra or an articulated animal. Parts…pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, thermocline, water clarity, phosphorus, chlorophyll, algae, aquatic plants, shoreline plants, vegetated shoreland buffers, run-off loads, sedimentation, aquatic invertebrates, minnows, mussels, fish, turtles, wildlife habitat, coarse woody habitat, piers, boats, anglers, quiet water sports, motorized water activities…yes, all these parts and more. Humans have impacts on each and every one of these parts. Sometimes we see and understand the "wake" we leave; many times we don’t comprehend the "splash" we make, or we may be just learning about the "tide" of difference we are making. We have the potential to change these northern waters forever - to love them to death, or protect them in perpetuity.

Recent studies have provided perspectives on our lakes:

• Lakes with higher secchi depth readings are preferred by shoreland buyers and they are willing to pay more for this opportunity;

• Peace and quiet is the #1 reason to be at a lake;

• Shoreline development is depleting habitat for frogs and some migratory birds;

• Near shore changes have decreased habitat for fish and loons and turtles;

• Loss of coarse woody habitat diminishes fisheries;

• Phosphorus laden run-off increases aquatic plant growth;

• Wise land planning and appropriate zoning protect lakes from degradation;

• Tourism in lake country pumps billions into Wisconsin’s economy and creates jobs in local communities;

• Without tourism dollars, taxpayers would need to pay more for equivalent services;

• And shorelands around degraded lakes are selling at lower prices, in some areas, and shifting some of the tax burden to off-water properties.

The quality of lakes in the future is at stake. Wise thoughts and creative plans are only that. It is execution that makes a difference. Timely information and education about this natural resource is paramount to sound decision making to preserve robust, living lake ecosystems. The quality of lake resources has and will be challenged here again and again. Stewardship begins at home. Evaluate how you manage your shoreland, how you care for your septic system, how you control run off, how you use a lake. What do you want the future of your lake to be? How does your neighbor view your shoreland and lake use? Isn’t example a good teacher?

You can help us learn more about Wisconsin sponges. We are developing a reporting mechanism that citizens can use to submit observations of sponges in their local lakes as a way of helping biologists prioritize future survey efforts. As part of this effort, we hope to develop by next spring a guide that will enable people to recognize this fascinating component of Wisconsin’s wildlife. We’ll let readers know when the guide is available. In the meantime, get out and look for these critters in your local waterways. Who knows, before too long, you too may be enthralled with one of Wisconsin’s lesser known wonders. S

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The first step in creating a lake management plan is called "scoping." Scoping involves bringing the pieces of the puzzle together and getting organized: organizing thoughts, issues, people, and a process for addressing common concerns. The importance of preparing a "blueprint for planning" is often underestimated. Good preparation will lead to a good lake management plan.

Planning with purpose begins with thinking hard about why a lake plan is needed, who needs to be involved, what information will be collected and communicated, and how decisions will be made. A fairly detailed strategy for creating a lake management plan should be laid out, including what you’re going to do, the timeline and budget.

A plan will help you meet your goals. Goals should be based on needs and should state the desired end in broad terms, while being focused enough to understand the actions needed to achieve the goals. Goals need to be practical and outline reasonable expectations, appropriate for the lake.

Identify all the stakeholders and consider how they will participate. The types of issues you are concerned with will play a role in determining who needs to be involved. Successful lake management efforts require cooperation among local government, lake organizations, state government, and sometimes federal agencies, as well as businesses, sportsmen, and organized lake users. Responsibility for lake management does not lie solely with any one organization.

Define the problem or problems to be addressed. Effective solutions can not be developed without a clear picture of the problems. Plans can address a single issue, or multiple issues. Plans can focus on current concerns, or forecast possible future issues. A clear goal statement will help identify the information necessary for preparing the plan. In turn, knowing what information you need will help you identify the cost likely to be incurred. While all lake plans need some basic natural resource information, additional data may also be required to address specific issues.

Costs can vary but could include costs of mailings, scientific research, community surveys, room rental and similar programming expenses. Depending on the estimated costs associated with your plan, your organization could consider applying for one or more of the many grants available to assist lake organizations and governmental units in lake management planning. A small-scale ($3,000 maximum) lake planning grant is a good place to start and can be used to develop a scope of study and possibly complete the initial resource appraisal. From there a series of $10,000 grants (up to $100,000 total) can be phased to complete and maintain your plan.

A planning advisory committee is often formed of a diverse cross-section of your lake neighborhood, including businesses, lake users, agency staff, and local government people. This committee can be broken into subcommittees assigned to specific tasks. The size of the group will often be in direct proportion to the size of the lake community. Collect facts on which to base your decisions. Schedule convenient times and locations for meetings, and prepare a calendar of milestones for each step in the planning process to help keep the effort on track. Keep in mind that the process will require persistence and compromise.

Project scoping goes hand in hand with the first phase of a lake management plan, which is a resource appraisal. The appraisal will include a characterization of the lake’s natural resource condition, a description of the perceived problems or management needs and a listing of management goals. The appraisal determines the level of detail and the type of plan to seek in subsequent phases.

Lake plans can be categorized generally into three types: single purpose plans, current issue plans and comprehensive plans.

Single purpose plans address one issue of concern to a community. These may include aquatic plant management plans, recreational boating plans, and public access plans. Frequently, such plans will help a community to access grant funds or respond to a specific legal requirement.

Current issue plans focus on issues of immediate concern to a community. These issues may span a range of topics, including stormwater management, yard care and shoreland management, and fisheries management, for example. These plans have the advantage of being readily implemented once agreement on proposed action has been achieved.

Comprehensive lake management plans cover a 10 to 20-year time frame, deal with multiple issues of concern, and include forecasting the future condition of the lake to help identify likely future concerns that may not presently exist. Comprehensive plans generally include a water quality modeling component linked to land use and will incorporate single purpose or current issue plans as elements or subchapters, with each element often having been a phase in the plan development.

The type of plan and how far you go will depend upon the goals established for the planning process. The costs associated with each type of plan increase proportionate to the amount of information needed and the complexity of the issues being covered. Not every lake will require costly or sophisticated plans, and no one type of plan will meet the needs of every community. It is for this reason that the scoping exercise is a critical element of the planning process.

Embarking upon the development of a lake plan is an exciting time; however, it is just a beginning. Even after the plan is complete, you will just be at the starting point for action. Your plan is a living document. It will help you build consensus among stakeholders while conserving the lake as well as your finances by providing concrete direction. Knowing the goals will allow you to effectively contract for lake services and communicate your community’s "vision" to others.

Atrazine is a common pesticide or weed-killer that is used almost everywhere in the United States, mainly on cornfields before the crops are planted. In Wisconsin, atrazine is applied to almost four million acres of farmland each year. Because of its frequency of use, it should come as no surprise that atrazine is also one of the most commonly detected pesticides in Wisconsin rivers, streams, and groundwater. However, little is known about the occurrence and persistence of atrazine in lakes.

Concentrations of atrazine can directly and indirectly affect lake plants and animals. As a chemical designed to inhibit photosynthesis in plants, atrazine may directly affect aquatic plants. Because aquatic plants provide shelter to many other organisms, changes in the plant community can indirectly affect organisms living in the mud or the plankton living in the water column. Studies have shown that low levels of atrazine can decrease zooplankton diversity, change the ratios of male organisms to females in zooplankton populations, or change the ratio of predators to their prey. Changes in the types of organisms normally present in a lake on a seasonal basis have also been noticed. Once in a lake, atrazine may hang around for a very long time. Baseline data is needed to assess potential problems and understand the movement and fate of atrazine and similar pesticides in lake environments.

In lakes that stratify, the levels of atrazine at the surface are usually lower than the levels found in bottom water. There seems to be two main reasons for this phenomenon: atrazine can break down in the presence of sunlight and atrazine can accumulate in lake sediment where it is released to the water column under low oxygen conditions common in late summer.

In 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) combined their efforts to survey atrazine levels in lakes across the state. DATCP funded the survey and DNR provided the help of volunteers through the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. Lakes tested for atrazine were chosen to represent areas of the state where both commercial forest land and more traditional row crop agriculture are prevalent. Lake monitoring volunteers collected water samples from 53 lakes during a short period in late summer.

The intensity of land use surrounding the lakes varied from less than 15% to over 75% agriculture. Data were analyzed for significant differences in the mean atrazine concentration of the lakes under five different agricultural land use settings. Atrazine was detected in over 90% of the lakes. In contrast, during a statewide groundwater survey by DATCP in 2001, atrazine or atrazine breakdown products were found in less than 12% of the 336 private wells they sampled.

While most lakes had some level of atrazine, differences in concentrations were found between lakes surrounded by varying degrees of agricultural land use. Lakes where atrazine was low or absent were primarily located in forested areas, whereas lakes higher in atrazine were found where agriculture comprised over 75% of the surrounding land area. Atrazine concentrations ranged from below the detection limit of the test (0.10 ug/L) to 0.40 ug/L. To put these numbers in perspective, the drinking water standard for atrazine is 3.0 ug/L and the preventive action limit is 0.30 ug/L (Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 140). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also recently published a draft water quality criteria of 12.0 ug/L for atrazine which is supposed to protect aquatic organisms from exposure to the chemical. However, some studies suggest that these numbers are higher than concentrations that can cause both direct and indirect affects on plants and animals living in the lake, including amphibians. Also, atrazine rarely occurs alone but is found in complex chemical mixtures. Criteria are based on individual compounds in water; sediment levels are not even considered.

The test used for this survey is simple and low cost and can easily be incorporated into any lake monitoring project. It can provide an indication of the potential affects of agriculture on lakes. The results of this survey suggest that low levels of atrazine are everywhere. Concentrations around 0.10 ug/L can be considered background for Wisconsin lakes. Where agriculture exceeds 15% of the land surrounding a lake, particularly if within 300 feet, atrazine will likely be found at higher than these background levels and may also be accumulating in sediments. In such cases, testing water from above and below the zone of light penetration and testing lake sediment might be considered. Atrazine testing of lakes and sediment should be encouraged because so little is known about the fate of atrazine in lakes.

In this small survey, we sampled only 53 of the 15,000 lakes that exist in Wisconsin. However, without volunteers, lake surveys such as this are virtually impossible. A small research crew can not sample this many widely-spaced lakes in the time necessary for such a project. Due to Wisconsin volunteers, some important baseline lake data on one of the most commonly used pesticides was collected and we have a beginning to a better understanding of the effects of atrazine on lake ecosystems. S

A new publication is available for people looking for information on contending with invasive species in a lake. While it was written for Vilas County, most information is applicable statewide. It can be found online at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/ecology.

Nominate A Local Lake Steward

Do you know an outstanding person or group who dedicates time and talent to our state’s water resources? We encourage you to nominate them for the prestigious Wisconsin Lake Stewardship Award. The categories are:

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A common concern with anyone collecting data, whether it is a seasoned researcher or a volunteer citizen, is making sure the data that is collected is accurate.

At the recently held National Volunteer Monitoring Conference, expert researchers stressed the importance of collecting consistent information. In order to accurately compare historical water clarity readings and readings from lake to lake, volunteers should consistently use the same method.

The Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (CLMN) outlines specific methods for taking secchi disk readings in the volunteer monitoring manual, including:

• Always take secchi disk readings on the shady side of the boat

• Take your readings without wearing sunglasses (different sunglasses, especially polarized lenses, will change how far down a person can see a secchi disk in the water)

• Use the "clothespin method" to mark the rope when the secchi disk disappears from view as it is lowered down, and then reappears as it is raised back up. Average the two readings.

Volunteer groups in some states take 3-4 secchi readings in succession and report the average. This provides even more credible data.

The CLMN will be launching a Quality Assurance/Quality Control study where volunteers will take secchi readings following the current protocol and also following other protocols. The study will help quantify factors that truly affect readings and determine potential sources of error.

Did you recently change officers? Please send us the new officer contact information to update the Lake List, your online directory of lake organizations. If you publish a newsletter, please add us to the mailing list! Email uwexlakes@uwsp.edu or send information to:

UWEX-Lakes Program
UWSP College of Natural Resources
800 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, WI

The Lake List is a searchable, online directory of Wisconsin’s lake organizations and the businesses who serve them.  www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/lakelist

We often get phone calls and emails from Lake Tides readers with a variety of questions about lake districts. Do you have a question about lake districts that you would like to see answered in Lake Tides? Send it to uwexlakes@uwsp.edu so we can include it in a future issue.

A Special Meeting may be called at any time by a majority of the board of commissioners, or by request from 10% of the eligible voting members of the district.

Special Meetings are similar to Annual Meetings, with the following notable exceptions:

• the annual budget may not be approved at a Special Meeting (but the budget can be amended, as long as it does not impact the tax levy approved at the Annual Meeting).

• dissolution of a lake district may not be considered.

• the meeting can not consider any matter resolved during another Special Meeting that has been held since the previous Annual Meeting.

Notice and voting requirements are the same for Annual and Special Meetings.