Lakes Management News

HAPPY SPRING FROM YOUR

TOWN OF ST. GERMAIN LAKES COMMITTEE

LAKE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATES

The Town Lakes Committee, consisting of voting members from each of St. Germain's five lake organizations, was awarded a WDNR grant in 2019 to assist with conducting lake studies and updating management plans for the Big St. Germain Area Lakes District, the Alma/Moon Lakes District and the Found Lake Property Owners Association. The Lost Lake and Little St. Germain Lake Districts had recently also been awarded grants for the same purpose.

Onterra LLC, Environmental Consultants of De Pere, WI, has been providing lakes management services for St. Germain lakes and throughout many northern Wisconsin counties since 2003. Onterra lake scientists completed studies on the St. Germain 2019 project lakes during 2019 and 2020 and spent much of this past fall and winter preparing their management plan recommendations. The 128 page final draft of the plan resides on the Town Lakes Committee page of the town website.

All St. Germain lake property owners are encouraged to review the draft plan, particularly Section 5 which prescribes management goals with associated action steps.

Please contact your lake organization officers or members of the Lakes Committee for further details about this project.

TOWN OF ST. GERMAIN

FISH MANAGEMENT PLANNING

One of the goals of the updated lake management plans referenced above will be the Town Lakes Committee's coordination of developing Fisheries Management Plan for St. Germain's lakes.

While fish management is primarily the responsibility of WDNR Fish Biologists, this management objective gives us the opportunity to develop a fisheries plan that is both generic at the town level and specific to individual lakes with objectives that are realistic, science based, reasonable and appropriate for the characteristics and economic considerations of each lake.

Please contact an officer of your lake organization if you are interested in working with the Town Lakes Committee on the fisheries management plan.

I-IDS CAMERA COMING TO

FOUND LAKE BOAT LANDING

Following a 2020 failed attempt by the Town Lakes committee to secure a WDNR grant to cover 75% of the costs to install and operate a "Internet Landing Installed Device Sensor" (I-LIDS camera) at the Found Lake boat landing, a grant was awarded in February of this year to proceed with the project to evaluate the effectiveness of the camera.

The solar powered, motion activated monitoring system is designed to audibly remind boaters at the time of launching and removing boats from the lake to inspect and clean their boats, trailers and related equipment. The system also uses a video camera to monitor boater compliance with State laws pertaining to the illegal transport or introduction into lakes of plant fragments, fish from a different water body, or on-board water which could contain harmful microorganisms. Images captured by the camera are uploaded to and monitored by the system manufacturer with boater infractions reported to the Found Lake Association.

Other St. Germain lake organizations will observe the operation of the system at Found Lake over the next few years before deciding if the camera should be used at other boat landings in St. Germain.

AQUATIC HERBICIDES

Are you considering using any of the many "lake weed control" products readily available on-line or in stores? Please be aware that none can be used in Wisconsin lakes without a WDNR permit.

All of these products, whether in liquid, granular or pellet forms, can be sold and purchased legally, but ALL are potentially harmful to lake ecosystems beyond the target plants they are meant to kill. NONE can be legally used without a permit from the WDNR.

Before investing in aquatic pesticide products from any source, please visit the MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC PLANTS page of the WDNR website to determine permitting requirements.

BOATING SAFETY/COURTESY

The COVID pandemic is credited with having brought record numbers of 2020 vacationers to St. Germain. How better to socially distance than while recreating on a northwoods lake?

Complaints were common by the end of summer, from residents and vacationers alike, about the sometimes dangerous conditions created by crowded lakes, conflicts of boating interests and some boaters demonstrating no respect for either boating laws or other boaters, swimmers or shoreline properties. Indications are that tourism will likely be strong again this year.

Please be familiar with:

Your Town Lakes Committee (roster) Wishes You

A Happy & Safe Boating Season