Introduction to Lake Management Planning
What is Lake Management Planning?
Let’s first be clear about what a lake management plan is not – it is not regulatory nor will it create a new layer of government. The intent is to focus coordinated efforts on simplifying management processes.
A lake management plan is a dynamic document that serves as a guide for strategic, and holistic management of our lakes. The Winnebago Waterways are enjoyed year round by local residents and tourists alike. To preserve this impressive system for future generations, the Winnebago Waterways Program is engaging watershed residents to be active participants in the development of management recommendations. This collaborative effort will help watershed residents and other stakeholders to more effectively work together to protect, restore, or maintain desired lake conditions.
The goals and action items contained within the plan will be identified and prioritized by active participants including area organizations, property owners, and lake users, among others (including people like you!). These folks will form Focus Groups for each management topic.
We invite you to participate. CLICK HERE to sign-up for a Focus Group
Once the lake management plan is complete, the next step will be implementation of the recommendations and actions outlined within the planning document. Traditionally, a lake management plan is updated approximately every five years as priorities change over time.
Sign-up for project updates:
Why is a lake management plan needed?
The Winnebago Lakes are wonderful resources that provide clean drinking water to the surrounding region, help to create jobs, and offer a variety of opportunities for families and individuals to enjoy the outdoors. The lakes are vital to our local economies as well as long-held family traditions.
The lakes are currently in a degraded state with algal blooms, polluted runoff, and invasive species being top issues of concern for area residents and lake users. Together, the lakes make up one of the largest freshwater systems in the U.S.
Because of the size of the lake system, most management issues span multiple jurisdictions which can make efficient management difficult. The need for effective and cost-efficient ways to manage the lakes is what led five counties and other agencies to combine their efforts to develop a collaborative lake management plan.
To learn about past and current project in the Winnebago System, click here.
What goes into a Lake Management Plan?
The lake management plan for the Winnebago Lakes will focus on in-lake concerns such as aquatic plants, lake use and access, water quality, and aquatic invasive species. Other projects are in the works that aim to better understand issues on the landscape, such as the TMDL study of the Upper Fox and Wolf River Basin. The two plans will work together to improve the overall watershed.
Here are some examples of topics often covered in lake management plans:
- Lake use, navigation and access
- aquatic plants
- aquatic invasive species
- fisheries, wildlife, and habitat
- shoreline development
- water quality
Curious about TMDL’s? According to the U.S. EPA, “a TMDL is a pollution budget and includes a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that can occur in a waterbody and allocates the necessary reductions to one or more pollutant sources. A TMDL serves as a planning tool and potential starting point for restoration or protection activities with the ultimate goal of attaining or maintaining water quality standards.” (US EPA)
Top Issues of Concern for the Winnebago Lakes
The Winnebago System faces many threats. The top three issues of concern identified by the public are:
- Algal blooms
- Polluted Runoff
- Invasive Species
Other commonly reported issues: phosphorus and sediment, excessive vegetation in waterways, water levels management, erosion and wetland loss, and lack of boater education.
We will be collecting additional input from the public as we work on the Lake Management Plan. If you would like to provide input or feedback, we’d love to hear from you! Click here for the project feedback form.
Lake Management Planning Updates