Articles by Jim Brakken

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THE TOP TEN LAKE PROTECTION LIST

Jim Brakken, Wisconsin Association of Lakes President

Delivered to the Northwest Lake Leadership Conference, 2004

 

     Like many of you, I have run across many bits of information related to lake protection over the past decade.  Here are ten of those information bits that I think should be offered to everyone who shares our enjoyment and concern for Wisconsin’s lakes.

     First, without going into detail:  Buffer zones do work.

The research now clearly shows that runoff from lawns and impervious surfaces washes phosphorus and other nutrients into our lakes.  A thirty foot buffer zone filters out much, sometimes most of the excess nutrients. A forty food buffer is better yet.

            Second, the stirring effect from aggressive boating near shore and in shallow areas of lakes makes  nutrients more available for plant growth.  So does the removal of naturally occurring aquatic plants.  Aquatic plants: very good.  High speed boating near shore:  bad, very, very bad. 

     Number 3:  Although all fertilizers contribute to the

problem, phosphorus is the worst fertilizer when it comes to our lakes.   One pound of Ph can yield 500 pounds of algae.  Dane County recently banned all phosphorous from fertilizers used in the county.  The entire state should follow suit.

     Number 4: Old and poorly maintained septic systems can have devastating effect on a lake, many times worse than any fertilized lawn.  All septic systems should be serviced and inspected regularly. This should be required by every Wisconsin county in accordance with the State mandate. All counties should comply with the law.

     Now we all know that adding nutrients will increase algae growth and diminish the clarity of the water.  At worst this can result in algae blooms capable of changing a beautiful lake into a disgusting, odorous, fish-killing, scum-covered body of pea soup.  At best, it will cause your lake to be less clear. This brings me to number 5:  Protecting your lake is protecting your property value. Studies in Wisconsin, Minnesota and elsewhere show that a one foot change in water clarity can cause a 7% change in the value of your lakeshore property.  On a $200,000 lake property, a one foot change in water clarity can cause you or me to gain or lose $14,000 in resale value. Restoring your lake front will protect your lake and your investment. Based on research done last summer, improving the clarity of all lakes in Sawyer County by just one foot would result in a total gain of almost one trillion dollars.  That’s trillion with twelve zeros!  There is a lake association near La Crosse that improved their water clarity by over ten feet. That translates into a property value increase over $100,000 per owner!

     Number 6  A healthy lake is more resistant to invasion by exotic aquatic plants and other invasive species.  Eurasian water milfoil is, in my opinion, the single greatest threat to our northern lakes.  Every landing should have large signs warning boaters to clean their boats and trailers properly and we should be training every boater about the urgent need to stop the spread of EWM.

     Number 7: Our northern Wisconsin economy is driven by tourism.  And tourism is dependent upon clean, safe healthy lakes. Whether local, state, county or federal, our political leaders all know that Wisconsin’s lakes are extremely important on many levels. They will help us.  Our job is to communicate with them and let them know we want to work with them.  They need our input.  We need to be the squeaky wheel.

     After decades on and around the water, I have never heard anyone say they want to do anything to harm our lakes.  And yet, virtually every problem our lakes face today is caused by people.  That’s number 8:  The cumulative impact of actions by people with good intentions continues to be at the root of the challenges facing our lakes today. Some call it Death by a thousand cuts.

     No doubt by now that you have heard of the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership. The partnership is unique to Wisconsin.  It is one reason why many other states look to Wisconsin for leadership in statewide lake management. This strong partnership includes our Wisconsin DNR, UWEX and your Wisconsin Association of Lakes. Now the DNR does a great job with research, resource management, enforcement and many other tasks.  But we have 15k lakes and an estimated 5 million residents and visitors who use them. The DNR cannot do it all.  Research and education outreach by the University of Wisconsin is a great help to our lakes and lake users.  Wisconsin is known throughout the northern hemisphere for the surface water education materials we produce.  But, like the DNR, Extension cannot do it all. Not only do these agencies lack the staff and funding to adequately serve all our lakes, these two partners are restricted by law from legislative lobbying. But the third partner, a citizens group known as the Wisconsin Association of Lakes fills that gap with our strong, effective lobbying efforts. 

     The Wisconsin Association of Lakes is a nonprofit group of citizens, organizations, and businesses working for clean, safe, healthy lakes for everyone. 

     It has become clear to me that, if we want to protect and preserve our lakes, it is the people who value our lakes that must rise to the task.  We will have help from the DNR and University of Wisconsin Extension, but the bottom line is that it is up to us. We all have to pitch in.

     There are many ways for us to participate. 

- Setting a good example, then encouraging others to restore their waterfront by creating buffer zones is a good start.

- Sending new volunteers to conferences like the NWLC and the Lakes Convention is another.

- Encouraging your neighboring lake to form an association and to join WAL will also help.

- Making a contribution to the Wisconsin Association of Lakes’ legal action fund will help us fight for our lakes in court. That’s number 9, by the way.  WAL needs a healthy legal action fund if we expect to be prepared to defend our lakes. . . and your lake. . . in the courts. 

 

                   Here are more way’s to help our lakes:

- Again, encourage people to restore their shoreland and create buffer zones.  Lead by example! Put away the mower. Take back your free time!

- Respond to Wisconsin Association of Lakes’ action alerts and speak on behalf of our lakes at public information sessions.

- Upgrade to a four stroke outboard.

- And how about joining the Wisconsin Association of Lakes Individual  Membership category to help guide the Wisconsin Association of Lakes ?

 

- Taking good care of your own shoreland and training your grandchildren to do the same is important.  Teach them how to listen to the lake. 

- And we must follow our zoning regulations both in letter and in spirit.  The same goes for all fish and game regulations. 

- And how about making a contribution to the Wisconsin Association of Lakes youth fund?  Why are we working so hard to protect our lakes today if we aren’t willing to prepare youngsters to care for our lakes tomorrow?

 

     This is only the beginning of the list. There are many steps we can take and when it comes to protecting Wisconsin’s lakes. There are no second chances. Once the resource is gone, it’s gone.  But with strong support from DNR and UWEX Lakes, the citizens who value our lakes and lakeshores will determine the future of our lakes.  This brings us to the tenth and final bit of information to share with others:  It’s up to us. By protecting our lakes not only will we protect our property values but we will also assure that all future visitors will enjoy clean, safe healthy northern Wisconsin lakes.    Can we do it?  For the answer, I turn to the anthropologist Margaret Mead who said:

 

     “Never doubt that the work of a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

 

 

 

 

 

       A Sunrise Cruise

With great anticipation, we greet the lake once more.

We witness stars disappear,

And see the eagle grasp her prey,

The loons are calling, crisp and clear,

While otter pups splash and play.

With great anticipation, we greet the lake once more.

As daylight beams across the sky

and breaks along the shore.

 

Through early morning silence, together we explore.

Our morning coffee steaming,

Dragonflies now waking,

Reflected sunshine gleaming,

Bluegills gently breaking.

Through early morning silence, together we explore.

As daylight beams across the sky and breaks along the shore.

 

Sunrise on the lake with you: I cherish nothing more!

Herons fly above the bay,

A doe swims with her fawn,

Sunlight warms the cold away,

While we enjoy the dawn.

Sunrise on the lake with you: I cherish nothing more!

As daylight beams across the sky and breaks along the shore.

 

 

Eurasian Water Milfoil now surrounds Bayfield County.

 

 

Jim Brakken, President

Wisconsin Association of Lakes

Summer, 2004

 

Eurasian Water Milfoil is all around us. It can now found in several Douglas County lakes, Chequamegon Bay in Ashland County and our own Washburn Harbor.  In Sawyer County, it can be found in the Tiger Cat Chain, Grindstone Lake, Round and Little Round Lakes and the Chippewa Flowage. Thus far, we believe Bayfield County’s priceless inland lakes have been spared. With EWM in our neighboring counties, however, it may not be long. EWM is, without question, today’s greatest threat to lakes.

Eurasian Water Milfoil hitch-hikes from landing to landing on boats and trailers.  Once introduced, it establishes itself permanently. EWM displaces native plants and alters the ecology of the host lake.  It breaks apart easily, sprouts from even the smallest of fragments, spreads quickly and resists all attempts to control it.  It can ruin a lake’s fishery and put an end to swimming, boating and other recreational activities. Treatment can cost over $500 per acre, with no guarantee that the EWM won’t soon return.  Shoreland property values can plummet as the invasive water plant spreads.

This exotic aquatic plant was originally introduced to the east coast in 1940 as habitat for fish farms. EWM traveled from lake to lake on boats, reaching Wisconsin in 1960.  By last summer, we had 376 reports of Eurasian Water Milfoil in Wisconsin waters.  How long will it take for this aquatic scourge to reach your favorite lake?  My students and I did the math.  We used the following statistics:  1959, 0 reports of Eurasian Water Milfoil; 1960, 1 report; 1991, 75 sightings; 1998, 235 Eurasian Water Milfoil reports; Then 319 sightings in 1999. By the end of 2002 Wisconsin had 376 EWM infestations.  We considered the number of lakes, 25 acres or more with public access.  These are the lakes most susceptible to Eurasian Water Milfoil infestation.  We did not consider the rapid increase in boats traveling from lake to lake nor the prosperous economy that brings so many more boaters to Bayfield County boat landings each season.  Also, we did not consider the number of landings each lake may have.  Lakes with more than one landing are far more likely to see infestation.  Based on the above stats, we tracked Wisconsin’s Eurasian Water Milfoil invasion and then extended the data estimate the potential future expansion of EWM.

So what are the odds?   Using the above data, if the current trend continues, by the end of this summer the chance of any Wisconsin lake being invaded by Eurasian Water Milfoil is 1 in 6.  Next summer? 1 in 5.  By 2010 we are likely to see infestations in one out of three lakes unless we can put the brakes on this plant right now. 

Let’s stop EWM before it reaches all of our wonderful waters. Tell all visitors to our lakes about the damage this plant does its rapid rate of increase and the potential impact to all lakes and all lake users. All boaters must be sure to clean all plants from the boat and trailer, livewells anchor and ski ropes.  It’s the law and although the fines are steep, the greatest penalty is the price we all pay when infestation occurs: 1. Loss of recreation, as the huge mats of plants cover the lake. 2. Loss of fishery and native plants and other critters. 3. Loss of property value and lower tax base as the re-sale values drop through the floor. 4. Loss of aesthetic quality. No more reflection from clear clean water. 5. Loss of money when chemical treatments costing $500 to $800 per acre are applied.

Please share this knowledge with others. Protect our Bayfield County inland lakes and streams from Eurasian Water Milfoil.  For more information visit wisconsinlakes.org. 

 

Note: in August 2004 EWM was found in 2 Bayfield County lakes. This reinforces the theme of this article: EWM will soon ruin all of our lakes unless we all act now to stop this invasion! 

 

 

 

 

Jim Brakken, WAL Director

Eurasian Water Milfoil is a real problem for our lakes. Once introduced it establishes itself permanently, displacing native plants and altering the ecology of the lake. It breaks apart easily, sprouts from even the smallest of fragments, spreads quickly and resists all attempts to control it. It can ruin a lake’s fishery and put an end to swimming, boating and other recreational activities. Treatment can cost over $500 per acre, with no guarantee that the EWM won’t soon return. Shoreland property values can plummet as the invasive water plant spreads.

Originally introduced to the US in 1940, it reached Wisconsin in 1960. By last summer, we had 319 reports of Eurasian Water Milfoil in Wisconsin waters. Unwitting or uncaring boaters are the primary cause of its spreading. How long will it take for this aquatic scourge to reach your lake? With the help of a New Auburn High School Math Class, we did the math. We used the following statistics:

1959, 0 reports of Eurasian Water Milfoil; 1960, 1 report; 1991, 75 sightings; 1998, 235 Eurasian Water Milfoil reports; Then 319 sightings in 1999. By the end of 2002 Wisconsin had 376 EWM infestations. We also considered the number of lakes, 25 acres or more with public access. These are the lakes most susceptible to Eurasian Water Milfoil infestation. We did not consider the rapid increase in boats traveling from lake to lake nor the prosperous economy which brings so many more boaters to our landings. Also, we did not consider the number of landings each lake may have. Lakes with more than one landing may be more likely to see infestation. Based on the above information, we graphed Wisconsin’s Eurasian Water Milfoil invasion.

Our graph clearly displays the exponential rate of increase of Eurasian Water Milfoil in our lakes. It also sends a strong message to every lake management organization: Tell your members about this threat. Post Eurasian Water Milfoil alert signs at your landings. Educate all visitors to our lakes about the damage this plant does its rapid rate of increase and the potential impact to all lakes and all lake users.

So what are the odds? Using the above data, if the current trend continues, by the end of this summer the chance of your favorite lake being invaded by Eurasian Water Milfoil is 1 in 6. Next summer? 1 in 4. By 2005 we are likely to see infestations in one out of three lakes unless we can put the brakes on this plant right now. Contact your DNR Regional Lake Management Specialist for warning signs and information for your members and visitors. Do it for our lakes!

Special thanks to New Auburn High School’s Math Class, Mr. Tim Lambele, Instructor and Miss Cindy Sheskey’s Business Ed Class.

Below: Spring melt, Wiley Lake