Waterfront property owners, local decision- makers, and lake enthusiasts will gather June 21-22 at Telemark Resort in Cable to share strategies for assuring the continued health of Northern Wisconsin lakes.

Patty Loew will provide an insightful and historical perspective of Wisconsin's treaty rights in her keynote address, First Stewards, First Nations of Wisconsin. Loew is producer for WHA-TV (PBS) and co-host of In Wisconsin, a weekly news and public affairs program that airs statewide on Wisconsin Public Television. Loew is also associate professor of Life Sciences Communication at UW-Madison and a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe.

A series of sessions at the conference will help lake communities take proactive steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Area sport fishing group leaders will describe their efforts to enhance fisheries and discuss ways in which lakeshore owners, lake organizations, and sport fishing groups can work together to improve aquatic habitat and water quality. Representatives of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Natural Resources Board, and State Legislature will share their insights on the many ways that citizens can participate in important natural resource policy decisions.

Hands-on workshops and fun networking opportunities will also be offered on Thursday, June 21:

• Monitoring for aquatic invasive species beyond the boat landing, and the Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteer watercraft inspection training program
• Fund raising for nonprofit organizations
• Pontoon Classroom on Lake Namakagon
• BBQ picnic
• The Beauty and Challenges of Russia's Lakes-a photo journey to Russia's amazing lakes and landscapes.

Register by June 16th. Visit WAL's website or program details and registration: or call the WAL office for a brochure (800-542-5253 or 608-662-0923).

The Yahara Lakes Association is hosting a conference: The Future of the Yahara Lakes: Realizing the Vision at the American Family Insurance Headquarters on May 18, 2007 from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.

The conference will bring together lake and environmental experts to discuss the past, present and future state of the Yahara Lakes, with the specific focus on what we can do now to protect and improve these precious resources.

Madison-based author/historian David Mollenhoff will provide the keynote address and share his motivating insight on how the Yahara lakes are intricately woven into the fabric of Madison life, forming a historical relationship between water and the people of Dane County. UW/DNR Limnologist Dick Lathrop and UW-Madison Engineering Professor Ken Potter will make other presentations. The program will include a panel discussion with representatives from the State, Dane County, City of Madison and local agriculture. WISC TV's Editorial Director Neil Heinen will be moderating the day's events.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Visit the Yahara Lakes Association website for agenda, directions, and online registration.

State fisheries biologists hope to improve Wisconsin's successful Musky management program by protecting habitat suitable for muskellunge spawning. The Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin, University of Michigan researchers and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fish biologists are launching a habitat study on 20 northern Wisconsin lakes to help identify and predict where Muskies spawn.

"We want to be able to protect the existing musky spawning habitat that is out there because naturally reproducing populations are those that are the most valuable," says Paul Cunningham, a DNR fisheries policy ecologist. "You don't have to stock those lakes, they sustain themselves."

The habitat study will occur on lakes in Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Douglas, Sawyer, Washburn and Bayfield counties. The researchers will analyze the environmental conditions at spawning locations, collecting information such as groundwater flow, stream location, land and aquatic vegetation and other conditions around the lake where muskies were seen spawning.

This project will provide valuable knowledge that will be useful on emerging issues such as shoreline development, aquatic plant management, land acquisition and zoning ordinances. "[This study gives] us an opportunity to critically evaluate impacts when we alter habitat through human activities," says Cunningham, "whether it's pier placement, herbicides or removal of aquatic vegetation."

Earlier research conducted by the University of Michigan and DNR showed that lakes with self- sustaining musky populations were mostly surrounded by forest, whereas lakes that required stocking had less natural shoreline and more human development.

The idea of banning oceangoing vessels (called 'salties') from the Great Lakes to stop these ships from discharging ballast water (and any invasive species it contains) is gathering momentum.

Evidence suggests that the costs of the biological pollution from the ship-steadying ballast tanks outweigh the benefits of maintaining the world's largest freshwater system as a nautical highway for saltwater traffic.

At least 183 foreign organisms are thriving in the Great Lakes. A new one is discovered about once every six months. Research shows that overseas vessels are to blame for the majority of the arrivals during the past few decades.

The overseas shipping industry acknowledges ballast water discharge is a problem and says it's time to pass a new federal law to phase in ballast treatment systems.

The State of Michigan passed legislation requiring salties to either promise they won't discharge ballast in state waters or install systems that will kill the unwanted hitchhikers. Shippers are currently challenging Michigan's law in the courts. Momentum is building in other states to pass laws similar to Michigan's, including Wisconsin.

"We tried to do ballast legislation last session, and it didn't get through," says Scott Hassett, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "But I'll take another run at it, and I'm confident something will happen this time."

Rain gardens are shallow depressions strategically placed to capture the rainwater or melted snow pouring from rooftops and driveways, and return it to the ground. How? Rain gardens are planted with native wildflowers, sedges and other plants whose root systems do a much better job of soaking up water than your average lawn grass.

Lawn grass has a four-inch root system, whereas a typical prairie plant has roots anywhere from four feet to eight feet in length. These long roots create tunnels through the soil and help rainwater soak into the ground.

Many storm drains lead to lakes. And the water coming off your roof, trickling down your sidewalk or driveway, and joining up with the larger river flowing past your curb is not crystal-pure rainwater. It's a toxic mix of sand, sediment, oil, car fluids and lawn chemicals. Homeowners who care about the health of our lakes, which are profoundly affected by stormwater input, are turning to rain gardens both for their fast- acting efficiency and low-maintenance beauty.

Rain gardens planted in spring begin to work right away, even if the plants still look tiny. Most of the growth is happening at the roots. By the following year, the rain garden will have filled in with plants, offering bursts of color throughout the growing season. By the third year, they can be beautiful additions to your home.

The DNR and the UW-Extension have teamed up to provide a how-to manual for homeowners, available by calling 877-947-7827, or online (click Home and Garden Clean Water Practices section)

The Door County Invasive Species Team and the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership are looking for a person to assist with Aquatic Invasive Species prevention programming in Door County this summer. The internship will begin June 4, 2007. The intern will be awarded a $1,000 stipend. Internship duties include:

• Coordinate and promote Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer watercraft inspection workshops and other AIS education programs.
• Provide outreach to marinas and present AIS prevention information to marina staff.
• Support area lake associations' watercraft inspections and activities.
• Support AIS monitoring workdays.

Contact DCIST coordinator Bob Bultman for internship application details at 920-746-5955.

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.

• Learn about our statewide voice for strong lake policy
• Learn about our lake education events
• Learn about our lake publications, The Lake Connection and E-lake Letter
• J oin Us in working for clean, safe, healthy lakes for everyone.