UW-Stevens Point: Central Wisconsin lakes management project a model for Wisconsin

After nearly three years of development at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, collaboration has produced 18 management plans for lakes in Portage County. The county sought and received support for this collaboration between UWSP’s Center for Watershed Science and Education, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and more than 175 community members. Eighteen lakes in Portage County are now ready to implement their water quality plans in 2011, according to Nancy Turyk, water resource scientist at UWSP.

Other counties have noticed this collaborative effort to protect the water quality and native flora and fauna of our lakes. According to Turyk, lake residents in Marathon (11 lakes) and Waushara counties (33 lakes) are seeking to replicate the success of Portage County to engage community members in protecting the recreational and economic values of our area lakes.

The lake plans cover a variety of topics; most include the fishery, water quality, recreation, aquatic plants, and land use management. Many indicate that this year the citizens are interested in forming lake stewardship groups, developing strategies to communicate with one another, learning about land protection options using conservation easements, and understanding the new state shoreland rules and how they might play a role in lake protection. Some groups are working to restore shoreland vegetation to help improve water quality and habitat. Nearly all of the plans indicate that citizens would like to learn how to monitor improvement or degradation of water quality in their favorite lakes. A number of these eager lake stewardship groups are newly formed and could benefit from the support of Portage County and UWSP staff members to help them accomplish their goals.

Portage County was successful in obtaining a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help fund the projects listed above and cover some of the associated staffing costs. Partners that have become involved to assist citizens include UW-Extension Lakes who are helping with the formation of groups and Golden Sands RC&D who help with aquatic invasive plant species.

The genesis for this lake protection model began in 2001 when representatives of the county, UWSP and the state set out to study the lakes and involve citizens in stewardship efforts. The lake study reports and plans can be found in the Planning and Zoning Department section on the Portage County website at http://www.co.portage.wi.us/planningzoning.