A Draft Carstens Lake Management Plan is available for public comment. Please provide comments by December 5, 2017 to Melissa Curran, Stantec Consulting Services at (920) 841-1072 or Melissa.curran@stantec.com.
Public Meeting Regarding Carstens Lake Management Plan
December 5, 2017 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Newton Town Hall
6532 Carstens Lake Rd.
by Hanna Edelglass
The Manitowoc County Lakes Association is special in several ways, as we learned last Saturday, the 21st of October, 2017, at our annual banquet! Our speaker for the evening, Mary Knipper, Board President of Wisconsin Lakes, said,
You are one of few county-wide lakes associations in Wisconsin to address watershed
issues as a mission… you are all a fine example of passion and collaboration at its best.
With an overflow attendance, our President, John Durbrow, opened by thanking Dave Pozorski for arranging the banquet, and the Larrabee Sportsman Club for sponsoring the dinner. The ‘year in summary’ reflected the long list of yearly achievements of MCLA: arranging for the Weyers Lake aerator, completing the Phragmites treatments along Lake Michigan, the Aquatic Invasive Species Education Initiative, water quality monitoring, a bi-monthly speakers program, press synopses and announcements, publishing a newsletter for 1500 county residents, helping to institute a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load of pollution a water body can handle) protocol for Manitowoc County, serving on the technical Advisory Committee for the TMDL, and initiating a pilot program for Carstens Lake as a watershed model. Credited with their active involvement in the above efforts were the Fish and Game City Unit, LNRP (Lakes Natural Resources Partnership), Stantec, Tom Ward, Gene Weyer, Dave Pozorski and Hanna Edelglass.
Four 2017 Lake Stewardship Awards were presented to those who make us strong.
Mary Knipper
Our Keynote speaker, Mary Knipper, is an east coast native. Mary grew up going to the beach every summer day. As such, when she moved to the Midwest she thought lake living would pale by comparison and was pleased to be proven wrong!
As she writes in her biographical notes, Mary sees each season on the lake as full of surprises and new experiences, and enjoys sharing this experience with her children and visitors who allow her to see it through fresh eyes time and time again. She and her husband are committed to doing their part to pass this wonderful legacy on to their family, and working to protect lakes gives them an opportunity to meet and work with others who share their love and respect for the waters of Wisconsin. Mary recognizes that the issues facing our local lakes are not unique, and that it will take a statewide effort to address these concerns and promote good environmental policies to ensure that the generations to come will benefit by the decisions we make now.
As board president of Wisconsin Lakes, Mary leads the board and staff’s work and believes in the power of advocacy to effect policy, and be the collective voice that we need. She also sees education and outreach as playing a vital role in protecting our waters.
Mary described her personal experience and involvement in working toward healthy waters, including the history of Delavan Lake. At that lake, it went from being covered by solid green algae and having only carp and rough fish from the 1960’s until the rehabilitation in 1989. The project was completed in 1992, and by 1999, it was once more trending toward a Eutrophic state. This convinced Mary that watershed management is central to lake water quality. The study of the State’s lakes began in 1910 in Vilas and Oneida Counties. Under the Public Trust Doctrine, in Wisconsin’s Constitution, Wisconsin’s waters belong to all citizens, establishing the mandate for collective actions for their preservation. The DNR has the duty to ensure that they remain free and accessible to the public. In 1959, Wisconsin Federation of Lakes was founded. The first annual Wisconsin Lakes Partnership Convention took place in 1978, and in the first 20 years 15,000 people attended. Wisconsin Lakes works with the DNR in addressing regulations and science, and with the UW-Extension addressing education and outreach materials. Wisconsin Lakes is the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership that works with lake associations, lake districts, businesses and individuals to aid local efforts at protecting and enhancing Wisconsin’s 15,000 lakes. Mary made a specific point that non-profits have more leeway than commonly assumed to lobby and be a policy resource for the State legislators.
Plans for Wisconsin Lakes include building targeted programs around organizational capacity for lake groups, aquatic invasive species prevention, over-pumping of groundwater, pollution runoff, and promotion of practices to improve habitat and shore lands to protect the overall health of lakes. At this point, deliberate attempts to weaken programs by defunding and reducing agency staff and education are seen to be seriously hampering necessary work. The boards and volunteers of lake associations are committed, passionate and willing to take on the many challenges ahead. We need to balance all our needs, and how we can do that is up to us. Mary asks us to bring stories, questions and suggestions to her and she will address them with the Wisconsin Lakes board and staff. She can be contacted at http://www.wisconsinlakes.org
Meeting with NOAA: Manitowoc County Lakes Association’s Meeting and Speaker Series, September 28th 2017.
As guests are always encouraged to attend the MCLA Speakers Series, it was great to see so many who came to hear, and be heard by, Russ Green, the Regional Coordinator of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. He presented the role of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration on Lake Michigan and the status of the proposed Marine Sanctuary, projected to be located offshore of Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and potentially Kewaunee, Counties. Russ is also the Deputy Superintendent at the Thunder Bay, Michigan, National Marine Sanctuary, having guided that Sanctuary for the past 13 years. He has worked for the Wisconsin Historical Society as a maritime archaeologist.
Russ began his presentation by recounting the shipping history of our Great Lakes, reminding us of Wisconsin’s maritime heritage and why we would care about the many shipwrecks nearby. But, Russ stated, a sanctuary is concerned with more than shipwrecks, and more generally promotes the educational initiatives and cultural awareness which are informed by other historical resources. Creating a focused designation would promote tourism, and be of benefit to our community economically. Plans of actions include education and outreach, community engagement, and working with volunteers. Mapping of the wrecks, and potentially use glass bottom boats to allow viewing of the wrecks, are part of what would attract tourists. Russ mentioned the Thunder Bay website, https://thunderbay.noaa.gov/ as a source of further information.
Russ pointed out the interagency cooperation which will guide Sanctuary policies, with State agencies such as the Department of Tourism being involved, as well as the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
To questions regarding potential changes in our access to shorelines and water, Russ stated that current State of Wisconsin laws prevail. For instance, ’No restrictions in regard to metal detecting on beaches will happen.’ To a question about the danger of ’mission creep,’ meaning an unchecked extension of NOAA’s powers, Russ responded with, ‘We will have meetings involving the public, like we are having now, regarding any possible later changes.’ A remarkable range of concerns was expressed by the attendees, including several about the records of past experience in other sanctuaries, the establishment of a Sanctuary Center and its location, and the impact on current institutions such as the Wisconsin Maritime Museum..
Governance of the Sanctuary would be the task of fifteen board members, and fifteen alternates, representing the range of Lake users and from the public at large. The ‘Sanctuary proposal is in the finishing stages,’ Russ said. In October/November it will be sent to Congress for approval.
The Manitowoc County Lakes Association appreciates the presentation by Russ and the commentary of all attendees. We hope that if initiated, the Sanctuary will foster further interest in bettering the quality of our waters. Should this venture encourage commitment to increasing awareness of our need – and right – for better quality of water, that in itself would be a driver of economic development.
“The Manitowoc County Lakes Association will protect and enhance the quality of area lakes and watersheds for the benefit of all.”
— Hanna Edelglass
Update: February 27, 2018
Gov. Scott Walker has rescinded the nomination to implement the proposed National Marine Sanctuary, stating that the addition of another level of federal bureaucracy will not materially advance our shared commitment to protecting shipwrecks. Those who have supported the sanctuary designation remain hopeful that the proposal can keep working forward.
You can read the Sheboygan press article here: https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/2018/03/07/wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-pulls-noaa-lake-michigan-national-marine-sanctuary-nomination/403766002/
RUSS GREEN, Regional Coordinator, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will discuss the role of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration on Lake Michigan and the status of the proposed Marine Sanctuary. Here’s a website with much information on the proposal, including some recently published FAQs: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/wisconsin/. Russ is also the Deputy Superintendent at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary working there for the past 13 years.. He has also worked for the Wisconsin Historical Society as a maritime archaeologist. Questions and commentary from the audience will be encouraged. The Bi-monthly business meeting will follow.
Thursday, Sept 28, 2017 6:30 p.m.
Manitowoc County Office Complex, Room 300
4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc
Open to the public. Guests are encouraged.
Spotlight on the Manitowoc-Sheboygan WatershedThursday, September 21, 7 – 9 pm
Manitowoc City Hall
This will be a great opportunity to learn about the status of the TMDL program in Manitowoc County. View the event flyer here. For a preview of the TMDL procedures, see this flyer describing the TMDL process.
Speakers / Panelists:
● Titus S. Seilheimer, Ph.D. Fisheries Specialist, Wisconsin Sea Grant, UW-Manitowoc
● Matt Kadow, Education Programs Coordinator, Wisconsin Maritime Museum
● Seth Hoffmeister, Northeast Organizer, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
● Jerry Halverson, Manitowoc County Conservation Dept Director
A representative of the area environmental organizations is welcome to briefly talk about their group and any upcoming events. Free and open to the publicLight refreshments will be served. Presented by the League of Women Voters of Manitowoc County
The meeting minutes from the July 27, 2017 MCLA meeting are now available. The guest was Pete Tarnowski. He has made his presentation on the status Manitowoc County Parks available for download. In it, he discusses recent improvements at our lakes, as well as future plans. Please take a look! Read more
If your lake no longer has a volunteer trained to monitor for Aquatic Invasive species, this is your last opportunity of the year to become a qualified monitor.
Monitors go out monthly to survey the lake for any new entries of invasive species. Early detection allows for a response to control the invasive before it spreads.
Tom Ward, AIS Coordinator for MCLA, will be conducting the training and handing out monitor materials.
Please email tomward@tm.net with any questions.
Joe Madison at work cleaning a trailer.
June 26, 2017—Since the Clean Boats/Clean Water Program was started in 2008 by MCLA, Tom Ward and his volunteers have engaged the boating community to reduce the potential for aquatic invasive species (AIS) infestation of the County lakes. The Clean Boats program has the goal to reduce and prevent the spread of invasive species by educating and training boaters. Boaters coming off, or about to enter, the County lakes have been informed of the dangers of invasive species, as well as the means of reducing the threat of invasives within the respective lakes. Tom and his crew have conducted boat inspections, handed out towels to increase AIS awareness, and distributed ice packs to stop the practice of moving water from lake to lake. Tom has also been the Invasive Species Coordinator for Manitowoc County, addressing a broad range of both terrestrial and aquatic invaders.
English Lake, young boaters cleaning.
All lakes are, by definition, negatively affected by Aquatic Invasive Species. AIS plants attached to boats or trailers, and AIS organisms carried to the next waterbody by boats or buckets multiply aggressively at their new home and disrupt the ecology and reduce the quality of the impacted lake. Many area lakes currently already harbor some invasives which should be prevented from migrating to other lakes, and future risks include many species coming in from other regions. In Tom’s words, ’Invasive plants and animals, like Curly Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Watermilfoil, Spiny Water Fleas and Zebra Mussels, can spread easily by hitching a ride on boats and other equipment, including trailers, anchors, live-wells, buckets and bilges. A few boaters,’ Tom adds, ‘know more than I do, but some have no idea at all.’ Most have gained some knowledge, especially if they tried walking barefoot on beaches covered with Zebra Mussels.
The towels Tom hands out serve to wipe off what can be wiped when the boat is out of the water. The sequence of cleaning is important, to insure trailer and boat are both thoroughly cleansed. The ice packs are used to preserve the catch without taking home water, as the water from live wells carries AIS contaminants. Several lakes in Manitowoc County have cleaning stations with signs explaining what must be done, with brushes, boat hooks and spray containers with bleach solutions for sterilization of boats and engine compartments.
Tom Ward at Weyers Lake
Tom Ward invites us all to participate in the upcoming Clean Boats/Clean Water annual Landing Blitz:
Going boating this holiday? You may be one of thousands of Wisconsinites to be greeted by expert and volunteer “inspectors” at boat landings around the state, who will be sharing a simple but powerful message:
You have the power to protect our waters from aquatic invasive species.
This holiday weekend, June 30-July 4, 2017, is the ninth annual Landing Blitz, a statewide effort to remind boaters and other water lovers to use their power to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species, which pose great risks to the health of our lakes and fisheries. But boaters can also easily prevent this by taking the following simple steps every time they enter and leave a boat landing:
Following these steps also helps boaters comply with Wisconsin state law, which prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species. Inspectors will be on hand at boat landings around Manitowoc County to give demonstrations of the prevention steps or answer questions about invasive species.
If you use social media, help us spread the word about the importance of aquatic invasive species prevention by posting your photos and messages using the hashtag #CleanBoatsCleanWaters.
You can also share where and how you protect our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species by contributing to a Story Map that will showcase photos and messages from water lovers around Wisconsin. Contributions can be made at this link: http://arcg.is/2o9YIU9
To learn more about invasive species and their impacts to Wisconsin’s waters and economy, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/invasives/
The war against invasives will not be won, it is an effort requiring constant vigilance. After the end of the current three year successful boat inspection program, even more needed now, as the invasive species are spreading and reducing biodiversity, and affecting fishing and recreation, the future of funding requires a revisit and revision of the grant program which funded previous work, involving a regional approach.
Our waters are not separated by county lines! An educational grant as well as a grant for implementation will be pursued. We thank Tom for his dedication over the previous grant cycle. The work is not finished. Towns and property owners and their friends and families will also have to step up to take part if the initiatives are to be successful.
by Hanna Edelglass
Attention all AIS monitors and those interested in monitoring. Mark your calendars for Thursday May 25th, 6:30pm at the County Offices on Expo Drive, for the next MCLA meeting. Tom Ward will conduct a review of the photo documentation procedures and provide an ID book; it would be helpful to have a count before the meeting (email tomward@tm.net). AIS monitoring kits will be ordered from this meeting for the active monitor lakes and delivered on May 30, when Paul Skawinski conducts training on Cedar Lake.
April 18, 2017. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has completed the final draft of its long-term fisheries management plan for Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan waters and invites citizens to provide final input. Lake Michigan has seen drastic ecological changes in recent years and the new plan will guide fisheries management through the next 10 years. Read more
Skamania Steelhead. Source: DNR FactSheet
April 4, 2017. In a boost to diversify Lake Michigan fishing opportunities, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will reintroduce Skamania steelhead into the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan over the next three to five years.
Dave Giehtbrock, DNR fisheries propagation section chief, said the Skamania strain is particularly prized because it may reach 32 inches and 12 pounds at age five – larger than other strains. Read the full article on the Wisconsin DNR website.
About the Skamania summerrun steelhead:
This strain was developed at the Skamania hatchery in the state of Washington. Wisconsin originally obtained eggs from Indiana, but we now take eggs from adults returning to our streams. The spawning migration (known as “the run”) begins in late June and early July. The good stream fishing doesn’t begin until the water temperatures start to cool, usually in mid‐September. Spawning occurs from mid‐December through mid‐March with the peak occurring in January and February. The majority of spawning fish are four and five year olds. Four year old fish average 28 inches and 8 pounds while five year old fish average 32 inches and 12 pounds.
