Rush Lake: Public Outreach for Success
September 7th Event Will Link Past, Present, and Future
Rush Lake is the largest prairie pothole lake east of the Mississippi River and is a well-known destination for nature viewing and waterfowl hunting. Located primarily in southwest Winnebago County, Rush Lake and its connected wetlands approach 3,400 acres before reaching its outlet and becoming Waukau Creek. Waukau Creek feeds the 2,240 acre Uihlein Waterfowl Production Area and connects to the Fox River approximately two miles from Omro.
A significant restoration project was completed at Rush Lake in the 2000’s, and several goals from that project were achieved. For instance, water quality has dramatically improved. Today, lake water is clean and clear. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Surface Water Data Viewer, the Rush Lake Citizen Lake Monitoring sample site in September 2005 reported Total Phosphorus of 335 UG/L. Total Phosphorus reported in July 2019 at the Rush Lake Citizen Lake Monitoring sample site was 27 UG/L.
However, the last ten years have revealed new challenges for the lake. Prior to 2006, Rush Lake was largely open water and lacked vegetation. By implementing a lake drawdown, it was expected that hardstem bulrush, what Rush Lake was named for, would be the primary emergent plant to regrow. Despite a study documenting hardstem bulrush to be approximately 68% of the seed bank, invasive cattail took hold and dominates nearly 80% of the lake today. The pendulum has swung, and the 2000’s era lake management plan has little to offer about the lake’s current condition.
Thanks in large part to a $25,000 DNR large scale planning grant, work is being done to develop a new lake management plan for Rush Lake. Rush Lake Watershed Restoration, Inc. (RLWRI), a non-profit 501(c)3 that is dedicated to Rush Lake and its watershed, is the grant recipient and is leading the project with the help of a steering committee. The steering committee is comprised of individuals from the Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department, the DNR, Ducks Unlimited, UW-Stevens Point, Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Stantec, and RLWRI board members. A seat is also reserved for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service which manages Uihlein Waterfowl Production Area adjacent to Rush Lake.
An open house and tour is scheduled for Saturday, September 7 from 10AM to 2PM. This free public event will be held at the Nepeuskun town hall which is located at 1475 County Trunk E, approximately six miles north of Ripon. Informational exhibits and individuals from organizations such as the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, UW-Stevens Point, Stantec, and RLWRI will be present to discuss studies underway, and how they can be used to create meaningful impacts. Open house attendees will be offered a map and other information that will enable them to take a self-directed driving tour for a firsthand look at Rush Lake and its watershed.
The informational exhibits at the open house will feature topics of study such as water quality, aquatic plants, lake sediment, and the watershed, but quite possibly the most important topic is the public questionnaire. The questionnaire is a critical part of the planning initiative; it will bridge public sentiment to potential lake management plan initiatives, and be used to guide the planning and implementation work in 2020 and beyond. The questionnaire begins September 7, 2019 and is open until November 7, 2019. All are welcome to come, see, discuss, and respond to what is being developed. Critical data collection, both in the field and from the public questionnaire, will be used to develop and implement a strong lake management plan that makes broad and meaningful improvements. For more information, visit www.rushlakewi.com.
This article was written by Brett Helmbrecht, President of Rush Lake Watershed Restoration, Inc.
Questions? Comments? Contact Austin Pethan, the Winnebago Waterway’s Progam Assistant at (920) 851 – 4295 or austin@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 page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.
