Lake management planning is a great method to help lake groups work towards long-term lake goals like improved water quality, better understanding of the lake's complex ecosystem, and increased lake protection.Why plan?
Whether your lake community’s goals are to protect, manage, or restore lake health, planning is a key first step before taking action at your lake. Lake management plans will result in:
- more realistic expectations and lake management goals.
- more effective management strategies that are suited to your lake’s ecology and watershed conditions.
- better economic and environmental outcomes.
With a holistic view of lake ecology and surrounding factors that are affecting lake health, your community can choose effective strategies that will prevent or solve lake problems, rather than merely applying temporary band-aids. Lake management plans also serve as your gateway for grant funding and other resources to implement activities that will help protect or restore your lake.
What should a lake management plan contain?
- Baseline lake data and information. This includes existing lake information as well as new data.
- Conclusions based upon the lake data and other information
- Goals for the lake: protect, manage, or restore.
- A path to reach those goals: actions by people.
This step is an initial study of information to “ball park” lake conditions, provide focus, set direction, and determine the appropriate level of planning needed at this time. Activities include collecting lake data and identifying what is known about the lake, perceived problems, and what people desire. This step lays the groundwork for future activities.
Invite involvement. Don’t underestimate people’s concern, interest and expertise. People will volunteer if the mission is clear, and they know what needs to be done.
