In May, area residents and lake users attended Lake Management Planning (LMP) Public Meetings hosted by Winnebago Waterways at three locations around the Winnebago Lakes. The purpose of these meetings was to give the public a platform to provide their ideas on ways to improve the lakes and discuss lake issues. These meetings also aimed to connect those who are passionate about improving and protecting the Winnebago Lakes with Focus Groups for each of the eight lake management topics. Focus Groups provide an opportunity for concerned citizens, lake users, area businesses, and organizations to be directly involved in the development of a Lake Management Plan for Lakes Poygan, Winneconne, Winnebago, and Butte des Morts.

CLICK HERE to sign-up for a Focus Group

Each meeting began with a presentation by the Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator. The presentation provided an overview of the Lake Management Project including the project area, structure, process, funding sources, timeline, and a brief description of the eight lake management planning topics to be included in the plan. Those eight topics are water quality, aquatic invasive species, aquatic plant management, shoreline practices, recreational lake use, access, and navigation, watershed management, outreach and education, and habitat, fish, and wildlife.

After the presentation, attendees broke into small groups to participate in facilitated discussions about lake issues. During these discussion, attendees answered open-ended questions related to two topics that were chosen through a vote at the beginning of the meeting. Many people stressed the importance of public education and outreach to strengthen the relationship between the general community and the lakes as well as the need for positive change to prevent worsening of lake conditions. Overall, 65 people attended these three meetings. Of those that attended, 24 people signed up for Focus Groups.

Topics discussed in small groups at each LMP Public Meeting:

  • May 17th meeting in Fond du Lac: Water Quality
  • May 18th meeting in Winneconne: Recreational Lake Use, Access, & Navigation and Watershed Management
  • May 25th meeting in Menasha: Watershed Management and Shoreline Practices

Top answers for each question by discussion topic:

What are you hopeful for and why as it relates to the topic above?

  • Shoreline Management: Natural shoreline restoration for wildlife and Education/Outreach
  • Watershed Management: Agricultural runoff controlled through conservation/technology and a comprehensive, strategic plan to address system issues
  • Water Quality: Reduce runoff from urban and agricultural sources and shoreline, for the lakes to be swimmable all summer, and a reduction in algal blooms
  • Recreational Lake Use, Access, & Navigation: A balance among the needs and interests of various user groups and education

What causes change in the Lakes that is out of our control?

  • Shoreline Management: Weather, ice shoves, water temps
  • Watershed Management: Weather and fires
  • Water Quality: Weather, nonpoint runoff, legacy phosphorus
  • Recreational Lake Use, Access, & Navigation: Size of boats, littering, the number of people that use the lakes

What are things we can control or influence?

  • Shoreline Management: Education of the issues and solutions, conservation practices, and the development of demonstration areas
  • Watershed Management: Education of the issues and solutions, people’s attitudes
  • Water Quality: Education of the issues and solutions, funding for conservation, urban stormwater management, agricultural runoff, politics
  • Recreational Lake Use, Access, & Navigation: Education on ways to use the lakes

How can we control or influence the things listed above?

  • Shoreline Management: Provide incentives for conservation and education
  • Watershed Management: Provide incentives for conservation and education
  • Water Quality: Provide incentives for conservation, education, follow best management practices
  • Recreational Lake Use, Access, & Navigation: Regulation

What are the consequences of not taking action?

  • Shoreline Management: Things could get worse, increased harm to wildlife and fisheries, and increased financial costs or potential loss
  • Watershed Management: Things could get worse, reduced water quality, increased financial costs or potential loss
  • Water Quality: Things could get worse, reduced water quality, increased financial costs or potential loss
  • Recreational Lake Use, Access, & Navigation: Things could get worse, risk of human lives, decreased tourism

CLICK HERE to download a summary of results from the small group discussions.

Lake Management Planning Public Meeting at Tuffy’s Outpost in Fond du Lac

Small group discussion during the Fond du Lac LMP Public Meeting

Small group discussion during the Fond du Lac LMP Public Meeting

Thank you to the following businesses for providing meeting space:

Questions? Suggestions? Contact the Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator, Korin Doering, at (920)851-0948 or korin@fwwa.org. You can also leave feedback by using our online feedback form by clicking HERE.