In 2018, members of the Grindstone Lake Association gathered for their annual picnic and shared a common concern: what would happen if the 57-acre former cranberry bog on the lake’s southwest shore was developed?
Rather than leave its future to chance, they took action! Early talks led to the creation of the Grindstone Lake Foundation, with a clear vision to protect more than a quarter mile (1,537 feet!) of natural shoreline, safeguard water quality, and create a community-supported nature area for everyone to enjoy.
Turning that vision into reality took an entire community. A generous benefactor provided the loan to purchase the property, while neighbors, lake residents, and supporters raised more than $850,000 to repay it. The Foundation also secured a $200,000 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Surface Water Land Acquisition Grant that permanently protects the land through a conservation easement, ensuring it will remain undeveloped.
Nature Is Making a Comeback Years of cranberry farming changed how water flowed across the property. As old agricultural infrastructure is removed, the land’s natural hydrology will be restored, allowing native wetlands to return. Healthy wetlands naturally filter water, reduce runoff, provide wildlife habitat, and help keep Grindstone Lake healthy.
A True Community Effort This project has been powered by volunteers at every step. Local fire departments safely burned deteriorating buildings, volunteers established trails, and the Foundation secured another Wisconsin DNR grant to begin planning the next phase of wetland restoration.
Today, the Grindstone Lake Nature Reserve is open to everyone. Whether you’re walking the trails, watching birds along the shoreline, or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, you’re experiencing what can happen when a community comes together to protect a place it loves.
Now that’s a legacy worth sharing!
Did you know? Those grassy trails weren’t always trails! They were once berms separating cranberry beds. Today, they’re becoming scenic walking paths where visitors can experience the beauty of the restored landscape.
For more information about Extension Lakes newsletters contact:
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
In each issue, we share ideas and resources to help your organization build its capacity to care for Wisconsin’s lakes. This time, we’re digging into a tool used to enhance the internal functions of your organization.
What does the makeup of your community look like? Let’s talk about how your organization can benefit from better knowing its membership (associations) or property owners and electors (districts). A simple survey of your lake community can uncover hidden talent, strengthen your organization, and help you reach your goals.
Have you ever wondered who in your community knows how to raise funds, understands accounting applications, or is involved with the county, town, or DNR? Lake groups should spend time getting to know their community’s skills and experiences to create a more robust organization, and invite those folks to join your board.
The Organizational Capacity section of the Extension Lakes website explores Internal Functions, including how using a Skills Gap Analysis will help to better understand your board’s talents and help fill gaps. The tool provided is customizable, but should not be overused.
This is just one more tool in your capacity toolbox that can help you build stronger relationships and do more to protect our shared waters.
Dave’s Hot Tips for a Successful Skills Gap Analysis:
Keep it short, simple, and clear.
Ask 6-10 concise questions that take under 10 minutes to complete. Simple and inclusive will get you more responses, but allow for open-ended feedback!
Test, review, and make updates.
Before sending it out broadly, ask a small group to test the survey and tweak it as needed.
Provide a timeline and reminders.
Ask for responses in 1-2 weeks, with reminders after 4-5 days and a final reminder a few days before the deadline. Stick to your deadline.
Use free online survey tools.
Survey tools make it easy to take and compile results. Examples include Google, Microsoft, SurveyMonkey, and Typeform.
30-40% response rate is a win.
That’s great! If you’re under 20%, review the survey length, questions, audience, and approach.
Use the results and say thank you.
Organize, review, and discuss the results, then put them to work. Make sure to thank those who took the time to respond.
For more information about Extension Lakes newsletters contact:
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
One of the most colorful dickey fish, the Iowa darter, is common in lakes throughout Wisconsin.
Found mainly among sparse plants and on the edge of thicker plant beds is the western banded killifish, uncommon in medium to large lakes across the state.
The blacknose shiner is a widespread plant-associated minnow found in all sizes of lakes throughout the state.
The Tadpole Madtom is a plant-associated catfish found in medium to large lakes throughout the state.
Little fish, those under a few inches in length, garner little attention or appreciation. But they play an outsized role in the health of Wisconsin’s lakes.
There are two types of small fish, the juveniles of the panfish and gamefish, who grow quickly and are only small for their first few months, and the inherently small species, which we affectionately term “dickey fish”. These species never exceed a few inches in length. Wisconsin’s lakes collectively support about 30 dickey fish species. Some are quite beautiful and others nondescript, but all are important.
Although easy to miss, dickey fish are essential players in the food web. They eat algae, tiny invertebrates, and the detritus from decayed plants and animals. In turn, they are eaten by larger fish, especially carnivorous species like crappie, bass, catfish, pike, musky, perch, and walleye. Dickey fish are the link between aquatic plants and the gamefish that so many of us love to catch. A healthy sport fishery requires a healthy dickey fish community.
Most dickey fish are found among aquatic plants where they hide from predators, eat the algae and invertebrates the plants support, and lay their eggs on the leaves and stems. Unsurprisingly, when native aquatic plants decline, so do dickey fish. And when native plants are displaced by non-native species such as Eurasian watermilfoil or curly leaf pondweed, dickey fish suffer. The native plants provide much better habitat.
Over 150 years ago, Wisconsin’s lakes were full of small, plant-loving fish living among native underwater plants. Today, those fish are much harder to find. In Lake Mendota in Madison, for example, there were once 10 dickey fish species, but now only two remain and neither is common. While we don’t have as much long-term data for every lake, similar declines are happening across the state.
Much of this change can be directly linked to human impacts. The introduction of common carp, runoff from soil erosion and fertilizers, and harmful blue-green algae blooms have all taken a toll. Shoreline development has also reduced important plant habitat, and invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil have spread. Even some well-intended efforts to control invasive plants can sometimes remove too much of the good habitat these fish depend on. Together, these changes have made it harder for these once-common fish to thrive.
Many lakes probably still have a few dickey fish, and gamefish should still have a species or two to eat. So, why should we worry?
The issue is what’s called “redundancy” in ecological terms and “having a backup plan” in everyday life. Basically, the more species you have, the less likely you’ll have a year when all dickey fish are scarce and gamefish go hungry. The abundance of each dickey fish species fluctuates dramatically from year to year. Often these fluctuations are in synch, good or bad, but when you have lots of species, there will be one or two that will do well when the others do poorly, and consequently there will always be enough food for gamefish. But when the variety of dickey fish is low, the chances rise that all species will have a bad year together and gamefish won’t have enough to eat.
It’s like having a balanced investment portfolio; diversity makes it more resilient when things don’t go as planned. Similarly, if there are only one or two dickey fish species, the food base is at risk of collapse when conditions aren’t favorable. With many dickey fish species, the lake ecosystem can better ride out the occasional tough times.
Do you know what kind of dickey fish are in your lake? Most lakes don’t have adequate data even though it only takes a couple of days to conduct a survey. And as fish biologists, we strongly recommend it. Find your local WDNR fisheries biologist.
If you know there are a good variety of dickey fish in your lake, conservation is key. Protect the water quality and habitat, especially the aquatic plants that are essential for dickey fish to thrive. If a fish survey reveals no or just a few species, your lake community could explore restoration. Helping these fish make a comeback often starts with improving water quality and habitat, especially aquatic plants. But this alone may not be enough. Dickey fish can’t easily move from one lake to another, so even if conditions improve, they may not re-establish on their own. The good news is that restoration is still possible. Although the process is complex, projects throughout the Midwest, including Wisconsin, show that dickey fish can be successfully re-introduced through stocking.
While dickey fish are small and inconspicuous, these fish are key to a healthy lake ecosystem, and losing them could have perilous consequences!
Where did the name “dickey fish” originate? Biologists sometimes use the slang term “dickey” to refer to small, visually non-descript species, most commonly among birds and non-game fish. This dates back to 18th century English when the nickname Dicky was often used as a pet name for small animals, and a nursery rhyme popularized calling small, common yard birds “dicky birds”.
Iowa Darter (age 8+) Freshwater Fish Series, Volume 2
Learn how these native Wisconsin fish grow, where they like to hang out, and what you can do to keep their waters healthy.
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
Want to inspire, engage, and activate people in your community to take action for our waters? Include environmental education (EE) in your WDNR Surface Water Education Grant application to help raise awareness and create positive change! In our last issue, we introduced the five tenets of EE and how they can spark community interest in your local waterways. Let’s use those ideas to strengthen your grant application, and more importantly, create lasting change in your community.
Did you know? The Surface Water Education Grant ranking sheets can help you understand the criteria and improve your application. These are found in the appendices of the Surface Water Grant guidance document published each year and linked from the Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Grants page.
Think Holistically A thoughtful, layered approach that is clearly explained in your proposal (not just a list of activities) takes time but will help strengthen your proposal and ensure the education you provide really makes a difference. Remember to consult the Five Tenets of Environmental Education.
RAISE AWARENESS – All education starts here. Be sure to describe how you will raise awareness of an issue. Consider showing examples or comparisons.
INCREASE KNOWLEDGE – Build on the awareness gained and begin to introduce new concepts. Brainstorm fun activities that get people learning while they’re with you, but also while they’re at home with their families or friends.
IDENTIFY VALUES – Describe how you will help people understand what they value and why. This will require you to research how values can be identified through educational programming.
DEVELOP SKILLS – If your project includes skill building, explain what skills you want the participants to develop and why they are important. How will this help change behavior?
TAKE ACTION – Explain what you want your audience to ultimately do with their new knowledge, values, and skills.
Now you are ready to write a strong grant application using the following tips.
Make Your Project Impact Clear (Grant section: Project Impact) Fully explain why this topic is important to the environment, to people, and to the economy. Assume that those reviewing the grant do not understand why the topic is important. Research what others have done and what has worked. Reference these projects and why you intend to replicate a past project or do something different.
Design with People in Mind (Grant section: Project Design) How will your project provide engaging, in-person education or outreach? Not all audiences learn the same way and your proposal should reflect that.
Think through these questions and include the answers in your proposal:
Are you trying to reach children, families, adults, or all three? Each audience may need a different engagement method.
How many people will you realistically engage? Why did you choose this number and how will you reach it?
Will you be providing the education or partnering with an experienced educator? Consider working with your local school district or college; students training to become teachers are great partners.
Will the education be online, in-person, or both? Details matter; describe how long each event will last, where it will take place, and how often.
If your project includes an electronic component, how will you engage people with your content?
Build More Than a Project, Build Capacity (Grant section: Capacity Focus) Describe how your organization will develop or enhance partnerships while getting things done. Since capacity is a big area, decide how your activities will focus on strengthening membership, internal functions, external relationships, or programs. Explain how your activities will improve the capacity area you choose to focus on and show how you will measure success. Pre- and post-surveys, participation numbers, or new partnerships can all help show your growth.
Turn Funding into Lasting Change A strong grant proposal does more than check boxes. It shows how your project will move people from awareness to action.
For more information about Extension Lakes newsletters contact:
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
Owning property along a Wisconsin lake or river comes with incredible rewards: peaceful views, wildlife sightings, and time well spent on (and in) the water. It also comes with a sense of responsibility to steward the land that borders these waters to make sure future generations can also enjoy them. We all know what we do on the land affects our shared waters. You probably follow shoreland zoning laws and think, “I’m doing my part.” But these standards were a compromise, like many Wisconsin laws, and don’t measure up to what the science is telling us.
How healthy is your shoreland property? Head over to the Healthy Lakes & Rivers website (healthylakeswi.com) and click on “Score My Shore” to find out! Or simply scan the QR code above and get started.
Wisconsin Score My Shore – Shoreland Evaluation Survey This easy-to-use online survey helps you take a fresh look at your property. Think of it as a friendly check-in rather than a test. Answer simple questions about what you see and do as you walk from your driveway and house (Upland Zone), through the nearshore area (Transition Zone) and look into the water (In-Water Zone).
One of the most helpful features is that the survey is dynamic. Your answers guide what comes next, so you get information tailored to your property. At the end, you receive a score (like a credit score), ranging from “Entry” to “Protection” level, along with practical suggestions for improvements.
Even better, the survey directs you to simple, often low-cost actions. Planting native vegetation, redirecting runoff, or leaving natural features in place can help support fish, wildlife, and water quality.
Neighbors Make a Difference Research consistently shows that land use and shoreland management on adjacent properties strongly influence water quality and habitat. When several neighboring properties add native plants or reduce mowing near the water, the benefits multiply. Together, those connected shorelines create habitat corridors for fish, frogs, turtles, and birds – something a single property can’t do alone.
Strive for Progress, Not Perfection It’s also important to recognize that no developed shore is perfect, which makes it difficult to score in the “Protection” category of the survey. Many properties already have homes, driveways, or other hard surfaces close to the water. Strive for progress, not perfection. Taking small steps toward more natural conditions can make a meaningful difference.
A Private, Flexible Way to Learn Score My Shore also offers a private way to learn. If you’ve ever wondered what a site visit might involve but weren’t ready to invite someone out, this tool lets you explore at your own pace. You can even preview the survey, pause and return later, or update your answers before submitting.
So, what’s your shoreline telling you? Taking a few minutes to find out could lead to healthier water, more diverse wildlife, and a shoreline you can feel even better about sharing with family, friends, and neighbors. And when those neighbors get curious, you’ll have something valuable to pass along, because it takes all of us to make healthy lakes and rivers together!
Attention lake groups! Use this survey to: – Build awareness across membership. – Encourage voluntary action without pressure. – Create a shared starting point for conversation. – Support lake-wide improvements over time. – Strive for progress and track it.
Five free ways to give back to your lake/river: 1) Leave fallen trees in the water – they protect shorelines and provide habitat for fish, turtles, songbirds, and more. 2) Don’t mow – let the water’s edge grow and see what pops up (remove invasives). 3) Skip the fertilizer – most soil does not need a boost. 4) Protect existing natural areas. 5) Redirect gutters/downspouts away from the waterbody.
For more information about Extension Lakes newsletters contact:
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
Humans have interacted with water for thousands of years. Since the retreat of the glaciers, the seasonal rituals of native tribes have been guided by water. The oral histories of the Anishinaabe migration tell of a journey from the east along what we now call the Great Lakes to a place where “food grows on the water.” That food is wild rice, known as manoomin in Ojibwe, and is both sustenance and a powerful reminder of our connection to water.
In more recent years, European explorers used the waterways to access the region’s fur and forests, and by the 1800s, Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers became popular destinations for vacations.
Today, we still depend on clean water for drinking and growing food, but also for recreation, livelihoods, and the places we call home. Now there are many more of us sharing these waters. That is why it is so important for us to work together to protect and preserve our shared lakes and rivers.
“Over half a billion people owe their livelihoods directly to water, and two-thirds of the global economy is derived from activities that involve water in some form.”
One way to do this is through the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership. This collaboration of statewide, regional, and local groups, as well as individuals, is working together to care for our shared waters.
Are you part of the Partnership? Absolutely! Just by reading this newsletter, we know that you think protecting Wisconsin’s watery gems is important. Whether you live on a lake, fish a river, volunteer with a local organization, work in water resources, or simply care about the places that make Wisconsin special, you are part of this effort.
We may have diverse family histories, experiences, educations, and perspectives, but water connects us. It connects communities, economies, wildlife, recreation, and our sense of place. It also connects our individual efforts. What happens in one lake, river, or watershed can teach, inspire, and affect people working in another.
Partnership History The Partnership began taking shape in the early 1970s, when university researchers and state resource managers worked together to find new ways to protect lake health. The Inland Lakes Demonstration Project showed that science and state resources were important, but so was the involvement of local people who knew and cared deeply about their lakes.
In 1974, a formal partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the University of Wisconsin, and local lake groups formed as the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership. That same year, the legislature passed a law enabling lakes to form lake districts, giving communities a new way to organize, plan, and take action for their lakes.
Since then, the Partnership has grown to include lake associations, river organizations, water professionals, volunteers, researchers, and others who share a common goal: healthy waters for generations to come. Connect all these groups sharing knowledge, challenges, successes, and solutions, and you get the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership.
You Make the Partnership work! The Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership is not mandated by the legislature, nor is it a single organization with a dedicated funding source. It is a committed network of people who understand that we can accomplish more together than we can alone.
Being part of the Partnership can be as simple as sharing an article with your neighbor, attending a local lake or river group meeting, learning something new about a waterbody near you, volunteering locally, or helping someone else find the resources they need. It can mean joining a lake or river organization, participating in regional efforts, attending the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention, or lending your voice to statewide conversations about water. There is a place for everyone.
Wisconsin’s waters connect us all. How will you help ensure they remain healthy, vibrant, and treasured for future generations?
Get updates about the topics that interest you with GovDelivery.
Wisconsin DNR’s GovDelivery service is a free digital notification platform that allows you to sign up for automated email or text message updates on specific topics, news releases, public hearings, and outdoor recreation notices.
Attend the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention April 14-16, 2027
2027 Theme: Water Connects Us All Water weaves us together. It nourishes all life and creates places where communities gather, unite, and find common purpose. Protecting our waters is a shared responsibility that connects us to past and future generations. Keeping these waters healthy is the foundation of healthy communities. Save the date and join us at the Lakes and Rivers Convention next April.
Friday Keynote: James Edward Mills Mills is a freelance journalist and independent media producer who has worked in the outdoor industry for over 30 years. Learn more about his projects and perspective to help make sure our natural resources are available to everyone and conserved into the future.
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
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.
For more information about Extension Lakes newsletters contact:
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
Whitefish Lake in Douglas County has long been a destination for people seeking the perfect lake from nearby Duluth and the Twin Cities. Whitefish is both deep (over 100 feet) and clear (Secchi depths between 20 and 30 feet). The cold deep waters of the lake support a healthy population of cisco as well as several rare and endangered plants. The Whitefish Lake Conservation Organization (WILCO) has been working for over 50 years to protect the lake and its unique plant and fish communities.
Protecting What Matters Most WILCO was among the “early adopters” of the Clean Boats, Clean Waters watercraft inspection program. In a typical summer, volunteers and hired students connect with over 1,000 boaters and anglers, sharing AIS prevention steps as they come and go. Thanks to such diligence, Whitefish Lake has been largely free of aquatic invasive species (AIS)—with the exception of the 2019 discovery of mystery snails. While mystery snails have less extreme impacts on waters than other AIS, WILCO has proactively worked to manage their population by removing 13,000 pounds of snails in the last three years!
With such a major focus on preventing and managing AIS, WILCO leadership was disheartened when Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists discovered populations of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) near the public boat launch late last summer. The DNR’s plant survey was part of a directed lakes study, building on an extensive history of ecological monitoring at Whitefish Lake. Rather than resignation or panic, WILCO leadership is drawing on what is known about EWM to develop a strategic response.
Community Strong In their recent newsletter, WILCO reports they will use their mystery snails experience to focus on manual removal of EWM by SCUBA divers this spring, when the plants are more easily identified and handled. They also encourage landowners to maintain the healthy native plants already found in the lake, as EWM can more easily spread on a disturbed lake bottom. WILCO leaders cautioned their members that complete eradication of the invasive plant is not a realistic expectation, but that monitoring and manual removal can help minimize the plant’s impact on the lake.
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
A survey gives members a chance to share their thoughts anonymously, including those who do not attend meetings. Most groups hear from a few voices over and over, while many others stay silent. A survey levels the playing field and invites everyone to weigh in. Developing a good survey takes time. We are happy to work with you to ensure your survey gets you the information you need. Steps for a successful membership survey:
Determine your audience. Decide if you’ll survey only paying members or if you want to hear from all potential members.
Set clear objectives. Know what you want to learn and how you will use the results. Don’t ask for feedback you won’t use.
Choose how you will distribute the survey and protect anonymity. Direct mail works well for people without internet access, but you’ll need to print, mail, and manually analyze responses. Email is efficient if you have members’ email addresses, and online tools make data analysis very easy. Phone calls allow follow-up questions and personal connection, but they aren’t anonymous; however, you can keep their responses confidential by detaching their name. Door-to-door outreach builds relationships and inspires conversation, but is time consuming and not anonymous.
Consider offering an incentive. Free memberships, gift cards, or lake-themed merchandise can boost response rates. Remember, incentives will require you to know who completed the survey, but these names don’t have to be linked to responses.
Write clear, unbiased questions. Keep your survey short (no more than 10 questions) and make sure it’s clear and impartial by running it by a few reviewers. You can use open-ended or multiple-choice questions, or a mix of both.
Test your survey. Try it out with a small focus group to catch confusing wording and technical or logistical issues.
Send it with a clear deadline. Two weeks is usually enough time. A reminder as the deadline approaches can help increase responses.
Analyze and share the results. Provide graphs and short summaries to make the findings understandable. Discuss results at an open meeting so members can see that their input matters and is being taken seriously.
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
A stranded pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis cardium) trying to find deeper water during drought conditions.
One of the unsung heroes in the lakes, rivers, and streams of Wisconsin are our native mussels (often referred to as clams). Living on the bottom, these creatures are often overlooked but contribute significantly to the health of our waters. Each mussel can filter gallons of water a day, removing suspended sediment and contaminants from the water column; they are nature’s power houses.
These underappreciated filter factories are important to improving water quality, but that is not all they do; they provide food for raccoons, muskrats, otters, and wading birds. Freshwater mussels also provide food for aquatic insects and crayfish when they expel what they do not consume into a gelatinous mass (called pseudo-feces) that the other aquatic invertebrates gobble up. This might seem minor, but when a mussel die-off occurs the aquatic insect and crayfish populations also decline and not from the source of the die-off. These aquatic invertebrates need mussels to make food from the water column that is otherwise unavailable to them and other creatures living on the bottom.
People often ask if you can eat mussels, and although technically you can, we do not recommend it. Also, it is illegal to harvest native mussels from Wisconsin waters. First, they are not at all palatable (based on what folks have told us), and more importantly, they are full of contaminants. Native Americans consumed mussels in large numbers, as evidenced by the shell piles near the old fish camps, but that was before modern pollutants entered our waters. Today, tribes no longer eat mussels, though the shells are still used for ceremonial purposes. The shells, with their shiny mother-of-pearl and sometimes other color interiors, are more commonly found in the water along the shoreline than live mussels. Sometimes live mussels are observed moving amongst the sand in shallow water, but most of the time these important creatures go unnoticed.
Recent droughts have also left many mussels exposed, and thousands of mussels left high and dry have been reported by concerned citizens. These mussels were often trying to reach deeper water but could not find it. If you see a freshwater mussel “stranded” out of the water that is not already desiccated and dead, you can simply throw them in deeper water.
Unfortunately, we lost far more mussels than could be saved and can only hope there are enough remaining mussels to restore those populations. The Friends of the Lower Wisconsin River set up a mussel rescue notification system to let folks know when water levels drop and mussels are at risk of being stranded. While the effort is mostly focused on the lower Wisconsin River, alerts may also include other riverways in the region.
Mussels can become stranded any time of year, but it happens most often in late summer when water levels run low. That said, sudden reservoir drawdowns, dam maintenance, or even unexpected dam failures can leave mussels high and dry at other times of the year, too.
Another under-appreciated and unique aspect of our native mussels is their complicated life cycle. There are both male and female mussels and you can tell the gender in some species by their shell shape. The males release sperm into the water column in ‘sperm balls’ which amazingly make it to a female of that same species. The fertilized eggs develop into a miniature mussel called a glochidia that is a snappy little bivalve that looks like Pac-Man®. The sole purpose of this glochidia is to get onto the gills of a fish. It needs the fish blood to complete its development. However, not just any fish will do! Some mussels have many fish ‘hosts’ that can complete their life cycle, but other mussel species only use one fish species. One particular mussel only uses the mudpuppy as a host and that’s not even a fish!
To ensure the glochidia get on the required host fish, mussels have adapted different strategies designed to attract the right fish. Many with a predatory host have developed a ‘fish lure’ as part of their soft tissues to lure the fish close enough to spit the glochidia into its mouth and subsequently onto the gills. Others release the glochidia in a kind of egg mass that looks like worms or aquatic insects and the fish eat them, allowing the glochidia to pass onto the gills. One species grabs the head of the fish and won’t let go until it has pumped all its glochidia onto the gills! These are a few of the many methods used by Wisconsin’s 52 species of native mussels. After the glochidia complete their development in the presence of the fish blood they drop off the fish and continue their existence for the next 10-60+ years, depending on the species. All this goes on underwater, unbeknownst to most folks, so if you see a mussel, pick it up and thank it for working so hard and surviving its amazingly complicated life cycle. Then, toss it into deeper water.
For more information about Extension Lakes newsletters contact:
Extension Lakes College of Natural Resouces, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897 Phone: 715-346-2116 Direct comments to lakes@uwsp.edu
