Lake Fair:Lake Wissota State Park

12:30 -4:00 PM
Sunday, June 8th, 2008
at Lake Wissota State Park

Free State Park admission!
Fun, nature-themed activities for the entire family!
Family-oriented musical entertainment by Jerry Way at 12:00.

• Fun family activities
• Neat exhibits
• Informative Talks (schedule)
• Download the event flyer (PDF)
• Directions
• Support WAL's lake policy program and member services while winning great prizes in WAL's raffle!

Join other lake enthusiasts at a Lake Fair on Sunday, June 8, from 12:00-4:00 P.M., at Lake Wissota State Park near Chippewa Falls.  This date was chosen to coincide with a day of free fishing and State Park admittance in Wisconsin.  

Lakes are a vital part of our communities, and we all have a role to play in maintaining the quality of our lake resources.  This Lake Fair will provide an opportunity for a hands-on approach to lake issues and will emphasize family participation. 

Family activities will include free kayaking, water safety instruction, and fishing clinics.  There will be live critters to emphasize the importance of maintaining natural shoreland habitats, and families will have the opportunity to build a bluebird house and hike a bluebird trail.  Art projects and games for children will be provided as well.

Pontoon classrooms will demonstrate lake science and show examples of adequate buffer zones and critical habitat.  Exhibitors and speakers will address soil testing and phosphorus, septic systems, shoreland restoration and rain gardens, aquatic plants, and invasive species.  Opportunities for individuals to get involved with lakes, such as LoonWatch, Clean Boats Clean Waters, and NatureMapping programs will also be presented.

Lake Fair Sponsors:

• Beaver Creek Reserve
• Chippewa Rod and Gun Club
• Friends of Lake Wissota State Park
• Lake Wissota Improvement and Protection Association
• Mi-Zi-Zak Kayaks
• Wisconsin Association of Lakes

Fun Family Activities

• Fishing clinic: casting instruction, rod building, and tackle crafting.
• Kayak demos and instruction by Mi-Zi-Zak Kayaks.
• Games and activities especially for kids, such as: treasure hunt, make fish prints T-shirts, take an up close look at aquatic bugs, fish, and other neat lake critters.
• Painting with the Beaver Creek Reserve Watercolor Club.
• Guided Bluebird Trail hike with Elmer Sharp, Friends of Lake Wissota State Park Naturalist.
• Build a bluebird house.
• Pontoon classrooms: Learn about lake ecology while exploring Lake Wissota in comfortable pontoon boats.
• Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteer watercraft inspection demos:  Friendly lake volunteers talk with boaters and anglers about simple steps that everyone can take to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

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Neat Exhibits!

Here are just a few of the many educational exhibits and resource booths that’ll be on hand at the Lake Fair:

• LoonWatch Program (exits site):  Learn how you can help monitor loons as a Loon Ranger.  You can record important loon events on the lake and teach others about loon protection and habitat conservation.
• Chippewa Moraine Chapter of the Ice Age Trail (exits site). 
• Learn about rain gardens, plus landscaping and restoring shorelands with native plants.
• How to care for your home septic system.
• Beaver Creek Reserve (exits site):  Citizen Science, bat monitoring, and other wildlife exhibits. 
• Wisconsin NatureMapping Program (exits site):  Your stories of common and uncommon wildlife observations become valuable data with this tatewide survey program.

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Informative talks!

Schedule may change without notice.

The Lake Fair will take place in the area near the Lake Wissota Nature Center.  Lunch can be purchased on site from the Wissota Lions Club.

12:00    Music by Jerry Way.

The natural beauty and history of Wisconsin and the Chippewa Valley will be celebrated in story and song by composer-singer-guitarist Jerry Way.  All ages are invited to hear tales of the Badger State and join in the singing.  Join us in this entertaining and educational experience for the whole family!

12:30    Boater Safety.  Scott Bowe, Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Warden.

DNR Conservation Warden Scott Bowe will give a presentation on basic boating laws. He will cover equipment requirements, speed restrictions, age restrictions and personal watercraft rules.  You can follow up with hands on experience by joining Warden Bowe for a boater safety tour.

1:00      Choose 1 of 2 options:

1 A.      Evolution of the Lake Wissota Fishery.  Joe Kurz, DNR Fisheries Biologist

Joe will provide a summary of the current state of the fishery in Lake Wissota, including how the fishery has responded to regulation changes and habitat improvements in the lake.  He will review current walleye and bass fishing regulations.  Joe will also discuss operational changes that Wissota Hydro achieved through the FERC re-licensing process (e.g. elimination of drawdowns) and the habitat improvements completed by the Chippewa Rod and Gun Club. 

1 B.      Pontoon Classroom.  Deb Konkel, DNR Aquatic Biologist, and others.

Learn about lake ecology while exploring Lake Wissota in comfortable pontoon boats.  Lake scientists will demonstrate ways that you and other lake enthusiasts can learn more about your favorite lake, collect valuable data, and watch for changes in lake health over time.  Learn how the assistance and enthusiasm of local volunteers is playing a key role in monitoring and managing Wisconsin’s lakes.  Plus, we’ll explore the shorelands and shallows to discover the vital habitat these areas provide for all kinds of aquatic life, birds and other wildlife.
Note:  The pontoon classroom will be repeated at 2:00 and 3:00.

2:00      Choose 1 of 3 options:

2 A.      Guided Bluebird Trail hike with Elmer Sharp, Friends of Lake Wissota State Park Naturalist.

Want to see a bluebird?  Hike with Elmer Sharp, Friends of Lake Wissota State Park volunteer, for an up close look at his success providing nesting for bluebirds.  Begin at the prairie overlook where the main park road travels through prairie # 3.

2 B.      Pontoon Classroom (repeated).  Deb Konkel, DNR Aquatic Biologist, and others.

Learn about lake ecology while exploring Lake Wissota in comfortable pontoon boats.  Lake scientists will demonstrate ways that you and other lake enthusiasts can learn more about your favorite lake, collect valuable data, and watch for changes in lake health over time.  Learn how the assistance and enthusiasm of local volunteers is playing a key role in monitoring and managing Wisconsin’s lakes.  Plus, we’ll explore the shorelands and shallows to discover the vital habitat these areas provide for all kinds of aquatic life, birds and other wildlife.
Note:  The pontoon classroom will be repeated at 3:00.

2 C.      Safe Water.  Andrew Dane, UW-Extension Community Development Agent for Barron and Chippewa Counties.

2:30      Mercury in Fish.  Crispin Pierce, UW-Eau Claire Environmental Science.

3:00      Choose 1 of 2 options:

3 A.      How to identify aquatic plants and aquatic invasive species.  Jo Heuschele, AIS Coordinator at the Beaver Creek Reserve Citizen Science Center.

Aquatic plant communities are at the root of healthy lakes.  We’ll explore the neat adaptations and characteristics of aquatic plants.  Plus, learn how to distinguish plants that provide valuable habitat and other important benefits from those that are harmful invasives.

3 B.      Pontoon Classroom (repeated).  Deb Konkel, DNR Aquatic Biologist, and others.

Learn about lake ecology while exploring Lake Wissota in comfortable pontoon boats.  Lake scientists will demonstrate ways that you and other lake enthusiasts can learn more about your favorite lake, collect valuable data, and watch for changes in lake health over time.  Learn how the assistance and enthusiasm of local volunteers is playing a key role in monitoring and managing Wisconsin’s lakes.  Plus, we’ll explore the shorelands and shallows to discover the vital habitat these areas provide for all kinds of aquatic life, birds and other wildlife.

3:30      Soil, Phosphorus, and the Watershed.  Jerry Clark, UW-Extension Crops and Soils Educator in Chippewa County.

Soil fertility is important to produce healthy plants and nutritious produce.  However, applying too much fertilizer can be harmful to the environment and cost more money.  This presentation will discuss management of soil nutrients— especially phosphorous and nitrogen— and its effect on the environment, plus the importance of soil testing.

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Getting to Lake Wissota Park

18127 County Highway O
Chippewa Falls, WI

Driving directions and other Lake Wissota State Park information.

Download Lake Fair Flyer (PDF)

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