Fun with Aquatic Invasive Species 

Saturday 11:10am-12:00pm

Join us and see the lighter side of aquatic invasive species (AIS)!  Gain hands-on experience in aquatic plant identification when you step up to the table to view and handle real plant specimens.  Take a look through a microscope to see the details of the miniature spiny and fishhook waterfleas.  Find out what is available on the web for AIS videos, public service announcements, and images.  Participants will have the opportunity to interact with one another as they roleplay and practice educating boaters about the “Clean Boats = Clean Waters” message.  And before you leave, don’t forget to update your AIS publication “stockpile” with the latest brochures and handouts.

 

 

How to Access Local Government

Saturday 11:10am-12:00pm

This session will cover the basic issues of governance that lake district boards face in meeting their responsibilities.  Find out more about compliance with open meetings and records law, budgeting, running effective meetings, fulfilling responsibilities and roles, and collaborative relationships with citizens and local officials. 

Presenter: Kate Lawton, UW-Extension Local Government Center

What Can Your Land and Water Conservation Department Do for Your Lake?

Saturday 11:10am-12:00pm

Citizens interested in lake issues need to know that Land and Water Conservation Departments (LWCD) can provide a wealth of information and services.  This session will highlight some of the activities and resources that Jefferson County LWCD provides, to give you an idea of what is available and possible in your own county.  Jefferson County’s involvement with lake issues includes: lake management plans, aquatic plant surveys and plans, research on pier shading, county lake classification project, water quality sampling, shoreline erosion assessments and restorations, prairie and wetland restorations, citizen education, training volunteer monitors, and more.  The LWCD also works with agricultural landowners to implement conservation practices to control erosion and agricultural runoff.  Finally, if your county does not have a water resources professional on staff, Patricia will provide some ideas on how to change this scenario. 

 

Taking Action: Conserving a Gem for Future Generations

Saturday 11:10am-12:00pm

In the summer of 2006, Bony Lake property owners began working with individuals in the County LWCD, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, and the WDNR. With new-found partners who understood and shared our concerns and who were enthusiastic about joining us in our effort to take on a “lakewide” conservation and restoration project, we were able to write a successful DNR Lake Protection ~ Shoreland Restoration Grant that will provide $100,000 over 3 years, with an additional $45,000 in cash & in-kind matching funds, to accomplish a number of very important goals.

 

 

Buying 'em Back from the Developers

Saturday 11:10am-12:00pm

Developers are purchasing parcels on lakes in record numbers, and hoping to turn big profits off of parcelization of the lake shore.  In one such instance, the Love Lake Association, the West Wisconsin Land Trust, and the Wisconsin DNR, all worked together to purchase a large parcel back from one of the Midwest’s largest land developers.  The parcel was permanently protected and opened for light public recreation.  The process of conserving this and other projects in NW Wisconsin will be illustrated, in addition to the ecological significance of the parcels being protected.

 

 

The Foreclosure Crisis: Has It Dipped into Lake Properties?

Saturday 10:10-11:00am

This session examines foreclosure patterns throughout Wisconsin over the past ten years.  It investigates, through econometric tests, whether the increases in foreclosures throughout the state of Wisconsin have materialized in the submarket of lake properties. 

 

Presenter: Dr. Kashian, UW-Extension/UW-Whitewater 

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