How does your shoreland measure up?

You can find out by taking the Wisconsin Shoreland Evaluation Survey. This free, online, interactive survey virtually walks you through your property from the upland area, through the buffer or transition zone, and into the water to learn about opportunities for habitat restoration, runoff and erosion control, and other ways to care for your lake or river. It’s a smart survey that will lead you down a different path, depending on your answers, and gather a score* as you go. Using this tool is entirely voluntary – you can decide to register for an account or take the survey anonymously. If you register for an account, you can save your results and come back after you have implemented best practices to improve your score. You can also decide whether you would like to share those results with a local partner organization (e.g. lake group, municipality, regional lake organization, etc.). Your responses will not be used for regulatory purposes, no matter how you decide to complete and share the Shoreland Evaluation Tool.

We believe the Tool will help:

• Raise awareness of shoreland health.
• Serve as a private alternative to a site visit.
• Direct shoreland property owners to information about Healthy Lakes & Rivers best practices. https://healthylakeswi.com/
• Normalize the process of self-evaluating a property.
• Enable waterbody-scale outreach campaigns and data collection summaries.

*Scores are based on science, and most “Protection Level” properties will have little to no human disturbance.

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Reminders

We have a few quick reminders for those monitoring their lakes as part of the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.

Please...

• Make sure your equipment is clean and dry, and store it in a clean place, out of direct sunlight. Please remove the batteries from your temperature meters so they don't discharge or corrode.
• Enter your monitoring data by November 1st.
• Remember that the new CLMN Water Chemistry Monitoring video is available for you to watch in the spring before getting back into your monitoring routine!

Save the Date - 2023 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention

April 19-21 in Stevens Point

Theme: Building Trust Around Water Together

Have an idea for a presentation you would like to share at next year's convention? Submit a proposal! Deadline Oct. 1.

Make your Hotel Reservation now!

If you know you'll be attending the Lakes and Rivers Convention, you can make your hotel reservation now using the group block code. Visit the website for instructions.

How do you enjoy water together?

Send us a 20-second or less video sharing how you enjoy water together. What does that mean? You tell us!

Be creative: gather a group, recite a poem, perform a dance, include your pet, sing for us! Your submission could be part of the digital production shown at the 2023 Wisconsin Lakes & Rivers Convention.

Submit your video here by Oct. 1.

Nominate a Lake Steward

Do you know an outstanding person or group who dedicates time and talent to our state’s water resources? We encourage you to nominate them for the prestigious Wisconsin Lake Stewardship Award! The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership presents the Wisconsin Lake Stewardship awards each year in celebration of the extraordinary volunteer and professional efforts made to protect and improve lakes in Wisconsin. Awardees will be celebrated at the Convention. Nominate a Lake Steward today! Deadline Dec. 1.

2023 Photo Contest

We're planning way ahead so you can take amazing photos this year and submit them for the 2023 photo contest. We're looking for photos that answer the question: "Why do we need healthy lakes and rivers?" We are also looking for before/after photos that help us answer this important question (i.e. shoreland restoration photos).

All photos are due March 27, 2023. Learn more here.

Resources

Wisconsin Lakes Trivia Game

Test your knowledge about Wisconsin lakes! Discover fun facts about lake history, fish, wildlife, sports, and recreation in and around our state's lakes. Learn tips on how to protect our lakes while you play!

This is a great gift!

Order one today for only $17.95!

Explore educational videos and share them with your neighbors.

Browse our bookstore for additional print publications.

Funding Opportunities



Well Compensation Grant Program - Starting October 3

Starting on Oct. 3, applications for the new well compensation grant program will be available on this Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources web page.

Read the news release: Gov. Evers Announces $10 Million to Improve Access to Clean Drinking Water Across the State.

Surface Water Grants Deadline - November 15

Application deadline for:

• Educational and Planning Grants
• AIS Prevention and Management Grants
• Surface Water Restoration and Management Grants
• County and Tribal Government Grants

For more information, contact your regional Department of Natural Resources Lake Coordinator or go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/SurfaceWater.html.

Upcoming Events

Wisconsin Summit for Natural Resources Volunteers

Oct. 6-8 in Waukesha

Gather in-person with Master Naturalists and others interested in natural resources and volunteering in Wisconsin. Learn in small group settings during field tours, hikes, workshops and presentations about Wisconsin’s natural world and the nurturing aspect we give to the natural world and receive from our time in nature.

This event is open to adults 18 and older. Master Naturalist certification is not required.

Wisconsin River Valley Trout Unlimited meeting: Protecting clean water from mining in northern Wisconsin

Oct. 12 in Wausau

Join Wisconsin River Valley Trout Unlimited chapter for a presentation and discussion on protecting clean water from mining in Wisconsin. TU will have a social hour at 6:00 p.m. River Alliance of Wisconsin Water Advocates Organizer Johnson Bridgwater will give a presentation at 7:00 p.m. about mining proposals and prospecting in Wisconsin, including the Reef deposit in Marathon County. For more information contact Johnson Bridgwater at jbridgwater@wisconsinrivers.org.

Rock River Coalition Confluence 2022

Oct. 15 in Watertown

We’re excited to invite our members, partners, water stewards, and community members from across the Rock River basin to participate in this day-long conference. Our programming will include updates on basin news, current research, and opportunities for community members to learn more about the Rock River Basin and ecosystem.

Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference

Oct. 25-27 in Green Bay

Theme: Meeting Challenges, Facing the Future...Together

Find more local, regional and statewide events on the Extension Lakes calendar.