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Public hearings set on Shoreland Zoning
rules (NR 115) |
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Public hearings on the revised draft of Wisconsin's
shoreland zoning rules (NR 115) are set for this July
and August in locations across the state (see below
for hearing locations). NR 115 contains statewide
minimum standards for shoreland development in unincorporated
areas.
How we choose to manage our shorelines can have big
impacts on the water quality and health of our lakes.
Building too close to the water, removing shoreland
plants, and increasing hard surfaces (such as roofs
and driveways) can harm habitat and send more nutrient
and sediment runoff into the lake. The interests of
thousands of lakefront property owners, anglers, boaters,
tourists, and the businesses that depend on healthy
lakes are served by good shoreland zoning rules that
preserve the character of our lakes and quality of
life.
NR 115 is being comprehensively revised for the first
time since it took effect in 1968. The intention of
these revisions is to enhance the protection of lake
ecosystems, waterfront property values, and the rights
of property owners and the public to enjoy good water
quality, fish and wildlife, lake recreation, and scenic
beauty. A draft of the current proposal is available
on the DNR's
website.
Because shoreland zoning rules are so important to
the future of our lakes and character of our lake
shore properties, WAL is preparing an analysis of
the current draft of the rule. Watch your inbox next
week for a special e-mail on this important issue.
Hearing details and
locations
The public hearings will all begin with a formal
presentation and opportunity to ask questions at 4:30
p.m. Formal, recorded public testimony starts at 5:30
p.m. Times, dates, locations and contact number of
hosting facilities are as follows:
- July 24, Wausau
North Central Technical College - Health and Science
Building Auditorium - 1000 West Campus Dr.
- July 25, Rhinelander
High-School Auditorium - 665 Coolidge Ave., Rhinelander.
- July 26, Rice Lake
Blue Hills Masonic Center - 225 West South St. (Note:
The Masonic Center is near the college on the corner
of Pioneer Avenue and South Street.)
- July 31, Tomah
Farmers & Merchants Bank, Community Room - 1001
Superior Ave.
- Aug. 2, Green Bay
Neville Museum Theater - 210 Museum Place.
- Aug. 7, Pewaukee
Waukesha County Technical College - Pewaukee Campus
- Richard T. Anderson Education Center - 800 Main
St.
- Aug. 8, Stoughton
Opera House - 381 E. Main St. (608) 873-7523 Note:
The Opera House is on the second floor of the City
Hall, a red brick building at the corner of Fifth
and Main (Hwy. 51).
In addition, a hearing is being planned for Oshkosh,
with a date and location yet to be announced.
Written comments may be submitted via U.S. mail to Toni
Herkert, Bureau of Watershed Management, PO Box 7921, Madison,
WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until September 7,
2007.
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Lakes Workshop: Reflections of the
Landscape |
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A lake reflects the land around it- its watershed.
The health of our waters and the way we care for our
lakes is also a reflection of our values. Join us
at a summer lakes workshop in Eau Claire on Friday,
August 10! This workshop will provide you with tools
you can use to effect positive change in your lake
community!
Please register with Wisconsin Association of Lakes by
July 31 by calling our
office at 608-661-4313 or 800-542-5253 (WI only) or mailing in
the registration form in the workshop brochure.
See the full program agenda, other event details, and
download the workshop brochure and registration form on WAL's
website.
Sampling of session
topics
- Looking Behind the Shore: Watersheds and Lakes
- Understanding Agriculture's Impact Through the Discovery
Farms Program
- Water Quality Improvement Project in the Red Cedar River
Basin: Understanding People, as well as the Resource
- Adams County Lakes Planning Program
- Reflecting People's Values in Lake Plan Goals: an
example from Lower Long Lake in Chippewa County. Visit the Lower Long Lake Protection and
Rehabilitation District's website
to learn more about their recently completed
plan
- Healthy Lawns, Healthy Lakes: Initiatives to Phase Out
Unnecessary Phosphorus in Lawn Fertilizer
- Reflections from the Lake Nancy Protective Association
on Effective Lake Management
- Tips for Controlling Runoff and Erosion on Your
Waterfront Property
- Framing the Message: Engaging People in Lake Management
- Regional Coordination for Aquatic Invasive Species
Prevention in the Chippewa Valley Region
- Tips for Sharing Shallows and Near-Shore Areas with
Wildlife
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Big Muskego Lake land purchase to protect
shore |
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The city and state have joined forces to purchase
nearly 50 acres and 1,200 feet of Big Muskego Lake
shoreline as homes on half-acre lots begin to surround
the heavily used natural area in the shadow of Milwaukee.
Owners Richard and Baraba Leonard want to spare the
land on the northeast side of the lake from residential
and commercial development.
"It's a beautiful valley with a forest that goes to the
lake. We didn't want it to be turned into half-acre lots,"
said Richard Leonard. About half of the property is wetland
and the rest is woodland, grassland and cropland.
Small sections of the wildlife area spill into southwestern
Milwaukee County and northern Racine County. Known for its
extensive bird and aquatic habitat, the area often is called
the Everglades of Milwaukee. A pair of eagles is nesting on
the 2,073- acre lake this season. According to the Department
of Natural Resources, Big Muskego Lake and surrounding
wetlands comprise a unique shallow lake wetland complex in the
midst of a rapidly developing urban area.
A healthy Big Muskego Lake "enhances the livability of the
city," Mayor John Johnson said. City officials want to protect
the lake basin, which acts as a filter and prevents man-made
and naturally occurring contaminants from reaching the
water.
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New Lake Management Planning Resources on
the Web |
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In case you missed the lake planning workshop at
this Spring's annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention, the
presentations and reference materials from this workshop
are posted on the UW-Extension Lakes Program website.
In addition to a step-by-step overview of the lake planning
process, there are helpful examples of actual lake plans that
address concerns faced by many lakes, such as managing aquatic
plants and balancing recreational use.
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Working with you for clean, safe, healthy
lakes |
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The Wisconsin Association of Lakes is the only statewide
organization working exclusively to protect and enhance
the quality of Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes.
We represent citizens like you who care about Wisconsin's
lakes as a natural resource, and who also recognize the value
healthy lakes bring to property values, tourist economies, and
overall quality of life.
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