Greetings, A great series of lake workshops are being offered by the Polk County Association
of Lakes and the Polk County Land and Water Resource Department this spring (once the snow
melts). These issues are of importance with many lakes and lake groups across NW Wisconsin.
Please share this notice with others who may be interested and consider attending yourself.
Registration available on-line at http://pcalr.org/
Location Balsam Lake Polk County Justice Center:
Session 1
How Lakes Work – Lake Science for Anyone
Saturday, May 4th, 9-11:30 am
Introductory Remarks
Saturday, May 4th, 9:00 am
Lake and river decision-makers like you have taken an important leadership role to manage and
protect our surface waters for recreation, for wildlife, and for future generations. This
workshop’s goal is to familiarize you with sufficient proficiency in management principles to
make sensible decisions for your body of water — actions that maintain or enhance lake/river
quality, that match peoples’ desires with the lake or river’s capacity to satisfy them. While
consultants provide guidance and expertise, and scientific services are available for hire, the
responsibility for lake/river management decisions rests with you. In support of you in your
leadership role, PCALR and Polk County Land & Water Resources Department are proud to
bring you this new learning opportunity.
Presenter: Karen Engelbretson, President, Polk County Association of Lakes and Rivers
Lake Science Basics
Saturday, May 4th, 9:15 am
An understanding of basic lake science is important to help make good decisions for our lakes
and essential for communicating with your lake organization, consultants, and
government. This will be a discussion of lake science for anyone interested in assuring healthy
lakes for future generations. Emphasis will be on fundamentals and factors that influence a
lake’s quality.
Presenter: Larry Bresina, Webmaster, Polk County Association of Lakes and Rivers
Break
10:15-10:25 am
Polk County Lake Characteristics and Challenges
Saturday, May 4th, 10:25 am
Polk County lies in the glacial tension zone and as such there is a wide variety of ecosystems
and many lake types. The differences in bedrock and glacial till in Polk County can make lake
management very difficult and can make managers have to “think outside the box”. Different
lake types and management challenges will detailed in this presentation.
Presenter: Jeremy Williamson, Watershed Biologist, Polk County Land and Water Resources
Department
Determining Lake Capability
Saturday, May 4th, 10:55 am
Lakes are complex systems and need to be managed as such. Before managing, buying a home
on, fishing or recreating on a lake one must be aware of that lake’s capabilities. This
presentation will identify important variables that should be taken into account in order to
determine your lake’s capabilities.
Presenter: Jeremy Williamson, Watershed Biologist, Polk County Land and Water Resources
Department
Greetings, A great series of lake workshops are being offered by the Polk County Association
of Lakes and the Polk County Land and Water Resource Department this spring (once the snow
melts). These issues are of importance with many lakes and lake groups across NW Wisconsin.
Please share this notice with others who may be interested and consider attending yourself.
Registration available on-line at http://pcalr.org/
Location Balsam Lake Polk County Justice Center:
Session 2
Understand Your Lake or River and Users; then Set Goals
Tuesday, May 14th, 6:30-9 pm
Session #2 Introduction
Tuesday, May 14th, 6:30 pm
Lake Management, an Iterative Process
Tuesday, May 14th, 6:35 pm
Lake management planning requires an understanding of the lake and concerns of lake
property owners and visitors. A lake management planning process identifies these concerns
and reviews data about the lake and its watershed. From this information, goals for lake
management are developed and measurable objectives to reach goals are established.
Following a review of lake management options, actions are chosen and timelines and budgets
developed. A good lake management plan clearly sets direction and provides a means to
evaluate progress so that adjustments can be made along the way. You know what they say
about best laid plans . . .
Presenter: Cheryl Clemens, Owner, Harmony Environmental
Collecting Data
Tuesday, May 14th, 7:05 pm
Lakes are part of a larger landscape or “watershed”, not isolated from it. Therefore a single
sampling point from the middle of the lake is usually insufficient to make meaningful
management decisions. This presentation will discuss parameters (chemical, biological, and
physical) that should be collected for effective lake and river management.
Presenter: Jeremy Williamson, Watershed Biologist, Polk County Land and Water Resources
Department
Working with Lay Volunteers for Data Collection
Tuesday, May 14th, 7:35 pm
Bob Boyd has recruited and educated scores of volunteers for lake monitoring at Bone Lake —
aquatic plant sampling for AIS identification, fisheries habitat improvement, CBCW boat landing
inspection to name a few. Bob will share his insights on inspiring and engaging volunteers to
protect their lake using the best available tools and practices, as well as ways to keep folks
motivated, even when lives and situations change.
Presenter: Bob Boyd, Bone Lake Management District
Break
7:50-8:00 pm
Importance of Understanding Lakeshore Owners’ Interests
Tuesday, May 14th, 8:00 pm
Traditional information and education efforts can be effective in creating public awareness and
understanding of lake/river issues but are limited in their ability to encourage behavior change.
Lake protection education often encourages behaviors by promising some type of vague
payback in the distant future such as cleaner water, more fish, or abundant wildlife in return for
adopting a lake friendly behavior like not mowing the shoreline or infiltrating storm water. Lake
protection education typically pursues the public interest of society without making it clear to
lakeshore owners that their self-interest is being considered. This session will discuss how
understanding self-interests of lakeshore owners can lead to more effective education and
outreach programs. A local example will be provided.
Presenter: John Haack, Natural Resource Educator, St. Croix River Basin, UW Cooperative
Extension
Conflict, Funding, and Regulations
Tuesday, May 14th, 8:45 pm
Conflict, funding, and regulations all have the potential to halt the lake management planning
process. Going into the planning process with a basic understanding of these topics can help
avoid potential roadblocks.
Presenter: Katelin Holm, Information and Education Coordinator/Water Quality Specialist, Polk
County Land and Water Resources Department
Greetings, A great series of lake workshops are being offered by the Polk County Association
of Lakes and the Polk County Land and Water Resource Department this spring (once the snow
melts). These issues are of importance with many lakes and lake groups across NW Wisconsin.
Please share this notice with others who may be interested and consider attending yourself.
Registration available on-line at http://pcalr.org/
Location Balsam Lake Polk County Justice Center:
Session 3
Bringing It All Together with Positive Results
Tuesday, June 4th, 6:30-9 pm
Session #3 Introduction
Tuesday, June 4th, 6:30 pm
Lake Management Plans
Tuesday, June 4th, 6:35 pm
A good lake plan resembles a health plan rather than a bandage. To be effective, the plan
should address both preventive and remedial options. Once drafted, approved and
implemented, revisit the plan regularly as lake/river conditions and people’s expectations
change. In this session Alex will cover the typical planning and implementation grant outline,
necessary government and public reviews, and requirements for plan approval by DNR.
Presenter: Alex Smith, Water Resources Management Specialist, Wisconsin DNR
Plan and Project Implementation
Tuesday, June 4th, 7:05 pm
Patrick Goggin will present examples of lake management implementation efforts from various
lake communities around the state. He will present these implementation ideas by lake
management theme, sharing experiences and lessons learned along the way. Cases will
illustrate common steps encountered in the implementation process. Some barriers to
achieving implementation success will also be discussed.
Presenter: Patrick Goggin, Lake Specialist, UW-Extension Lakes
Working with Government and Consultants
Tuesday, June 4th, 7:35 pm
The lake/river organization usually has ultimate responsibility for assuring management success
and long-term continuity! Polk County lake/river organizations do not have professional staff
and organizations must therefore utilize government staff, consultants and scientific services
for hire, assure cost effectiveness and meet management goals. Here’s how to know your
resources and seek true partnership commitments.
Presenter: Karen Engelbretson, President, Polk County Association of Lakes and Rivers
Break
7:50-8:00 pm
Q & A with Water Resources Professionals
Tuesday, June 4th, 8:00 pm
Attendees will be asked to accumulate unanswered questions during the sessions and submit
them for discussion during this time. These questions will be grouped if necessary so that all
questions can be covered. If time permits, spontaneous questions and answers will be
entertained.
Responders:
Matthew Berg, Endangered Resource Services, Regional Consultant
John Haack, Natural Resource Educator, St. Croix River Basin, UW Cooperative Extension
Katelin Holm, Information and Education Coordinator/Water Quality Specialist, Polk County
Land and Water Resources Dept.
Patrick Goggin, Lake Specialist, UW-Extension Lakes
Steve Schieffer, Ecological Integrity Service, Regional Consultant
Alex Smith, Water Resources Management Specialist, Wisconsin DNR
Jeremy Williamson, Watershed Biologist, Polk County Land and Water Resources Department
Closing Remarks
Tuesday, June 4th, 8:45 pm
John
John Haack
Regional Natural Resources Educator
UW-Extension
W6646 Hwy 70
Spooner, WI 54801
715-635-7406 (or) Hearing Impaired Relay: 711
john.haack@ces.uwex.edu
http://blogs.ces.uwex.edu/haack/
University of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating. An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin
Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including TitleIX and American with Disabilities (ADA) requirements.
Requests for reasonable accomodations for disabilities or limitations should be made priort to the date of the program or activity for which it is
needed. Please do so as early as possible prior to the program or activity so that proper arrangemetns can be made. Requests are kept
confidential.