Friday Concurrent Session 6
60 minutes
April 12, 2019 ~ 10:45-11:45 am
Agenda subject to change.
Blue-green Algae and What They Mean for Your Recreation in Wisconsin's Lakes
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are in every water body in Wisconsin. Their populations grow to nuisance levels, called blooms, in certain conditions or if wind and currents concentrate them in a small area. In this session, you’ll learn how to identify blue-green algae and other kinds of common lake algae and learn what conditions cause blue-green algae to grow to nuisance levels. Some blue-green algae can make toxins, and we will discuss the health impacts of these toxins on animals and people who ingest, inhale, or have skin contact with blue-green algae. We will review new federal swimming advisory levels for two cyanobacterial toxins, what they mean for water recreation in Wisconsin, and show you how to determine safe levels of blue-green algae in our lakes.
Presenters:
Local Programmatic Capacity Examples: Rock Lake (Jefferson Co.) and Beaver Dam Lake (Barron Co.)
Rock Lake in Jefferson County has been the subject of several research and monitoring projects including a shoreland and shallows survey, research into sediment and phosphorus loads from an inlet stream, aquatic plant surveys, water quality monitoring, and a public input survey. Learn how all of this information (or sometimes lack of information) was considered and used by a team of community members to recommend a vision for the lake that strives to pay it forward by protecting the lake for future generations. The goals of the plan will be covered: water quality, water quality sampling, habitat, lake recreation, and education. Also learn how this plan has re-invigorated the community and lake association and the steps that have been taken to date to implement the plan.
Beaver Dam Lake in Barron County is a deep, clear lake adjacent to the City of Cumberland. The Beaver Dam Lake Management District has been carrying out a multi-faceted lake protection and improvement program that covers citizen education, aquatic plant management, and water quality restoration in several bays through improved stormwater management. These efforts have leveraged tax district funds through matching grants from the Wisconsin DNR to exemplify the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership.
Presenters:
Patricia Cicero, Water Resource Management Specialist, Jefferson County
Tom Schroeder, Chair, Beaver Dam Lake Management District
Lakesploration: Memory to Movement
Memories are held in the mind and body, and expression doesn’t necessarily require words. Join us for an hour-long improvisational movement workshop where we will weave movement and memory together to celebrate our experience of water. Bring your playful side and be ready to engage creatively in a supportive space. Guidance, instruction and improvisational music will be provided. Please come as you are to enjoy a low-key break for the left brain. No special equipment or attire is required. All ages and abilities are encouraged to attend.
Presenters:
Kristi Minahan, Water Resources Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Alison Mikulyuk, Lakes Team Leader, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Katie Hein, Lake Monitoring Technical Lead, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Partnership-based Restoration in the Little Plover River Watershed
The water resources of the Little Plover River (LPR) watershed have been extensively studied for decades. In spite of this, controversy remains regarding how municipal, agricultural, and industrial water use affects the health of groundwater, surface water, and habitat resources in the watershed. In 2017, a partnership was established bringing together governmental, agricultural, and conservation organizations to begin the process of identifying and addressing the water resource issues of the LPR watershed using voluntary actions guided by science. In the two-year time period since its inception, the Little Plover River Watershed Enhancement Project has raised over $2.6 million for on-the-ground restoration action aimed at improving river flow, reducing storm water runoff, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. This presentation will discuss the development of this unique partnership-based approach to addressing water resource issues in the Little Plover River watershed.
Presenters:
Dan Mahoney, Adminstrator, Village of Plover
Tracy Hames, Executive Director, Wisconsin Wetlands
*Two 30-minute sessions
Trout in Wisconsin Lakes - Changing Landscapes, Changing Demographics: Trends and Their Implications for Wisconsin Trout Fisheries
Wisconsin’s inland trout fisheries exist in a dynamic landscape and climate that provides cold water to streams, spring ponds and lakes supporting trout. Wisconsin also has a growing human population, which affects land use, and its trout fisheries have an ever-changing user base, which provides support for trout management. Human alterations to the landscape and groundwater resources, along with a changing climate, currently threaten wild trout fisheries. What do trends in land use, climate, and demographics portend for trout in Wisconsin? The history of land use and conservation in Wisconsin shows how fragile our coldwater resources are, and how concerted efforts to improve how we live on the land can benefit trout. In this session, we’ll discuss the history of inland trout fisheries in Wisconsin, the implications of current trends for the future of our state’s wild trout, and ways the public can help protect, restore, and rehabilitate trout habitat and fisheries.
Presenter: Matthew Mitro, Fisheries Research Scientist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Where in the Winnebago Waterways is Water Hyacinth?
In October of 2015, water hyacinth (NR40 Prohibited) was found and reported by a citizen volunteer on Lake Winneconne, Wisconsin. With local partners, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources coordinated efforts in early November 2015 to remove all water hyacinth plants. As a sub-tropical plant, there was hope that the Wisconsin winter would eliminate any plants missed by removal efforts. However, in September 2016, more water hyacinth plants were located in the same area of Lake Winneconne. Subsequent monitoring and removal occurred in 2016 and 2017. In October of 2018, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Oshkosh, WI DNR, and citizen volunteers teamed up and once again located a population of water hyacinth. This is the fourth consecutive year that water hyacinth has been found in this same spot on Lake Winneconne in the late summer/fall. This session will provide updates on the water hyacinth situation and the outreach being conducted in the Winnebago system.
Presenter: Chris Acy, AIS Coordinator for Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago counties, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
Ecology 101 - Our Living Ancestors: The History and Ecology of Old-growth Forests in Wisconsin
With less than 1% of our original presettlement forests still intact in Wisconsin, old-growth forests are a treasure to explore. But where can you find them? Join John Bates to explore the history of old-growth forests in Wisconsin, discover where the best sites still remain, and learn what makes old-growth so ecologically and aesthetically remarkable.
Presenter: John Bates, Author and Naturalist
SEE THE VIDEO HERE (YouTube link)
Skip to main content
