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Click here for a
printable version (PDF) of the Fall 2007 issue. Lake
Tides - The
newsletter for people interested in Wisconsin Lakes
- a quarterly publication of the University
of Wisconsin-Extension Lakes Program - part of the
Wisconsin Lakes
Partnership.
Volume 32 No. 4 Fall 2007
Text-only version (HTML format)
Phosphorus and the Great Circle Tour
Legislative Updates
Invasive Species Prevention: One Step at a time
Citizen Lake Monitoring: Seasonal Steps for Lake
Residents
Bats: The Ultimate Mosquito
Repellent
2008 Wisconsin Lakes
Convention
Lake Districts Q&A
Join the Wisconsin Lake
Leaders!
Clean Boats, Clean Waters: 2007 Watercraft
Inspection Data Report
Statewide VHS Emergency Rules Passed
Lake Planning Series: A Call to Action
Calendar
Reflections
Phosphorus
and the Great Circle Tour
Too much of a good thing almost
always leads to problems. This is especially true when it comes
to nutrients and lakes. Lakes need some nutrients, such as
nitrogen and phosphorus, or they would be as bare as
water-filled bathtubs. Nutrients are necessary for algae and
plants, which in turn fuel the entire lake food web from tiny
zooplankton to feisty crayfish, and from fish fry to trophy
muskies. But with too many nutrients, and especially too much
phosphorus, the algae multiply so fast that the lake’s tiny
herbivores, the zooplankton, cannot keep up and the lake turns a
not-so-tempting green. Where do the algae get the phosphorus
that allows them to multiply so dramatically? Most people know
that lots of phosphorus comes from outside the lake every year.
But in many lakes, much of the phosphorus stimulating algal
growth is recycled from within the lake.
When phosphorus enters a lake from outside it is
called external loading, and it is easy to see and understand
the sources. The phosphorus may come from a readily identifiable
source, called a point source, such as a pipe from an upstream
wastewater treatment plant. It may come from less conspicuous,
or nonpoint sources, such as runoff from fertilized lawns or as
leachate from ineffective septic systems. Both point and
non-point sources of phosphorus increase the total amount of
phosphorus in the lake. But then what happens to it?
Upon entering a lake, phosphorus may be
immediately taken up by algae or bacteria and become part of the
food chain. Or, if the water is well oxygenated, it may form an
insoluble compound with iron and sink to the bottom. It may also
attach to organic particles, again sinking to the bottom. Even
if algae take up the phosphorus, it will eventually fall to the
bottom of the lake as part of a dead algal cell, in excreted
fecal material, or as part of a dead critter higher in the food
chain. Whatever the vehicle, most of the phosphorus that comes
into the lake, eventually ends up in the sediments on the bottom
of the lake. If the phosphorus stayed at the bottom, and we
could control the external loading, we could more successfully
control runaway algal growth. But, it doesn’t stay put and that
leads to trouble.
Because of this rain of phosphorus-rich organic
debris, the concentration of phosphorus in the bottom sediments
is much higher than that of the overlying water. Typically with
differing concentrations, there tends to be diffusion or
movement from the place with the high concentration to the low.
However, in the case of phosphorus, diffusion of nutrients from
the sediments to the water (also known as internal loading) is a
very complicated process controlled by a great number of
physical, chemical, and biologic factors. When conditions are
right, phosphorus will be released from the sediments,
re-suspended in the water column and ready to rejoin the world
of the living.
Oxygen is one of those chemical factors critical
to the release of phosphorus. Bacteria in the sediments are
always busy decomposing dead organic stuff accumulating at the
lake bottom. Decomposition consumes oxygen and the bottom of the
lake may become anoxic, meaning there is no dissolved oxygen in
the water. (This can also lead to winter and summer fish kills
but that is a story for another day). Under these anoxic
conditions, phosphorus is no longer bound to iron and is
released as free phosphate (the most biologically valuable form
of phosphorus). Slowly, usable phosphorus diffuses from the
bottom and up into the water column. Some phosphorus will be
rapidly re-suspended when the lake "turns over" in spring and
fall. This "internally loaded" phosphorus will be taken up
rapidly by algae, which is why we often see algae blooms during
these times.
Aquatic plants are also important in getting
phosphorus into the water column, albeit in a round-about way.
Aquatic plants get most of their nutrients from the sediments
and, in a sense, "mine" the sediments for phosphorus. These
plants eventually die, are decomposed by bacteria, and then some
of the phosphorus that had been locked in the sediment is
released to the water column. Other lake bottom organisms, such
as carp and small insect larvae, often stir up oxygen-poor,
phosphorus-rich sediments near the sediment-water interface,
also leading to more phosphorus circulation.
Cutting off the external load of phosphorus from point and
non-point sources may not lead to an immediate decrease in algal
levels. There will always be some phosphorus internal loading,
at least seasonally. However, the lake’s phosphorus "memory"
will slowly fade if the phosphorus inputs decline. If the
external load is diminished, a lake over-endowed with nutrients
may eventually see a return to a more natural phosphorus cycling
regime.
By Susan Knight
UW-Center for Limnology, Trout Lake Station
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NR 115 Update - Shoreland Protection
The public comment period on proposed updates to
Wisconsin’s 40-year-old shoreland management rules
(Administrative Code NR 115) ended September 7, 2007. DNR staff
are now reviewing those comments and the oral testimony given at
nine public hearings this summer and will be issuing a response
summary outlining the changes made based on specific public
comments.
These changes will be incorporated into the
final rule proposals that will be presented to the Natural
Resources Board this winter for consideration. If the Natural
Resources Board approves the proposed changes to the shoreland
management rules, the rules will be sent to the Wisconsin State
Legislature for review and possible changes. There will be
opportunities for the public to comment again at both the
Natural Resources Board and Legislative stages. Once new
shoreland management rules are passed, counties will have two
years to bring their shoreland ordinances into compliance and
begin requiring property owners to follow the revised standards,
which aim to protect clean water, healthy habitat and scenic
beauty.
For more information, visit
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/news.htm OR
Contact Toni Herkert at (608) 261-0161 or
Toni.Herkert@Wisconsin.gov
SB 197 - Proposed Statewide Phosphorus Ban
SB 197 is a proposed statewide ban on phosphorus
in lawn fertilizer. Concerned citizens, representatives from
lake groups and other conservation organizations, lake experts,
county and UW-Extension staff, and the Wisconsin Association of
Lakes (WAL) assembled to testify in favor of the bill. These
testimonials emphasized the negative impact of excess phosphorus
on our state’s lakes and the necessity of a statewide approach
to regulate lawn fertilizer.
The reasoning behind a statewide ban versus
city/village/town ordinances is to ensure consistency across the
state for consumers and businesses. Although there is no
statewide data on lawns, agricultural soil in every Wisconsin
county has at least 20 parts per million (ppm) — the amount
needed to grow healthy turf — and an average of 53 ppm of soil
phosphorus. A quantity 1000 times smaller (25 parts per
billion) can promote excessive algae growth in lakes.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural
Resources [Sen. Mark Miller (Chair), Sen. Robert Jauch, Sen.
Neal Kedzie, Sen. Dale Schultz, and Sen. Robert Wirch] will
continue to work on this bill, and there are many steps to take
before this bill becomes law. Updates on the progress of SB 197
and other lake related legislation can be found at
www.wisconsinlakes.org.
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Public awareness of environmental issues and
support for solving the resulting challenges is at an all time
high. The effects of water pollution, the benefits of green
space, and even the occurrence of global climate change have
become an everyday part of our conversations. Another
environmental issue that we are hearing more and more about is
the growing number of invasive species showing up in Wisconsin.
Most residents are familiar with the word "invasives" and have
heard about the potential for negative effects on Wisconsin’s
environment. As a result, many believe that preventing their
introduction and spread is an important cause.
As new invasives arrive and new impacts are
seen, it can become more challenging for citizens to support
potential management solutions. News of the arrival of another
non-native plant or animal can easily evoke feelings of
hopelessness, frustrating even the most optimistic of thinkers.
What citizens hear about less often is the progress that is
being made in creating regulations that form a legal framework
to aid in preventing invasive species from ever entering the
state. The group that helps develop these rules and then passes
them on to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the
Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species.
Created in 2001, the Wisconsin Council on
Invasive Species (WCIS) is composed of thirteen members. Six
council members are representatives from the DNR, the Department
of Administration, Department of Agriculture, Trade, and
Consumer Protection, Department of Commerce, Department of
Tourism, and Department of Transportation. The remaining seven
are individuals who represent public and private interests that
are affected by the presence of invasives and are appointed by
the Governor to serve five year terms. Essentially, the WCIS is
charged with making recommendations to the DNR on invasive
species and conducting studies of issues related to controlling
invasives.
A prominent aspect of their regulation efforts
is the recent formation and meeting of the advisory Species
Assessment Groups (SAGs) that are intended to take place
annually. SAGs, comprised of scientists, species specialists,
and business representatives, classify invasive species based on
their potential to negatively affect society and the
environment. This September, the Aquatic Plants and Algae
Species Assessment Group, met in Madison to discuss and evaluate
27 aquatic plant and algae species. Before the meeting, each
group member was asked to read through over 200 pages of
literature that reviewed the distribution, damage potential, and
control options of each species, and to group each species into
regulatory categories. Then, on the day of the meeting,
individual member ratings were shared and discussed by the
group, and each species was assigned a final group
classification: Non-restricted, Watch,
Restricted, or Prohibited.
These classifications and any other
recommendations from the SAG are passed on to the WCIS, which
then advises the DNR staff who draft the rules. Once the rules
are outlined, public input is gathered through listening
sessions and written comments (see diagram on page 5 of
pdf version).
At its shortest, the classification of invasive species into
regulatory categories takes two years. The time span for such a
process can be wearisome. Gathering feedback from the public,
rule revisions, waiting for legislative operations, and other
steps make the procedure lengthy and frustrating for everyone,
especially when stopping invasives, both new and old, from
entering the state is the urgent goal.
However, regardless of the challenges, the
results of the WCIS and SAG efforts are important to invasive
species prevention. These regulations encourage responsible
behavior and thinking when buying plants, camping, or boating
out of state. As more time passes, public awareness of the
effects of invasive species will continue to increase and
conversations on smart prevention of invasives will become a
common part of our culture.
By Erin Henegar
UW-Extension Lakes
Look for more information on the DNR website
www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives.
SAGs conducted this summer
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Aquatic Animals
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Aquatic Plants and Algae
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Herbaceous Plants
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Woody Plants
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Terrestrial Vertebrates
Soil and Terrestrial
Invertebrates and Disease Pests of Native Plants
How are invasives categorized?
Prohibited: Species not yet in state or in
very limited populations; Still have potential to eradicate and
prevent; High potential for environmental damage if spread.
Restricted: Too widespread in state to
realistically attempt eradication, but has high environmental
impacts.
Watch: More information needed, uncertain if
it will become invasive in state or of level of harm.
Non-restricted: Socio-economic benefits of
species high; Environmental impacts of invasion variable.
The classification assigned to each invasive
species will determine what activities will be allowed, such as
the importation, transportation, possession, stocking, etc.
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When you walk out the door and the crisp autumn
air meets your lungs, it’s time to think about those fall
chores. Along with turning up the garden and putting away the
water toys for the season, the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network
(CLMN) would like to remind you to add one final check of your
shoreline for aquatic invasives.
Lake Resident check list:
For more information on these aquatic invasive
species, go to www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CLMN/publications.asp.
Check docks, piers, boats, etc. for zebra
mussels.
If you suspect that you have zebra mussels,
please notify your local Citizen Lake Monitoring contact. The
contact information can be found on the CLMN website at:
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CLMN.
Check shoreline for Eurasian water-milfoil (EWM)
fragments.
If your lake is not known to have EWM, and you
suspect it is present, please contact your local CLMN
coordinator.
Residents living on lakes with EWM: Save
yourself some work and DO NOT rake up leaves or fallen
brush along your shoreline. The weevil that eats EWM uses these
areas to survive the winter. It is very difficult for these
weevils to survive the winter if your lawn extends all the way
to the shoreline.
Check shoreline for mystery snails.
If your lake is not known to have Chinese or banded mystery
snails and you suspect that you have found these snails, please
email your information to Pieter Johnson (pieter.johnson@colorado.edu)
or Laura Herman (Laura.Herman@uwsp.edu).
Volunteers
CLMN Volunteers - Please remember to:
Update your email, address and phone number
by contacting your regional coordinator or going online.
Get your data into SWIMS.
Volunteers who entered their data online
DO NOT need to mail in paper copies.
Volunteers who phoned in their data
SHOULD mail in paper copies.
Secchi volunteers – Please remember to:
Store secchi disks and ropes out of the
reach of chewing rodents.
Measure your secchi rope to make sure it
hasn’t stretched. Please contact your local CLMN coordinator
for information on what to do if the rope has stretched.
Recycle old manuals and update revised
sections.
Chemistry Volunteers - Please remember to:
Store integrated sampler upside down so mold
does not grow on the ball mechanism.
Store your Van Dorn and temperature meter
(ropes & cables) out of the reach of chewing rodents. Make
sure your Van Dorn is not propped open as this stretches and
ages the rubber tubing.
Store chemicals appropriately (do not let
them freeze).
Check expiration dates on your chemicals.
Properly dispose of out-dated chemicals.
Return Styrofoam sulfuric ampoule holder and
unused acid ampoules to the DNR.
Recycle unused lab slips.
Make sure kit is dry so equipment and papers
do not mold.
Make sure your pH paper is kept dry in a
Ziploc bag.
Take out the Doric meter batteries so they
do not leak and replace with new batteries in the spring.
Contact your coordinator for a new 9-volt battery.
Let coordinators know if you have any broken
equipment.
AIS and Plant volunteers – Please remember to:
Send in AIS Watch Reports and/or native
plant monitoring results.
Volunteers who are leaving – Please remember to:
Inform regional coordinator if you are
retiring or leaving the program or if new volunteers are to
be added in the 2008 season.
Return unused equipment (Secchi disks, Van
Dorns, Temperature meters, DO Kits, SLOH mailers, etc.) to
your local CLMN contact. This equipment will be used by new
volunteers.
For more information about CLMN go to
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CLMN
or contact Laura Herman at lherman@uwsp.edu or 715-365-8998.
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One of my favorite Wisconsin animals has to
be the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). There is
not a large diversity of bats in Wisconsin. Only seven
species are common in the state, and they all belong to the
same taxonomic family Vespertillionidae. All seven species
of Wisconsin bats eat insects. Look at the molar of a
Wisconsin bat under the microscope and you’ll recognize a
sharp W-shaped cusp advertising its specialized diet. Bats
feed on insects of different sizes, and the size can be
determined, in part, by the frequencies of bat echolocation
calls. In general, lower frequency calls detect larger
insects and higher frequency calls detect smaller insects.
Also, high frequency calls can distinguish prey from
background. The Northern myotis bat has the highest
frequency calls for any Wisconsin bat and can pick a
mosquito off a leaf! Little brown bats can also detect very
small insects.
Little brown bats are most active during the
second and third hours after sunset, foraging over streams and
ponds. You may have seen them flying close to the water feeding
on insects such as mayflies and other mosquito-sized insects. A
lactating female eats more than her body weight in insects each
night (waiter, I’ll have the 150lb steak and a side salad).
Keeping me safe from mosquito bites is only one reason I find
little brown bats so interesting.
Little brown bats have the widest range of core
body temperatures ever recorded for a mammal (between 39�F and
130�F). They act more like lizards, allowing their body
temperature to track ambient temperature. This saves a lot of
metabolic energy. Think about the energy we expend maintaining a
range of temperatures in our comfort zone. You can look at your
energy bill, but also think about the myriad of behaviors we
have to keep cool or stay warm. At what temperature do you put
on a sweater? Do you try and park in the shade on a hot summer
day? Little brown bats don’t waste time on such things.
Little brown bats travel up to 200 miles to
hibernation caves. During the winter months mating occurs and
sperm is stored by females until spring when fertilization of
the eggs takes place. It sounds strange, but basically, male
bats mate with freezers!
About late May or June females give birth to a
single pup. This is common in bats and is thought to be related
to the energetics of flight. The 0.1 ounce pup is about 25% of
the mother’s body weight. Try and imagine a 100 pound human
carrying a 25 pound fetus foraging for over 100 pounds of food
everyday (forget about dad helping out). Now imagine her flying.
Although single pups are the norm, a few Wisconsin bats,
including the silver-haired and the hoary bat, give birth to
twins. The red bat can give birth to as many as five young, the
largest litter ever reported for a bat.
Finally, here are some thoughts about those bats
in your attic. The little brown bat is the bat most commonly
found in buildings in Wisconsin. These colonies can number from
150 to 300 bats and consist exclusively of females and pups. The
males remain solitary during the summer. Females are site loyal
and will return to the same roost year after year. A bat control
expert I know trapped a bat in a building, released it 180 miles
away, and captured it in the same building the following year.
He also told me that it’s usually the juveniles that get
disoriented and end up in the house. Amazingly, little brown
bats live for more than 30 years. Doing some quick math, the
senior bats in your attic may have consumed up to 90 pounds of
mosquito-sized insects during their lifetimes!
Most of us find bats mysterious, if not a bit
frightening, but we have a lot in common with them. We’re the
only two mammals capable of true powered flight (okay, we need a
little help from Boeing). We are both relatively long-lived
species that typically give birth to single offspring. Vampire
bat mothers form babysitting co-ops, leaving their pups with
close relatives while they go out for a bite to eat and a drink
(bet you can’t guess their favorite drink). The following night,
belly full, they’ll take on the babysitting duties. One thing
bats and humans don’t agree on is mosquitoes. Bats crave them
and we despise them, but that important difference is why we
love bats.
By Christopher J. Yahnke
Curator of Birds and Mammals
Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, University
of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
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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.
Q: Is there a limit on how much a lake district
can tax?
A: Yes - general
property taxes levied by a lake district are capped at a rate of
2.5 mills or $2.50 per $1,000 of equalized valuation ($250 for a
property valued at $100,000). General property taxes are applied
as a tax rate on each taxable parcel within the district and are
typically used for operating expenses such as administrative
costs, lake studies, monitoring and other general government
activities.
Lake districts are also authorized to use
special charges for services identified in the annual budget.
These are typically used for services that benefit individual
properties, such as sewer or water service, aquatic plant
harvesting, algae control and garbage pickup. Similarly, special
charges are capped at $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
Special assessments can also be used, but are
typically reserved for larger capital projects and involve
fairly complex notices, hearings and procedures.
For more information on lake districts, see People of the
Lakes: A Guide for Wisconsin Lake Organizations,
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/districts.
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To see graphs included in this article, open
the PDF version by
clicking here.
If you would like any of these graphs for a presentation or
article in your own newsletter, please contact us at
uwexlakes@uwsp.edu.
Happy fall, fellow lake lovers! As the weather
turns cooler and we all start reminiscing about the warmth and
fun of summer, it’s a good time to think back to the watercraft
inspections conducted this past year and see what the
information gathered at the landings can tell us.
Here are some numbers from across the state:
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30,807 boats were inspected by volunteers
and paid inspectors
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64,336 people were contacted about the
Clean Boats, Clean Waters message
-
Over 17,950 hours were spent conducting
watercraft inspections (6,249 hours by volunteers)
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5% of boats had plants attached when
launching
-
10% of boats had plants attached when
leaving the landing
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40% of boats had been in another water body
in the last five days
-
44% of boats had previously been in a water
body with invasives present
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91% of boaters stated that they regularly
take prevention steps
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90% of boaters stated that they were aware
of the AIS launch law
So, how do these numbers compare to previous
years?
-
Watercraft inspections were conducted for
over 2,600 more hours in 2007 than in 2006. Thanks to both
volunteers and paid inspectors for their awesome efforts
this summer! As you can see below, we’ve come a long way in
our number of hours since 2004.
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This year, 91% of boaters said that they
regularly take the prevention steps every time they
boat. As seen in the graph below, that number is up 19%
from last year, when 72% of boaters stated that they
took prevention methods. Alright! This suggests that boaters
are hearing our ‘Clean Boats’ message and taking the
appropriate steps to prevent spreading aquatic invasives to
other lakes.
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Boater awareness of the aquatic invasive
species law has seen a rise of 6% since 2006. This is
also an exciting trend! Since 2004, awareness of the
regulation has continued to rise and reached 90% this year.
There have also been many changes this summer.
With the presence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in some of
Wisconsin’s lakes, the number of boaters who had previously
visited a water body with invasives has risen significantly.
Spiny waterflea, previously found only in the Gile Flowage in
Iron County, was discovered in Stormy Lake in Vilas County, and
an invasive plant called hydrilla was located in a private
artificial pond in Marinette County this summer.
The arrival and spread of these relatively new
aquatic invasive species, while aggravating to us all,
emphasizes the importance of our inspection efforts. And
progress is being made! The data collected in 2007 is quite
encouraging. As you can see in the previous graphs, we’re
getting the word out about the value of preventing the spread of
aquatic invasive species, and more people report taking the
prevention steps than ever before. In addition, more of
Wisconsin’s boaters are aware of the ‘Illegal to Launch’
regulation. The number of boaters entering the water and leaving
the landing with plants or animals attached continues to
steadily decrease.
We have our volunteers to thank for much of the
success and improvement seen in 2007. Thanks so much to all of
you who devote time to spreading the message ‘Clean Boats =
Clean Waters’!! Your hard work and commitment is appreciated
and, as can be seen in the data, really does make a difference!
For more information about the Clean Boats, Clean Waters
watercraft inspection program, go to
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCW or contact Erin Henegar at
Erin.Henegar@uwsp.edu or (715) 346-4978.
AIS Prevention Steps
What can you do to aid our prevention efforts?
Take these important steps every time you leave the landing and
encourage others to do the same.
and remove aquatic plants and
animals
Drain
all water from boat and equipment
Dispose
of unwanted bait in trash
Ice your catch
before you leave
Rinse
boat and equipment with hot/high pressure water
OR Dry boat for at least 5 days
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On October 24, 2007, the state Natural Resources
Board approved emergency rules that require all people boating
and fishing in Wisconsin to take steps to prevent the spread of
viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a recently discovered
aquatic invasive species. The emergency rules require boaters
and anglers to drain their boats and make sure the fish they
take away are dead, including bait minnows, before they leave
any Wisconsin water body. And, in a requirement reflecting
concern that boaters were arriving in Wisconsin from other
states where VHS is present, the board made it illegal to
transport by land any water in livewells, boats or other
equipment into the state. Action on permanent rules is tabled
until December.
For more information on VHS or to view the
detailed list of emergency rules, visit
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/pages/vhs.html.
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So far in this series we have focused on the
details of making a plan. Although these details are important,
we need to give ample consideration to the most important
aspect: putting the plan to work! We’ve all heard the clich�
about plans sitting on the shelf collecting dust. While that’s
never a deliberate outcome, failure to consider and include an
implementation strategy increases the odds that the plan will
fail the "white glove test."
Considering the questions of what, how, where,
who and when is critical for plan implementation to be
successful.
What - the specific
actions or tasks that are needed to achieve the recommendation
or management objectives listed in the plan.
How - the methods
needed to meet plan objectives in addition to the time and money
involved. Are volunteers doing the work? Does the activity
require spending money (most do)? Costs need to be detailed in a
budget along with a description of where the money will come
from (i.e. grants, taxes, donations, etc.)
Where - the need to
specify locations in the lake or watershed where the actions
will take place. A labeled map is a useful part of your action
plan.
Who - the person,
committee or vendor responsible for completing the task; this is
a simple, but critical assignment. Be sure the "who" is willing
and supportive of the assigned task to ensure follow through.
When – the time frame.
Rarely do we have the financial and human resources to implement
the entire plan at once, so part of action planning is
organizing priorities. What recommendations are going to be
tackled first and what can wait? This is often facilitated by
classifying recommendations as short, medium or long term. Also,
to achieve results, activities often need to be in a proper
sequence (for example, task A needs to be done before task B can
begin). This is called critical path analysis. Finally,
developing an overall timeline of expected starts and
completions of the various tasks is extremely helpful for
communication among the stakeholders, as well as for tracking
and accountability.
An implementation or action plan should be easy
to read and represented in tables or charts. There are several
free and low cost software programs available that can be used
to organize the what, how, where, who and when into flow charts
displayed over a calendar (type Gantt Charts into any Internet
search engine).
Simply put, an implementation plan is a detailed
schedule of actions. After all, action is what we want! It does
not have to be part of the full management plan. In fact, it is
more useful as a stand alone document. While the management plan
may remain fairly static, the implementation plan will
constantly be updated. The convenience of an action plan is that
it is visual, to the point, and can be pulled out at every
meeting allowing the main plan to be on the shelf as a reference
without its ideas collecting dust. Be sure to include a brief
description of the expected results in your implementation plan.
After all of the effort that your group puts
into creating a management plan that will benefit your lake,
make sure the work is carried out. Then take a stroll to the
water’s edge and enjoy the results.
By Carroll Schaal
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
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Paradise Lost? Climate Change Art Tour
– Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau
January 12-February 8, 2008
– Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
February 16-April 11, 2008
– Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis, MN
For more information:
www.wisc.edu/cbe/K12/paradiselost.html
Groundwater Model Workshops for Educators
January 15, 2008 –
Jefferson
January 23, 2008 –
Green Bay
January 30, 2008 –
Stevens Point
Educators from schools and nature centers that
provide environmental training to students grades 6-12 are
encouraged to apply for a free groundwater sand tank flow model
along with training and tools that can improve their programs (8
models given away at each workshop). Application deadline:
November 1, 2007.
For more information:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/gw/educate.htm
January 31-February 1, 2008
– Wisconsin Wetlands Association Conference, Oconomowoc.
For more information:
www.wisconsinwetlands.org
February 1, 2008 –
Application deadline for Lake Planning and Aquatic Invasive
Species Control Grants.
For more information contact your DNR Lake
Coordinator or go to
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cfa/Grants/Lakes/invasivespecies.html
February 16, 2008 –
Aquatic Invasive Species Workshop, Milwaukee For more
information see
page 5 of this issue.
February 22, 2008 –
Nomination Deadline – WI Lake Stewardship Awards
Nominate an individual or group who dedicates
time and talent to Wisconsin’s waters for this prestigious
award.
For more information:
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/conventions
April 17-19, 2008 –
30th Annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention, KI Center,
Green Bay.
For more information:
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/conventions
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Reflections
A few days ago I
walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch
and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of
this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed,
are as crisp as autumn air.
~ Eric Sloane
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Editor: Amy
Kowalski
Design & Layout: Amy Kowalski
Contributing Editors: Robert Korth and Erin Henegar, UWEX; Carroll Schaal, DNR
Photos by: Robert Korth
(unless
otherwise noted)
Illustrations by: Carol Watkins, Chris Whalen
The contents of Lake Tides
do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of UW-Extension,
UWSP-CNR, the Wisconsin DNR or the Wisconsin Association of Lakes.
Mention of trade names, commercial products, private businesses or
publicly financed programs does not constitute endorsement.
Lake Tides welcomes articles, letters or other news items for
publication. Articles in Lake Tides may be reprinted or
reproduced for further distribution with acknowledgment to the
Wisconsin Lakes Partnership. If you need this material in an
alternative format, please contact our office. No state tax
revenue supported the printing of this document.
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We welcome you to use any of these articles for your
newsletter. Please credit the source. For more
articles go to our
article archive.
Contact us at
uwexlakes@uwsp.edu if you have questions.
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