Nov 28, 2008
Management plans in the works for Portage
County lakes
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) Center for
Watershed Science and Education, in partnership with local
municipalities, is set to begin the next step in a multipart project
that will result in the development of lake management plans for 29
lakes in Portage County.
Supported by a grant from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
with assistance from staff at the Land Use Education Center (CLUE),
located in the College of Natural Resources, the first stage of the
project was completed in the summer of 2007 with the development of
reports containing a detailed analysis of each lake. Topics studied
included water quality, changes in land use in the watersheds,
surveys of the shoreland, fisheries, amphibians, aquatic plants,
algae and birds. The lake study reports can be found in the Planning
and Zoning Department section on the Portage County Web site
at
www.co.portage.wi.us/Planning&Zoning/P&Z.htm.
This second DNR grant will allow interested citizens, local sporting
groups, the municipalities and the UWSP Center to conduct planning
processes for the 29 lakes. Lake management plans provide guidance
about addressing existing problems and preventing future problems.
Common issues include poor water quality, invasive aquatic plants,
poor fishery, and/or degraded shore-land habitat. According to Linda
Stoll, outreach specialist for CLUE, it is anticipated that it will
take approximately three years to complete all of the management
plans.
The planning session for Fountain, Pickerel, and Wolf Lakes will
begin with a survey of lake users. Citizens living in the watershed
for each lake will soon receive a survey with questions about use
and possible issues for the lake. People not living in the watershed
are welcome to print and fill out a survey found on the Web site
(noted above) under the name of the individual lake. For those
unable to access the Web site, contact Stoll, 715-346-4853 or
lstoll@uwsp.edu for a survey. Responses need to be returned to
the UWSP Center for Watershed Science no later than Monday, December
15.
“It is critical that as many people as possible complete the survey
as the results will be used to guide the development of the plan,”
said Stoll.
In January, committees will be formed to complete the planning
process for these three lakes. Anyone interested in serving on the
committee should contact Stoll or send an e-mail to
PortageCountyLakes@uwsp.edu.
Citizens and the media are welcome to
observe these planning sessions. Information on meetings and plan
drafts will be located at the Web site listed above under the name
for each lake.
“Our area lakes are a critical resource both for personal enjoyment
and as a contributor to the local economy,” said Stoll. “The
management plans will play a critical role in maintaining the value
of the lakes for many generations.”
