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2019 FALL NEWS FROM ST. GERMAIN'S
TOWN LAKES COMMITTEE
UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF
VILAS COUNTY'S WATER RESOURCES

Do you know what percentage of St. Germain's property tax base is residential waterfront properties? How does that compare with other Vilas County towns?

Do you know what threatens our waterways / groundwater and what you can do to protect our water resources and tax base?

See the "Valuing Vilas County's Water Resources" pamphlet prepared by the Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department (link to Town of St. Germain website).

See the results of a 2018 study of how clear lakes relate to home values in the lake rich counties of Vilas and Oneida (link to Town of St. Germain website).
FALL NEWS FROM THE LITTLE ST. GERMAIN LAKE
PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

Native Weeds  
In 2019 we did not need to cut weeds as they were not a problem for boat navigation. The District Commissioners were ready and had the permit in hand, but the weather and weeds did not make the cutting necessary. 

Exotic Weeds   
In 2019, we used a local contractor and their DASH boats (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting). We cleared several areas in West Bay and some in No Fish Bay. The Town Lakes Committee refunded $4,712 to the District as 20% of our costs. Thank you to the Town!

Our plans for next year are to gain approval from the DNR to do larger scale chemical treatment of the worst areas in the lake which include sections of West Bay and South Bay. We will make an application to the DNR this Fall for that work.

Our Annual Meeting
The annual meeting for 2019 was held on September 1, 2019 in the St. Germain Community Center. The property owners in attendance voted to add more buoys in East Bay to protect the aeration line that has been hit by props several times in the past years. A request to the DNR is in process for that effort. 

The property owners also approved the funds needed to start the process with the USGS to study a “Draw-Down” plan that would reduce the amount of phosphorus in the lake in fall. This is dependent on obtaining a grant from the DNR to help fund the bulk of the costs over the next 4 or 5 years. (Phosphorus in the lake tends to make algae blooms and reduce clarity.) Our goal is to lower the phosphorus level of the lake by 5 to 8%. We already have tentative approval from Wisconsin Valley Improvement Corporation who owns the dam, and from the DNR.

The property owners also elected Tom Groth to another 3-year term as Chairman. 

FALL NEWS FROM THE LOST LAKE
PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

The two organizations on Lost Lake have been very busy this year. The lake district has been busy with many projects. We are in our third year of treating the invasive curly leaf pondweed with herbicides, and we’re finally seeing a reduction in the CLP’s presence. Unfortunately, our other invasive, Eurasian water milfoil, seems to be on the rise again, so we will be monitoring the EWM closely next summer. The lake district has also been working with Vilas County to acquire ownership of the Lost Creek dam. The county owns the dam but wants to get out of the dam business. In a joint venture, the lake district and our other lake organization, the Lost Lake Community Club, partnered to stock 2,500 walleye in the lake this fall. Hopefully this large stocking will improve the walleye fishery that has slowed in recent years. The Community Club continues to provide the social aspects of lake living by coordinating golf outings, summer picnics, pontoon parties, and ball games at Vandervort Park. If you have any questions about happenings at Lost Lake, contact lake district secretary Gary Heeler at qccabins@tds.net.