Eric works with lake professionals and citizens across the state. He can help lake organizations foster communication and collaboration in the name of healthy lakes. Contact Eric to:
Patrick works with lake citizens and organizations, assorted staff from tribal, state and county agencies, and other partners from across Wisconsin; he can help with:
Patrick received a Master of Science in Natural Resources degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point following undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining the Extension Lakes team in 2008, Patrick was a county conservationist for the Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department in the lake-rich country of NE Wisconsin for 6 years. He resides in Phelps, Wisconsin with his wife, Quita Sheehan, and their three dogs. Patrick spends his free time growing and planting native plants, native plant seed collecting, vegetable gardening, and home cooking.
Sara’s main duties with Lakes are to:
• Plan and implement statewide leadership and capacity development programs that advance lake protection and restoration
• Coordinate the biennial
Lake Leaders Institute and Advanced Lake Leaders Institute
• Coordinate the Annual
Lakes and Rivers Convention
Sara has a B.A. in Environmental Science and Biology from Adrian College, MI and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston, SC. She received the Educator of the Year award from
Slipstream in 2017 and helped her children's elementary school earn the Green Ribbon from the U.S. Department of Education in 2020. Sara, her husband, and two daughters have lake property on Lower Clear Lake in Langlade County and installed their first Healthy Lakes project there.
Maud graduated from UW-Stevens Point with degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy and is a proud member of
Wisconsin Lake Leaders Crew 8. A Jill-of-all-trades, master of few, Maud has a soft spot for relational databases, naturally eutrophic lakes, spinning wheels, geriatric cats, and squish-a-penny machines.
Erin coordinates the Clean Boats, Clean Waters watercraft inspection program that assists Wisconsin residents in stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Click here for more information or contact Erin if you are interested in becoming involved with aquatic invasive species prevention.
Erin McFarlane has been the statewide CBCW Educator with Extension Lakes since May 2007. She grew up in East Tennessee, where her adventures in the Smoky Mountains led to a Master’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a passion for environmental protection. Erin supports the Clean Boats, Clean Waters Watercraft Inspection program and helps coordinate watercraft inspectors across the state. By working with lake groups and the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership on watercraft inspection efforts, Erin hopes to engage Wisconsin's citizens in aquatic invasive species prevention and help preserve Wisconsin's waterbodies for future generations.
Paul is the Statewide Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Educator. He helps develop protocols and resources used by volunteers when assessing a variety of lake water quality parameters, and conducts trainings for volunteers and water resource professionals. Volunteers with the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network monitor some or all of the following on their lakes:
- Water clarity
- Phosphorus concentrations
- Chlorophyll concentrations (a measure of algae concentrations)
- Dissolved oxygen
- Aquatic invasive species
- Native aquatic plant communities
- Ice on/ice off dates
- Lake level fluctuation
- Other special projects
Contact Paul for information about the volunteer programs available through the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.
Paul holds a B.S. in Soil Science and Waste Management, and an M.S. in Watershed Management. He is the author and photographer of the popular field guide Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest, now in its fourth edition. In addition to his position at Extension Lakes, Paul also teaches Aquatic Plant Taxonomy at UW-Stevens Point, and has been working with aquatic ecosystem management for nearly 20 years. He is an Honorary Board Member and past-President of the Central Wisconsin chapter of Wild Ones. In his free time, Paul enjoys kayak fishing, snorkeling, photography, gardening with native plants, and spending time on lakes and streams with his family.
Read about and purchase Paul’s field guide to aquatic plants
here.
Amy Kowalski, Communication Specialist
(715) 346-4744
Amy.Kowalski@uwsp.eduAmy joined the Extension Lakes team in 2003 and is the production manager for many Extension Lakes publications (printed and digital). She edits and designs the quarterly newsletter (
Lake Tides), fact sheets, posters, brochures, and
multi-media presentations, as well as helping to maintain the Extension Lakes website and Wisconsin Lakes Partnership
Facebook page. She assists with the
Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention,
Lake Leaders Institute,
Citizen Lake Monitoring Network,
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Watercraft Inspection Program, and the
Healthy Lakes & Rivers Initiative through editing, design, marketing, photography, and videography.
Amy holds a B.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Human Services from UW-Stevens Point. Even though her degree did not bring her into the position of natural resources, she is very connected with nature. She grew up in rural central Wisconsin on a family farm and was involved in 4-H. Her 20+ years of design experience have been mostly self-taught. She enjoys telling and listening to stories, biking, kayaking, hiking, skiing, volleyball, softball, golf, board/card games and playing/singing music with her family.
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