Agents of Change: Public Involvement​

Atrazine in Dane and Jefferson County Lakes 

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

Hear how eight high school students gave up a week of their summer to study atrazine in lakes.  This is a powerful example of how young people can positively impact their environment "now" and not have to wait until society considers them “adults”.  Learn how these students tested 32 lakes in Dane and Jefferson Counties and found residues of atrazine still entering lakes, despite state restrictions on its use since 1995.  Prior to this study, little testing of atrazine in Wisconsin surface waters had been completed. 

 

 

Walk on the Wild Side of Lakes!

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

Lakeshores are one of the most diverse and important habitats when it comes to wildlife use.  Our presence on the lakeshore, and our propensity to modify the lakeshore, can dramatically impact wildlife use.  In this presentation we’ll review the creatures that depend on the lakeshore, learn about the importance of suitable wildlife habitat, and discuss the contribution of wildlife to the overall quality of our lakes.  We’ll delve into ways to protect, enhance, and restore lakeshore habitat for wildlife and even discuss ways to address wildlife when it becomes a nuisance to us.  Join us for this lively discussion on the “wild side” of lake living!

 

Presenter: Scott Craven, UW-Extension 

 

Finding Value in Our Natural Resources/Discovering the Economic Impact of Angling to the Winnebago System

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

Identifying the economic value of natural resources is often a difficult endeavor.  Techniques that work well to determine the economic value of a new business, airport, or university often fall short when dealing with natural resources.  In this presentation we’ll examine ways to put an economic value on our natural resources, discuss shortcomings with different techniques and provide examples of ways techniques have been used by others.

 

This presentation will provide the conceptual underpinnings of measures commonly used for resource valuation and illustrate results from their application to environmental resources in Wisconsin and elsewhere.  The focus will be upon understanding the usefulness of such results in resource management, decision-making processes.  Connecting the economic value of natural resource activities to decision-making gives communities a tool to use when evaluating their future.

 

Presenters: John Stoll, UW-Green Bay, and Catherine Neiswender, Winnebago County UW-Extension 

 

Aquatic Plant Community Changes Resulting from Water Level Management Changes: Lake Wissota and Holcombe Flowage Case Study

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

Water levels are managed in many Wisconsin lakes, often for hydroelectric power or other activities.  Learn about observed changes to aquatic plant communities when winter drawdowns were discontinued in two major impoundments on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County.  This session will cover the importance of having a comparison of aquatic plant communities when making management decisions for invasive and rare species, and how aquatic plant information will aid managers in future re-licensing permits for hydroelectric dams.

 

Presenter: Jo Heuschele, Beaver Creek Reserve Citizen Science Center 

 

Planning for Success on Your Lake

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

Lake organizations are constantly working to balance diverse recreational demands, protect shrinking wildlife habitat, and improve water quality.  Creating a common vision that meets the needs of residents and neighboring communities while protecting a lake can be a challenge for any lake organization.  In order to address these types of challenges, many lake organizations have found planning to be an effective tool.  This presentation will focus on Lake Redstone’s planning process and how it helped them to build consensus, discover disconnects, identify priority issues and begin to implement effective strategies.  This session will focus on incorporating public input into the planning process and how to achieve desired outcomes.

 

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention - The Winnebago System Experience

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

There are approximately a half dozen invasive species found in the Lake Winnebago system, which connects to Green Bay and the Great Lakes via the Fox River.  Because the Great Lakes system is a direct conduit of new invasive species, it was imperative that a comprehensive prevention strategy be developed for the Winnebago system.  The large size of the Winnebago, the abundant stakeholders, diverse political interests (five counties and numerous municipalities), and dozens of popular boat launch sites all combined to create a very complex situation in which to make a strategy work.  Results of the first year of Clean Boats, Clean Waters prevention program will be shared, with a discussion of lessons learned.

 

Presenters: Chad Cook, UW-Extension and Mike Lizotte, UW Oshkosh 

 

Healthy Lakes: the Habitat Connection

Friday 3:30-4:20pm

 

Presenter: Paul Cunningham, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

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