The goal of the Lake Management Planning project is to develop a regional framework for cooperation to restore and protect the health of the Winnebago Lakes. This includes facilitating communication among stakeholders (such as residents and lake users) and multiple agencies to advance regional efforts that address topics such as: water quality, habitat, recreation, and aquatic invasive species among others. This monthly article provides a summary of project progress as we work to complete the lake management plan (LMP) and move toward implementation of management and project recommendations.
If you have any questions or would like to provide input on the project, please contact Korin Doering, Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator, at (920) 851-0948 or korin@fwwa.org.
Technical Team Progress:
Water Level Management
The first draft of the water level management section of the lake management plan was completed and reviewed by the Water Level Tech Team this month. We are now working to incorporate edits and suggestions sent to us by the team members.
The Focus Group for water levels is scheduled to meet this Thursday evening. The group will review the recommendations put together by the Tech Team and help to prioritize the action plan.
We are in the process of forming the Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team. The group will be made up of stakeholder representatives from around the system who will meet a few times a year to discuss the water level targets and assess whether additional recommendations need to be made based on basin conditions, lake conditions, and stakeholder needs. The goal is to have an organized, constructive stakeholder voice to support the Army Corps with adaptive management of water levels in Lake Winnebago. If you or someone you know feel that they would be a good representative to serve on that team, please contact Korin Doering at (920) 851-0948 or korin@fwwa.org.
Information about water levels, water quality, habitat, and more can be found here: CLICK HERE
Water Quality Tech Team
Over 200,000 residents get their drinking water from Lake Winnebago. The quality of the water in the lake impacts the treatment process. We contacted the water utilities in Appleton and Oshkosh to learn more about their treatment process for drinking water.
Shoreline Practices Tech Team
The second revision of the Shoreline Property Owners Survey report has been completed and is ready for internal review. The next step is to finish draft the shoreline erosion inventory report. Both of those reports will help to inform the shoreline practices portion of the lake management plan.
Recreation Tech Team
We began drafting the report that summarizes the answers we received from the recreational survey that was available over the winter. Once that draft is completed, we will send it to the Tech Team for their review.
Click the image to view flyer
Click the image to view flyer
Aquatic Invasive Species Tech Team
Our AIS Coordinator, Chris Acy, has been working with the AIS Tech Team to revise the first draft of the AIS Strategic Plan and management recommendations. Once the second draft is complete, Chris will begin forming the AIS Focus Group. For more information, contact Chris Acy at chris@fwwa.org.
Watershed Management Tech Team
This month, project staff continued to analyze background information and began drafting the Nine Key Element plans for the 30 subwatersheds in the project area. They met with DNR to review available data and are now drafting portions of the plans.
Community Engagement
The first Community Engagement Team is scheduled for May 1st, 2019. The Team will brainstorm ways to build a sense of regional pride around the lakes. Those ideas will be incorporated into recommendations for the lake management plan.
Aquatic Plant Management Tech Team
We are almost finished with the first draft of the aquatic plant management strategy for the lakes. Once the draft is complete, it will be sent to the APM Tech Team for review. We will likely be holding the Focus Group meeting for aquatic plant management at the end of May or beginning of June. If you are interested in being part of that Focus Group, please contact Korin Doering at korin@fwwa.org or (920) 851-0948.
Habitat Tech Team
Habitat has been put on hold as we work to advance other lake management topics for the plan.
Project Outreach and Engagement
Our online presence through our project webpages, e-newsletter, and social media continues to grow. We are up to 546 Facebook followers!
Are you interested in having us present to your group about lake management planning efforts in the Winnebago System? Contact us at korin@fwwa.org.
We invite you to follow us on Facebook or Twitter! Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter HERE.
Winnebago Waterways Steering Committee
The next Steering Committee meeting will be held at the J.P. Coughlin Center on May 10th, 2019 from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Meetings are open to the public. For a meeting agenda, please contact Korin Doering at korin@fwwa.org or (920) 851-0948 or check our website closer to the meeting date.
Winnebago Waterways Executive Committee
The last Winnebago Waterways Executive Committee meeting was held on January 11th, 2019 at 1:30pm in the Fond du Lac City/County Government Center. Contact Korin Doering at korin@fwwa.org or (920) 851-0948 for additional details.
Questions? Contact Korin Doering, Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator, at (920) 851-0948 or korin@fwwa.org.
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.
Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Facebook pageor @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.
