Protection grant helps lake community implement lake management plan

 

Lake Tomah aims to improve water quality with draw down

Lake Tomah is a 225 acre impoundment that has been an important recreational resource for the community. However, it has suffered from nutrient and sediment pollution, and a high carp population.

In 2007, a Lake Committee was formed by the mayor with the support of the City Council. The Lake Committee coordinated and conducted a number of projects and surveys on the lake starting in 2003, coordinating with the DNR.  During this period lake volunteers were involved with some water quality monitoring including secchi disc samples, conducting experiments to determine whether the lake could support aquatic vegetation if carp were removed.

With the assistance of DNR and County Land Conservation Department staff, the committee is developing a comprehensive lake management plan. Implementation of the plan will include carp eradication, a draw down of the lake, a detailed assessment of watershed land use and agricultural management, and island and shoreline restoration.

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Protection grant restores wetlands, creates Lake District Preserve

 

Lake Ripley restores wetlands, creates District Preserve

In 1997, the Lake Ripley Management District was able to acquire 100 acres of farmed wetlands—later named the Lake District Preserve—strategically located at the inlet to Lake Ripley. A $120,000 DNR Lake Protection Grant and $47,000 in private donations were used to make the purchase. Since its purchase in 1997, the property has been managed for the purpose of wetland habitat restoration, water quality protection, environmental education and public recreation.

Restored shallow and deep-water marshes now provide sanctuaries for frogs, turtles, cranes, wood ducks, herons and other wetland-dependent species. In addition, upland portions of the property were planted to native, tall-grass prairie. A colorful diversity of deep-rooting prairie grasses and wildflowers provide important habitat, and help the soil absorb rainfall while protecting it from erosion. Wood duck and bluebird nesting boxes were erected to further attract these desired species to the area.

In addition to its conservation benefits, the Lake District Preserve provides excellent educational and recreational opportunities for the public. A nature trail winds through the western half of the property where several interpretive signs describe the unique plants and animals that commonly inhabit prairie and wetland ecosystems. The trail links to an elevated boardwalk that spans a shallow pond, and a hilltop observation deck featuring panoramic views of the marsh. Hunters, bird watchers, hikers, school groups, nature enthusiasts and others are welcome to experience this beautifully restored wetland conservancy that benefits Lake Ripley.

 

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Protection grant helps lake group implement lake wide shoreland restoration project

 

Taking action: conserving a gem for future generations!

As one of the headwater lakes of the Eau Claire Chain of Lakes, and connected by navigable channel to the 900-acre Middle Eau Claire Lake, Bony Lake has an important role to play in helping keep the chain of lakes healthy. With no inlet from any other water body to directly impact the lake's water quality, and a relatively small watershed area (approx. 250 acres), much of the future of the lake will depend upon the actions of riparian owners and lake users.

For all practical purposes, our lakeshore is fully developed, and with full development comes the need for greater and more focused efforts to restore and conserve the habitats (on land, at the shoreline, and within the lake itself) upon which the native animals and plants depend if they are to survive—and hopefully thrive—well into the future.

Working with our partners (DNR, County Conservation Department, and Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute), we wrote a successful DNR Lake Protection Shoreland Restoration Grant that will provide $100,000 over 3 years, with an additional $45,000 in cash & in-kind matching funds, to accomplish a number of very important goals. While shoreline restorations have historically been implemented on an individual parcel scale, the concept of lake wide, or whole-lake, restoration work is relatively new. With 50% of the riparian owners indicating their interest in being involved, the Bony Lake project will be the largest undertaken on a single lake in Wisconsin.

The lake wide restoration project on Bony Lake will provide a demonstration site for a variety of restoration and/or conservation applications and is a unique opportunity to learn from this innovative approach to shoreline restoration and lake protection.  The grant project is designed to:

• restore or conserve the native plant communities on 5,800 feet of the shoreland and near-shore habitats (56% of the total lake frontage);
• provide strategies to improve the stormwater and erosion control practices on approximately 145 acres (60% of the lake's total watershed area);
• survey, and monitor changes in, targeted wildlife and aquatic macro-invertebrate populations;
• develop and implement plans to control existing populations of two invasive species, Reed Canary Grass and Rusty Crayfish;
• develop an understanding of the history of the lake through analysis of a paleolimnological sediment core sample taken in August 2007;
• provide a strong education and outreach component to riparian owners and area residents, including K-12 and university/college faculty and students, to ensure good stewardship well into the future

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