Sunset Bay Aquatic Plant Management Project
Residents around Sunset Bay, within Lake Butte des Morts, are working with the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance during 2020-2021 to develop a site-specific management plan. This effort is being led by the Sunset Bay Planning Team.
Sunset Bay contains a large quantity and variety of aquatic plants. During the growing season, residents within the bay have a hard time getting their boats out into the main portion on Lake Butte des Morts due to the plant growth. The Bay also experiences algae blooms, low water clarity in some areas, invasive plant growth, and critical habitat.
The planning team has been working to ensure that pieces are in place for management to begin in 2021.
Project Updates
February/March 2021:
- Public comment period closes on February 7th, 2021
- Review comments and make any necessary revisions
- Submit final draft to the WI DNR for review and approval
- Sunset Bay Planning Team legal incorporates the Sunset Bay Association
April 2021:
- Sunset Bay Planning Team prepared for plan implementation
May 2021:
- Received DNR approval of the Sunset Bay Comprehensive Management Plan
- Sunset Bay Association held their first membership meeting
Sunset Bay Meeting Archive
January 28, 2021
A recording of the virtual presentation given by Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance for Sunset Bay Stakeholders on January 28th, 2021 is now available. The presentation provides an overview of the contents of the Sunset Bay Comprehensive Management Plan.
July 22, 2020
On July 22nd Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance hosted a Sunset Bay Stakeholder Meeting. The meeting was held at South Park in Oshkosh. During the meeting attendees had the opportunity to provide input for the development of the plan by completing a questionnaire.
Sunset Bay Planning Team
Thank you Sunset Bay Planning Team!
The Planning Team has volunteered their time to keep the project on track:
- Have conducting water quality monitoring around the bay at nine sites for water clarity, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and conductivity. The results from their monitoring will assist in creating aquatic plant management plans for 2021 and beyond.
- Mapped curly leaf pondweed (an invasive plant) in Sunset Bay earlier in the season. This information will be used when recommending a navigation channel for treatment.
- Provided use of and captained their boat to enable Fox-Wolf to complete the aquatic plant survey in August.
- Helped organize outreach and meetings for Sunset Bay residents
- Raised funds to ensure this project could move forward.
Project Funding:
Residents from Sunset Bay raised just over $5,000 for this project. Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance matched their private contributions to cover the remaining costs of the approximately $17,000 project.
In addition, members of the Sunset Bay Planning Team donated their time and boat use. A big thank you to the Planning Team for all of their hard work in pulling together funds and other resources to push this plan through to completion and in their efforts to form the Sunset Bay Association.
Fox-Wolf Project Contacts:
Informational Resources
Herbicide information: