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 Water Level Management Focus Group met in May. Eight participants reviewed the draft recommendations from the Tech Team and provided input to help prioritize the action plan. Based on input from the Focus Group, changes were made to the draft recommendations.
The final revision of the water level management report for the lake management plan is being reviewed for minor edits and is scheduled to be wrapped up by the end of May. The result will be a final draft of the report that will go out for public comment later this year.
We are in the process of forming the Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team. We hope to hold an initial meeting near the end of July. 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
We finished collecting water quality data from a variety of sources and are now drafting the water quality report for the lake management plan. To learn more about the treatment process for drinking water sourced from Lake Winnebago, we toured the Menasha and Appleton water treatment facilities. Our goal is to have an initial draft ready for the Water Quality Tech Team to review by the middle of June.
Shoreline Practices Tech Team
The Shoreline Property Owners Survey report has been finalized. The next step is to finish drafting the shoreline erosion inventory report. Both of those reports will help to inform the shoreline practices portion of the lake management plan. We will begin drafting the shoreline practices report in August.
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. That report will be used to inform the recreation report and recommendations as part of the lake management plan.
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. Chris is currently recruiting for the AIS Focus Group. For more information, contact Chris Acy at chris@fwwa.org.
Watershed Management Tech Team
We began writing individual HUC12 watershed reports for each of the 33 HUC12s in the project area as part of the Nine Key Element plans that will be included in the lake management plan. We are also planning a modeling workshop with the counties as part of the watershed planning process.
Community Engagement
The Community Engagement Team met for the first time on May 1st, 2019. The Team brainstormed ways to build a sense of regional pride around the lakes. Those ideas will be incorporated into recommendations for the lake management plan. The Community Engagement report will be drafted in July and August.
Aquatic Plant Management Tech Team
The first draft of the aquatic plant management strategy for the Winnebago Lakes was sent to the Tech Team for review. We are currently recruiting for the Aquatic Plant Management Focus Group. The Focus Group meeting is scheduled for June 18th at 5:30pm in Oshkosh. If you are interested in being part of that Focus Group, please contact Korin Doering at korin@fwwa.org or (920) 851-0948. Spots are limited.
Habitat Tech Team
We met with retired DNR staff to learn more about the work that was completed as a result of the 1989 Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan. This will help inform the habitat report and development of recommendations for the lake plan.
Project Outreach and Engagement
Our online presence through our project webpages, e-newsletter, and social media continues to grow. We are up to 564 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 as a conference call on June 14th at 10:100am. 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.
