Thanks for Speaking up!
By Shannon Kearney, Student Outreach Intern, Extension Lakes
About every 10 years, Extension Lakes checks in with Lake Tides readers to better understand who you are, how you engage with the newsletter, and what matters most when it comes to Wisconsin’s lakes. This year, we used a multi-pronged approach. We mailed 1,000 postcards to randomly selected readers, shared the survey on social media, and included it in the most recent issue of Lake Tides. Together, these efforts helped us hear from voices across the state.
Who reads Lake Tides?
According to the survey, half of our readers own lakefront property, 28% live near a lake, and 19% do not live near a lake but visit lakes often. This tells us Lake Tides continues to reach people who care deeply about lakes, whether they live on them or simply love spending time there.
One encouraging finding was how often Lake Tides is shared. Many readers share their copy with at least one other person, with 12% passing it along to four or more people! Thanks for helping us reach more folks!
When it comes to receiving lake-related information, traditional mail (36%) and email (30%) came out on top. These insights reinforce this newsletter remains an important and valued resource.
What worries readers most?
When asked about the biggest threats to lakes, responses varied, with aquatic invasive species (31%) and habitat loss (20%) rising to the top. This feedback underscores the importance of continuing to share science-based research and providing clear, practical steps you can take to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s lakes.
When asked about barriers to protecting lakes in Wisconsin, respondents ranked lack of support and information as highest. This motivates us to keep providing the tools, knowledge, and updates you need about lake ecology, lake laws and regulations, and water resource opportunities.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share feedback. Your input helps guide the future of Lake Tides and the work we do to support healthy lakes across Wisconsin.
You don’t have to wait for our next survey to share your thoughts. Reach out anytime with story ideas, questions, or feedback. We’re always glad to hear from you.
New and Improved
Based on feedback from this survey and other research, we have upgraded your Lake Tides newsletter. We still offer easy-to-read, generally non-technical articles in a conversational tone, but have incorporated larger font and colorful photos to make it more accessible to everyone.