Join us for the 28th Annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention on April 20-22nd at the KI Convention Center/Regency Suites in Green Bay! Early bird registration deadline is March 20th.

This year’s Convention theme, Hands Across the Waters, will focus on building civic engagement skills to support clean, healthy lakes and waterways in Wisconsin. We’ll discover ways to effectively reach decision-makers and help shape good public policies. We will also explore lake science, management, wildlife, water law and policy, economics, land use, and other current lake issues.

• Convention information
• Convention Agenda
• Online Registration
• Exhibitor (business and nonprofit partner) information
• 4th annual Wisconsin Lakes Photography contest information

Know a deserving lake leader making a difference to Wisconsin lakes? Nominate them for a prestigious Wisconsin Lake Stewardship Award! These awards recognize the outstanding efforts of individuals, groups, public employees, and businesses working for clean, safe, healthy lakes for everyone.

• Information about the award and past winners
• Submit your nominations online

Phosphorus—an essential nutrient for plants— is a common ingredient in many lawn and garden fertilizers. However, the same phosphorus that helps keep lawns green is also the primary nutrient that turns lakes green with algae. Algae blooms can turn lakes into a thick, smelly green soup that is undesirable for swimming and other recreation. Too much algae clouds water and blocks sunlight from reaching aquatic plants; it also lowers the oxygen levels in the water which can cause fish kills.

How does excess phosphorus enter our lakes?

Fertilizers, leaves, grass clippings, eroded soil, and animal waste are all sources of phosphorus. Soil can retain only so much phosphorus. Once soil has become saturated, excess phosphorus runs off lawns and fields and is carried by rainwater into our lakes, streams, and wetlands. When phosphorus fertilizer is applied to lawns that already have high levels of phosphorus in the soil, much of it becomes phosphorus runoff pollution.

Lawn fertilizer is one of many sources of phosphorus runoff pollution. In residential areas, recent studies have shown almost 50% of phosphorus runoff comes from lawns. A 2001 Minnesota study conducted soil tests on more than 180 urban lawns near lakes and found almost 80% had high levels of phosphorus and did not need any additional phosphorus fertilizer. Approximately 25 pounds of phosphorus is added to lakes, wetlands and streams each year from a 100 acre residential development (it takes only one pound of phosphorus to grow 500 pounds of algae).

Preventing phosphorus runoff pollution

Lawn fertilizer is not the largest source of phosphorus runoff pollution; however it is an easily preventable one. A simple soil test tells property owners if their lawn already has enough phosphorus, and phosphorus free fertilizers are available.

Since 2005, Minnesota has had a statewide phosphorus ban that prohibits application of phosphorus-containing fertilizer to residential lawns unless a soil test has shown the need for that nutrient. Newly planted lawns, golf courses, and agricultural lands are exempt.

In Wisconsin, Dane County has passed a county wide ordinance prohibiting the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers, unless a soil test shows that phosphorus is necessary. Two more Wisconsin counties and several municipalities are considering their own phosphorus ordinances.

Polk county’s shoreland zoning ordinance prohibits phosphorus fertilizer in the shoreland zone. The Oneida County Board recently passed a resolution supporting state legislation banning the sale and use of phosphorus based lawn fertilizer in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes supports efforts to reduce phosphorus and improve lake water quality.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes has become aware that a company has been sending unsolicited letters to lakefront property owners in several counties for “guaranteed chemical control of aquatic plants along their shorelines.” The Department of Natural Resources has received complaints about this solicitation from a number of consumer-smart lake shore property owners concerned that valuable fish habitat could be destroyed. The DNR suggests this letter is deceptive and misleading, and indicated they do not have legal authority to prevent such advertising.

The letter promises results that may not be measurable, may not be legal, and may be environmentally damaging. It states the company’s services can be secured for a five year contract (for $1500), however all removal of aquatic plants from a lake requires a permit and the DNR does not issue permits for a 5-year period. The letter also states that property owners can pay $350 up front for a one year contract. Paying money before a one year permit has been issued may be problematic for property owners in case the permit is not granted and/or work is not satisfactorily performed. The letter also suggests the company can obtain approval for a permit that does not exist. Aquatic plant laws (NR 107 and NR 109) regulate the removal of aquatic plants:

1. any time that chemicals are used
2. and when plants are removed mechanically or manually from an area greater than thirty feet in width along the shore.

DNR can not proactively comment on the quality or reputation of a contractor or recommend one over another. The Department advises anyone considering removal of aquatic vegetation to first discuss a plant problem with other members of their lake association, and then as a group contact your DNR Aquatic Plant Management Coordinator with questions.

It is up to the consumer to research potential contractors and determine the reputability of the business and the quality of the consulting services they provide. Ultimately, it is the purchaser of the service–the property owner or lake group–that is responsible for assuring that use of chemicals is in compliance with state law. If you are researching a consultant, consider:

• independently obtaining a list of local lake organizations who may have contracted for similar services to inquire of references
• contacting your County Land and Water Resources agency staff who may be familiar with or have heard of experiences with the businesses,
• review online public records, such as circuit court records, to determine if one is comfortable with any previous legal actions involving a firm or individual.

For three years the Wisconsin Buffer Initiative (WBI)—a collection of UW-Madison scientists, farmers, conservation groups, and regulatory agencies—has been working to find ways to reduce the amount of phosphorus, sediments, and nitrogen seeping from agricultural lands into state waters.

The group focused on the conservation potential of riparian buffers—strips of vegetated land that lie adjacent to water—which can serve as effective natural filters that absorb pollutants from farmland runoff.

To use riparian buffers strategically, the WBI considered where in Wisconsin's diverse agricultural landscape riparian buffers would have the greatest impact for the lowest cost. UW-Madison researchers developed a new watershed ranking system that divides the state into 1,600 hydrological units, each measuring about 18 square miles. Rather than focusing only on degraded areas, the innovative ranking tool prioritizes Wisconsin watersheds according to how well they are likely to respond to restoration measures.

"We hope that this approach will provide state and local decision makers with the ability to efficiently channel resources into areas that are likely to see improvements," says Jeffery Maxted, a research specialist at UW-Madison's Center for Limnology.

On average 30 tons of sediment/per acre runs off construction sites before construction is complete. Over 200 water bodies are impaired from sediment pollution. Do you know a storm water violation when you see one?

A new community guide to construction site runoff prevention produced by Midwest Environmental Advocates offers citizens:

• Background on how stormwater is regulated by the Federal Clean Water Act
• How Wisconsin implements the Clean Water Act and the stormwater permit process
• Pre and post construction site requirements for managing stormwater runoff
• A guide on what to do if you spot a stormwater violation.