Upcoming Events

2005 West Central Wisconsin Lakes Workshop August 12

Key lake issues in the 2005 State budget bill

Proposed revisions to Shoreland Zoning Rules go to public hearing

Protecting Your Waterfront Investment : 10 Simple Shoreland Stewardship Practices

Forest Legacy

Fishes of Wisconsin Photo ID database

Receiving the e-lake letter, but not a member of WAL?

West Central Lakes Conference. Aug 12, 2005 at the Rice Lake Technical College. A full agenda is available on our website, and you can register online.

Shoreland Zoning Rule (NR 115) Public Hearings. July 12, 13, 14, 19, 21, 26, 27, and 28 at locations across the state. For times and locations, please download the brochure.

Clean Boats, Clean Waters Training. July 9, and 16. Check online for more information.

Loon Population Survey. July 16. To volunteer on one of over 250 Wisconsin lakes, visit the Sigurd Olson Institute.

Save the Date!

Aquatic Invasive Species in the Upper Great Lakes- Promoting regional collaboration. October 19-20 Lake of the Torches, Lac du Flambeau.

Joining the Waters: A Forum on Tribal Sovereignty and Water Quality in Wisconsin. October 21-22: Lake of the Torches, Lac du Flambeau.

2005 Citizen-based Monitoring Conference. Camp Jorn in Manitowish Waters.October 21st and 22nd

Your monthly lake news update from the Wisconsin Association of Lakes for July is here. The West Central Lakes Conference is quickly approaching (see below) and we hope to see you there. If you are interested in helping WAL to plan and carry out a workshop in your area, please contact us. All the best,

Peter, Susan, Barb, Ezra, Alison, and Tami

Local solutions through local leadership is the theme of a day-long lakes workshop at the Rice Lake Technical College on Friday, August 12th. A full agenda is available on our website, and you can register online.

Waterfront property owners, local decision-makers, and lake enthusiasts can help shape the future of Wisconsin lakes by attending this workshop that will offer timely information and solutions to many current lake and water quality issues. John "Duke" Welter, a Natural Resources Board member from Eau Claire, will talk about the importance of partnerships for watershed protection in a keynote address Friday morning. People attending the workshop will then choose presentations to attend from concurrent sessions about: aquatic plant management, aquatic invasive species, shoreland restoration, proposed changes to statewide shoreland zoning rules, lake science, watershed and land use planning.

The State Budget Act for the 2005 Session was approved by the State Assembly and State Senate last week. The budget was developed over the last five months by the Joint Finance Committee in response to Governor Doyle's Executive Budget proposals. The Senate made several ammendments to the Assembly version of the budget. The Senate ammendements will go back before the State Assembly for consideration next week.

• The Governor's proposal to outlaw the transportation of zebra mussels to all navigable waters was rejected by the JFC and Assembly
• The Governor's proposal to provide $11 million in additional funding for non-point pollution control was reduced to $5.5 million by the JFC and Assembly
• The Governor's proposal to expand water permit fees was rejected by the JFC and Assembly
• The Governor's proposal to permit boaters to make additional voluntary contributions for lake research was approved
• Under the JFC and Assembly budget plans, the Smart Growth program would be repealed
• Under the JFC and Assembly budget plan, the Stewardship Fund would be dedicated to the purchase of trust lands owned by the State Board of Commissioners of Public Lands

Public hearings on revisions to Wisconsin's 35 year old shoreland zoning rules (NR 115) are scheduled throughout July. NR 115 contains statewide minimum standards for shoreland development that are designed to protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and scenic beauty along navigable lakes and rivers.This is your opportunity to have your views be heard on this important lake protection tool. WAL's position on this version of the draft rules is forthcoming.

A complete hearing schedule is available online. The deadline for submitting written comments is August 26th. Written comments may be submitted electronically, or you can download a PDF version from our website. A "Frequently Asked Questions" fact sheet on the revision proposal and a comparison document which compares the current NR 115 with the public hearing proposal is also available online.

Healthy watersheds make healthy lakes and higher property values -- this booklet show how property owners can take simple steps to curb pollutants, cut runoff, and capture and cleanse pollutant-crrying runoff before it reaches a waterway. This new publication from UW-Extension is 20 pages and is available online.

DNR's Forest Legacy Program may be a good opportunity for some lake associations and other groups to obtain easements on forested shorelines. Protecting fish and wildlife habitat and riparian areas are a priority of the program. Download an application for proposals for 2007 Forest Legacy Projects or get more information about the program online.

This online resource is a great took for identifying Wisconsin's fish species.