Adams County
Tying Lake Classification to lake specific plans and watershed projects
This innovative approach uses the lake classification tool to link lake-specific plans and lake and watershed management projects for all of Adams County’s lakes.
The first of the county’s Lake Classification grants helped fund the Land Conservation Department to:
- Delineate surface and ground watershed boundaries and surface flow patterns
- Identify and map land uses
- Inventory and map shoreline erosion and other problem areas related to development
- Identify and map sensitive/critical areas and natural heritage habitats
- Verify wetland delineations
- Delineate lake watersheds and create lake maps.
With another set of Lake Classification grants, the County is collecting lake data to create lake management plans and set water quality goals for all the county’s lakes. Chemical and biological data was collected and assessed on all lakes within the county with public access. Individual lake summaries of the data and management recommendations for all the counties lakes are being compiled as well. Plans address lake concerns such as watershed land uses, water quality management, aquatic species, shoreland management, and recreational activities.
A combination of state lakes grants—Classification, Planning, and Protection—have been used to create lake management plans for all the lakes in the county and to fund implementation activities. Coordinated lake planning becomes the gateway for other grant funding to help implement activities identified by each lake management plan, such as installation of conservation practices in lake watersheds.
Other outcomes of this project include:
- A county lakes specialist staff person provides assistance to lake organizations.
- Educational programs about Adams County’s lakes are conducted for waterfront property owners, lake users, and others.
- Coordination of lake groups to form a countywide lakes association. The Adams County Lakes Advisory Group held its first countywide lakes conference in May 2007.
- A library of the all the county’s lakes data and management plans is organized for the public to use.
- Lakes protection efforts are incorporated into the County’s Land and Water Resource Management Plan; lake protection grants assist with implementation of NR 151, runoff management and agricultural performance standards, to improve water quality.
Adams County Lakes website (exits site)
