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Wisconsin Lakes Partnership

2011 Convention Archive

​Tuesday Workshops

April 12, 2011
9:00am-Noon

Working with the Media: Put Your Best Foot Forward...Not in Your Mouth

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

This workshop will give you an overview of how to work successfully with the media. Learn how to build relationships with the media to get them to cover your events and to understand your issues. Get tips and reference materials to help you prepare for successful interviews; whether for print, radio or TV or webcasting. Practice being interviewed ..the media interaction that can cause the most anxiety... and get feedback from the presenters and participants on what worked and what you can fine tune.
 
Presenters:
  • Mary Farmiloe, DNR Visuals Consultant and Video Producer/Director, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
    Lisa Gaumnitz, DNR Senior Public Affairs Manager for the Water Division, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Aquatic Plant ID (Name that Plant)

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Learning to identify the water plants in your lake can help with a variety of lake projects, such as aquatic plant management plans, grants, or just add to the fun of learning more about water plants. This workshop will give a hands-on, up-close view of aquatic plant intricacies and differences to aid you in their identification. Learn how plants survive underwater and how they contribute to the health of the lake ecosystem.
 
Presenters:
  • Susan Knight, aquatic biologist and assistant scientist with the UW-Madison Center for Limnology Trout Lake Station
  • Ali Mikulyuk, a research scientist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  • Michelle Nault, a research scientist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Limit: 30
Additional Fee: $30

Clean Boats, Clean Waters

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Volunteers have been an integral part of protecting Wisconsin lakes for over two decades. With so many water bodies and so few state resources, we rely heavily on volunteer efforts to educate boaters about aquatic invasive species (AIS) and how to prevent their spread. Come join us for the Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshop and become one of over 2,000 volunteers who have been trained to conduct watercraft inspections! We will discuss what can be done to prevent the spread of AIS, how you can get your community involved, and why inspection data is so valuable. Sharpen your inspection skills by role playing how to talk with people at the boat landing, and discover the subtle differences between native and non-native invasive aquatic plants through hands-on plant identification. Everyone will receive the watercraft inspection handbook, containing AIS distribution information, contacts, a kit of resources to aid inspection efforts, and more.
 
Presenter: Erin McFarlane, AIS Volunteer Coordinator, UW-Extension Lakes
Limit: 25
Additional Fee: $25
 

Adding Lake Levels to the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

The WDNR and USGS have recognized a need and desire by citizens to measure and monitor long-term lake water levels throughout the state, as well as maintain this information in a central database. A two-pronged approach is being implemented where by the USGS is operating a network of “Index Lakes” across the state that are of special interest because of their long-term records, societal importance, and/or relatively well-understood hydrology. The second prong will involve citizens monitoring their own lakes as part of the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (CLMN). This workshop will serve as the official "launch" of this second prong and will target professionals and volunteers that are interested in helping citizens effectively monitor lake levels. Topics will include: 1) Influences of water level on water quality in lakes, 2) an overview of the Index and CLMN networks, 3) CLMN plans for the summer, and 4) demonstrations of equipment and common tasks. Participants will be provided information on proper procedures for measuring lake levels and/or beach width, and provided a means to store their data in the WDNR SWIMS database. Sign-up sheets will be used to identify individuals that: 1) are already collecting water level data, 2) have an interest in collecting water level and/or beach width data in the future, and 3) are interested in being trained in water level measuring protocols and then help groups in their area to perform many of these tasks.
 
Presenters:
  • Paul Juckem, Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Tim Asplund, Limnologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Dale Robertson, Research Hydrologist, Surface-water Chemistry, U.S. Geological Survey
Limit: 50
 

Erosion Control/Shoreland Technique

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Do you have shoreline erosion issues on your property? Are you looking for effective solutions? This presentation will focus on identifying various causes of erosion (geologic, vegetative, climatic, hydraulic, human) and the effect of these factors (runoff, waves, groundwater seeps, freeze/thaw, ice, human access, etc.) on the landscape and shoreline areas. Once the cause(s) of erosion are known, it is then possible to select techniques to help control or eliminate erosion potential. We will share engineering standards, conceptual drawings, material samples, and photographs to depict these techniques and where they are useful and applicable. Design standards, construction efforts, and lessons learned will be discussed. Successes and challenges will be mentioned with each case study. A description of NR 328 and how it impacts landowners who are applying for permits to work on their shorelines will also be offered.
 
Presenters:
  • Carolyn Scholl, Vilas County Conservationist
  • Stacy Dehne, Conservation Engineer, Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection
  • Robert Rosenberger, Water Management Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Limit: 50

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Are you concerned about aquatic invasive species? Are you willing to put in the time to monitor your lake and enter the data into the statewide database? If so, this workshop is for you. You will learn how to identigy aquatic invasive species, receive ideas on how to organize an effective monitoring team, learn where and when to look for the invasives, find out what to do if you suspct that you have found an invasive plant or animal, and learn how to input your data into the statewide AIS database. Manual and materials are included in the extra fee. Your take-home items and newfound confidence will help you to share your knowledge with all your fellow lake lovers and track your data in a statewide database system.
 
Presenter: Laura Herman, CLMN Educator, UW-Extension Lakes
 
Limit:  25
Additional Fee:  $25

Water Words that Work

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Develop the communications skills necessary to succeed in: environmental writing for citizens; planning social marketing campaigns; working with reporters and media; preparing websites and blogs; fundraising; speaking at public meetings and hearings; and lobbying public officials.
 
Presenter: Eric Eckl, Founder, Water Words that Work
 
Limit: 50

 

Wetlands and Local Land Use Decisions

Tuesday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

The workshop will teach participants how to effectively participate in local land use decisions that affect wetlands and how to effectively communicate with land use officials about the value of protecting and restoring local wetlands. It will include an overview of federal, state, and local wetland laws, plus ways that communities can better protect wetlands in their areas. Another element of the workshop will share good examples of more protective shoreland-wetland ordinances, along with a discussion on opportunities that counties have to adopt more protective shoreland-wetland provisions as they are updating their ordinances to comply with new NR 115 provisions.

 

Presenters:
  • Erin O'Brien, Wetland Policy Director, Wisconsin Wetlands Association
  • Kyle Magyera, Wetland Policy Specialist, Wisconsin Wetlands Association
Limit:  50

                    
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