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 final draft of the water level management report has been completed. The draft is scheduled to be presented tot he Executive Committee in August. The report will then go out for public comment later this year.
We are in the process of forming the Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team. The first meeting is scheduled for July 30th, 2019 at 9:00am in the J.P Coughlin Center in Oshkosh . 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 Oshkosh water treatment facility and have been in contact with the Neenah plant. Our goal is to have an initial draft ready for the Water Quality Tech Team to review by the end of July.
Shoreline Practices Tech Team
The shoreline erosion inventory draft report is nearing completion. Once the report is finalized, we will begin drafting the shoreline practices report.
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, is wrapping up the final draft of the AIS Strategic Plan. Chris is currently recruiting for the AIS Focus Group. The Focus Group will likely meet in July. If you are interested in participating, please contact Chris. Space is limited. chris@fwwa.org.
Watershed Management Tech Team
We began writing individual HUC12 watershed reports for each of the 32 HUC12s in the project area as part of the Nine Key Element plans that will be included in the lake management plan. The Watershed Management Tech Team met in June to prepare for the modeling workshop that will be held later this year.
Community Engagement
Drafting the Community Engagement report has been put on hold for the time being as we work to progress other management topics.
Aquatic Plant Management Tech Team
The Aquatic Plant Management Focus Group meeting was held in June. The report from that meeting is currently in draft form. The final version of the APM draft strategy is being developed with the goal of having it completed by the middle of July.
Habitat Tech Team
We will be meeting 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. We will also be planning the next Habitat Tech Team meeting as we prepare to begin drafting that section of the LMP.
Project Outreach and Engagement
Our online presence through our project webpages, e-newsletter, and social media continues to grow. We are up to 581 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 July 12th, 2019 at 10:00am. 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. The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for August 5th, 2019 at 3:00pm in the ond du Lac City/County Government Center. The meeting is open to the public.
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.
