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10th Annual Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference June 19 – 20, 2008
Special events and attractions at this year's event This year’s Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference (NWLC) features two special attractions:
Following many great workshops and presentations the NWLC will feature a two hour special performance of Wild Woods and Waters, thanks to generous support from the National Park Service and the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation. Critically acclaimed folk songwriter Warren Nelson will lead the Blue Canvas Orchestra in an illuminated concert celebrating the wild side of Wisconsin waters and landscapes. This special performance of Wild Woods and Waters by Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua celebrates 40 years of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This musical performance is a unique way to teach the history of this seminal policy and to celebrate the stewardship of Wisconsin’s natural resources. From the rivers to the Great Lakes, and from the wetlands to the forests, this show features the stories and songs of our greatest natural resources. It’s a celebration of these resources and a call to good stewardship to keep them safe for “our children’s children... and their children too!” Take Me to the River Workshops on Thursday June 19th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Guiding the Direction of the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership: an Interactive Workshop. Workshop attendees will help guide the direction of a candidate Fish Habitat Partnership that focuses on the conservation Upper Midwest natural lakes. Working under the guidance of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (www.fishhabitat.org), the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership is preparing a strategic plan for eventual approval by the National Fish Habitat Board and subsequent implementation. During the workshop, attendees will provide feedback and guidance on what threats and underlying drivers or root causes the partnership needs to address. Key issues and the strategic direction being proposed will be available for review prior to the workshop. We promise to keep this a lively, interactive session where the major issues and opportunities for lakes conservation will be discussed. We need and look forward to your participation. There is no charge for this workshop, but pre-registration is required. 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention and Education 2-part Workshop This 2-part workshop series includes: Monitoring Aquatic Invasive Species beyond the Boat Landing and Clean Boats Clean Waters Volunteer Watercraft Inspection. The cost is $25 which includes all educational handouts, lunch, and a snack break. One Citizen Lake Monitoring kit will be provided per lake rep. Additional kits can be bought on-site for $25. Please sign up early, as space is limited to 25 people.
This workshop will focus on specific aquatic invasive species like Eurasian water milfoil, zebra mussels, rusty crayfish, and purple loosestrife. Monitoring protocols for each species will be discussed and whole lake monitoring methods will be explained to assist in developing a proactive approach in early detection and rapid response efforts. Through the Looking Glass, an excellent aquatic plant identification book, and color laminated plant scans to aid in identifying under water plants will be available for purchase on-site for $25. 12:00 Lunch is provided for AIS workshop participants.
This program provides an overview of aquatic invasive species and instructions on how to organize an effective volunteer watercraft inspection program on a lake. Hands-on training to conduct watercraft inspections and invasive species identification will also be provided. A handbook and resource tool kit is available on-site for $25. 1:00 – 4:00 pm Partnering for Our Waters: the Northwest Wisconsin Water Resource Consortium. Recognizing a need to address regional water resource issues, countywide lake associations in Northwestern Wisconsin recently combined their talents and energies to further protect our lakes, streams and wetlands. The resulting Northwest Wisconsin Water Resource Consortium (NWWRC) will hold its first annual meeting and discussion session at this Thursday workshop. You are invited to sit in and participate. Although only NWWRC members will have voting privileges, this meeting is open to everyone interested in forming coalitions to better address water issues. It should be a great look at developing partnerships and democracy in action. There is no charge for this workshop, but pre-registration is required. 1:00 – 4:00 pm Grant and Rave: Lake Grants Workshop with Example Projects Presented by Pamela Toshner, DNR Lakes Coordinator; Jane Malischke, DNR Environmental Grants Specialist; Cheryl Clemens, Harmony Environmental; Lorna Wilson, Gordon/St. Croix Flowage Association; Jim Miller, Deer Lake Conservancy; and Carol LeBreck, Bony Lake Association and Bayfield County Lakes Forum.
4:30 – 7:00 pm BBQ social with music by Erin O’Brien: Rhythms of Our Rivers Erin O’Brien performs story-driven roots-folk music. Her finely crafted songs, warm stage presence and dynamic voice have earned her numerous accolades and awards. Join event participants and network with lakes folks at our barbeque and social at the Telemark Resort. More information about Erin O’Brien’s music and the Rhythms of Our Rivers project can be found at: http://www.erinobrienmusic.com. Cost to attend the BBQ is $15\person. Conference agenda* for Friday June 20th * Agenda may change. 7:30 Registration check in View the many lake-related exhibits on hand, network with lake friends, and enjoy continental breakfast. 8:30 Welcome and opening remarks. Earl Cook, Wisconsin Association of Lakes Board of Directors and Washburn County Lakes & Rivers Association, and MaryJo Gingras, County Conservationist at the Iron County Land Conservation Dept. 8:55 Death by VHS. 9:00 Impacts of Climate Change on Lakes & Streams Climate change is more than warming. Our changing global climate is most easily observed through its effects on local conditions. In his keynote address Dr. John Magnuson will discuss the changes occurring in waters of the Midwest that are already affecting us. Dr. Magnuson played a lead role in the lakes and streams portions of the 1995 and 2001 assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as the 2003 Union of Concerned Scientists’ Confronting Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region. He is presently a co-chair of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts. Magnuson’s research interests are in long-term regional ecology, the effects of climate change on inland waters, biodiversity and invasions, and fisheries ecology. Magnuson spent a decade building a database of ice records from all over the world, and it is now one of the largest and longest records of observable climate data ever assembled. Here in Wisconsin, these records show that over the last 30 years the duration of ice cover on Dane County’s Lake Mendota decreased 8.6 days per decade. “Loss of lake ice in Wisconsin is a miner’s canary of how rapidly warming is occurring,” Magnuson says. Shorter periods of ice cover can increase evaporation, which would contribute to lower water levels on the Great Lakes and elsewhere. The winter that we associate with Wisconsin is disappearing, along with the recreational activities and businesses that depend on it. Impacts of climatic change on fishes will be felt by society and will be apparent in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The hydrologic cycle is already changing and will continue to do so with a wide range of impacts on aquatic ecosystems. 9:45 Break. Please visit the many lake-related exhibits on hand. 10:00 Choose 1 of 4 options: 1 A. An Update on the VHS Virus and other Threats Posed by Aquatic Invasive Species.
1 B. The legislative process: making good ideas into good laws A bill is introduced, referred to committee, or passes the state Assembly. But what does that tell us about whether a given bill will actually become law? Come learn the many steps in the legislative process and how to follow the twisting paths that bills can take as they work their way through the legislature. We’ll examine the progress of several bills WAL worked on last legislative session to look at what happened (and what didn’t). 1 C. Lake Science 101 with an Emphasis on Northwest WI Lakes. Lakes are fascinating. Statewide and local WDNR Lakes Team staff will share the physical, chemical, and biological basics that make them so. Discover the lake legacy the glaciers left behind. Learn why some are green, some are blue. Some shallow, some deep. Some full of plants and others not. Share your lake questions and observations. Take a look at the lakes that dot the Northwest Wisconsin landscape and discuss the management challenges and opportunities they face. 1 D. Beautiful Shoreline Buffers. Sarah Boles has a background in ornamental horticulture and has worked in the green industry over 25 years. She started Northern Native Plantscapes in 1999 in the hope of being able to offer an alternative to traditional urban landscape design with an emphasis on creating ecologically healthy landscapes. She is a self-taught naturalist with a love for our wild lands, and has completed many projects on properties with shoreline habitats. Along with the "why" and "how" to successfully implement a native shoreline buffer, participants in this session will learn the different maintenance needs of a native, versus ornamental planting. Participants will leave with a new appreciation for our beautiful wild shorelines. 11:00 Break Please visit the many lake-related exhibits on hand. 11:30 Choose 1 of 4 options: 2 A. Nuts and Bolts of Fish Stocking. Local Dept. of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist, Scott Toshner will describe the state DNR hatchery and stocking program, and review the permit process for fish stocking and private hatcheries. He’ll also discuss fish health and disease concerns, genetic strain issues, and ways to improve stocking efficiency. 2 B. Pros, Cons and How-To’s of Recreational Lake Use Ordinances. Recreational lake use ordinances can be very helpful in controlling undesirable lake activities, but there can also be associated difficulties. This session will attempt to paint a balanced picture of the positive and negative aspects of ordinances of this type and, for those who choose to pursue them, a general picture of the process involved. 2 C. Lakes in the Landscape. Dr. Magnuson will advance Lake Science 101 and share the scientific understanding of lakes after decades of long-term ecological research. Discover how lakes may behave coherently depending on where they sit in the landscape. Learn answers to questions like: Do relative locations of lakes matter? What can we generalize to other lake regions? What are the interactions between dynamics and location? After this session, you are certain to leave with a 3-dimensional view of the landscape and lakes around you. 2 D. Communication That Works. Based on recent research in environmental communication, this workshop offers words and approaches that people can really hear. Stop screaming and scolding, start building bridges and using common concerns. 12:30 Lunch 1:30 Choose 1 of 4 options: 3 A. 101 Ways to Help Birds. Laura Erickson— locally known Ornithologist, former host of the Duluth radio program, For the Birds, and now science editor and writer for the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University— will speak about her latest book, 101 Ways to Help Birds. She spent two and a half years working on this book, which can be called a blueprint for actions we can take to help birds. Laura will focus on birds of our area and improvements we can make for their lake shore habitats, in her ongoing effort to make the world a kinder and gentler place for both people and birds. 3 B. Why are My Taxes so High? Doug will provide a frank, jargon-free overview of Wisconsin property tax law with an emphasis on its effects on the lives of waterfront property owners. Included will be information on statutory requirements, assessment methodology, and market analysis. The impacts of budgets and levies will be followed by an outline of a successful appeal of an assessment. And, time permitting, we’ll take a glimpse at a future full of both peril and possibility. Be prepared to take notes and ask questions. An advocate for protection of our water resources and veteran property tax assessor, Doug will take you on a journey through the past, present, and future of waterfront property taxes. 3 C. Basic Principles of Wetland Protection. Healthy wetlands keep Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers clean, prevent shoreline erosion, and provide a vital refuge for a variety of wildlife. Development pressures also threaten to irreparable modify NW Wisconsin’s wetland protection landscape. Erin will present basic principles of wetland protection including how to identify wetlands, why wetlands matter, ways the public benefits from wetland preservation, and information you can use to protect wetlands in your community. 3 D. Aquatic Plant Management Planning: a Primer. Attendees will learn about the aquatic plant management (APM) planning process— especially the variety of techniques available for effective public involvement. Cheryl will bring examples from her experience with aquatic plant management committees of a variety of sizes and interests, public opinion surveys, and public meetings. Example public involvement and treatment techniques will draw from experience addressing curly leaf pondweed management on Deer Lake and Bone Lake in Polk County and Eurasian water milfoil management on Round and Little Round Lakes and Connors Lake in Sawyer County. Example APM plans and educational tools will be available too. Remember the best plans are not delivered as a shining, complete document from your consultant; rather, they contain a familiar strategy hammered out in a public process. 2:30 Break. Please check out the many lake-related exhibits on hand. 2:45 Wild Woods and Waters Show by Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. To celebrate 40 years of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Warren Nelson and the Blue Canvas Orchestra will present this special musical performance. Wild Woods and Waters was created by the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua to tell the story of how the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects the free-flowing waters of many of our nation's most spectacular rivers. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which includes its major tributary the Namekagon, was established in 1968 as one of the original eight rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The lower 52 miles were added to the system by Congress in 1972. The Act is notable for safeguarding the special character of these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for appropriate use and development. These living landscapes are uniquely managed to protect the public's enjoyment of these heritage resources for present and future generations. Learn more at: http://www.wildrivers40.org/ (exits site) Wild Woods and Waters features the stories and songs of Wisconsin’s greatest natural resources— from the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers to the Great Lakes, from our wetlands and lakes to the dark forests— and includes a call for good stewardship to keep these vital waters safe for future generations. Admittance to the matinee show is included with each Friday NWLC registration ($45\person). Additional tickets just to the matinee show can be purchased from WAL for $15\person. 7 pm Wild Woods and Waters 2nd show Friday night An evening performance of Wild Woods and Water will also be held at the Telemark Resort and Convention Center at 7:00 pm. Advance tickets to the 7:00 pm Big Top show can be purchased for $15 from Big Top Chautauqua. To order tickets, call 888-244-8368 (toll free) or 715-373-5552, or order online at: www.bigtop.org The cost to attend the NWLC on Friday, June 20 is $45\person. This includes: program materials, lunch and refreshments, and admittance to the Big Top Chautauqua Wild Woods and Waters matinee show. Free passes for kids to attend the NWLC! Up to 30 youth (under 18 years old) can attend the NWLC on Friday for free. This includes: program materials, lunch and refreshments, and admittance to the Big Top Chautauqua Wild Woods and Waters matinee show. Pre-registration is required, and all youth must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Download the conference brochure (includes agenda, registration form, and location map)
Telemark Resort and Convention Center: Directions and Lodging 42225 Telemark Road For lodging reservations, please call: 1-877-798-4718 (toll free) or (715) 798-3999. Or visit the Telemark website: http://www.telemarkresort.com/ NWLC Sponsors
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"Working for clean, safe, healthy lakes for everyone" |
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