WCLA Main Page

Our mission statement: The purpose of the Walworth County Lake Association is to provide a resource for Walworth County Lakes to share lake-related information and concerns among one another and with governmental units.

Upcoming events and meetings (All meetings at 9:00am unless otherwise noted)

For meeting directions and a county map, click on the "Directions To Meetings" link on the left.

When needed, meetings of the Board of Directors will take place before the general meetings.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL) will be having a SE Wisconsin Lakes Workshop on Saturday, *October 3, 2009*. Details and info below.
The workshop is a great opportunity to learn more about lake issues, how to deal with them and network with members from other lake organizations. Walworth County Lakes Association encourages their membership to attend and we hope to see you there.

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Changing Lakes, Changing Policy A Workshop for Lake Communities
Saturday, October 3, 2009 8:30 am – 3:45 pm

Waukesha County Technical College, Richard T. Anderson Education Center 800 Main St.
Pewaukee, WI 53072

Cost to attend the workshop is $35\person.
      Fee includes refreshments, lunch, and workshop materials.

*Please register by September 25.   *
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- What will updates to Wisconsin’s shoreland building regulations mean to you and your lake community?
- Leaving a land legacy: legal tools for succession planning of family land.
- Lake-friendly landscaping methods for waterfront property owners.
- Changing lake levels in Wisconsin.
- How to assess a lake’s recreational carrying capacity.
- Lessons learned from successful large-scale lake management and rehabilitation projects.
- Insights on managing aquatic plants, fisheries, water quality, and more.

A detailed agenda and program descriptions are available at:
http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/events/09se.html

Registration form (PDF File download):
http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/events/pdf/09southeast.pdf

From WAL - SB 12 - Slow no-wake zone passes
The Assembly passed a bill (SB 12) that would establish a statewide slow no wake zone for motorboats within 100 feet of a lake’s shoreline. The Senate passed the bill earlier this month. It will become law upon the Governor’s signature.

A provision within the bill allows local boating ordinances to extend slow-no-wake zones farther away from the shore (for example, 200 feet as Dane County has done). Local boating ordinances may also specify slow-no-wake zones that are less than 100 feet from the shoreline. This provision recognizes that there are some locations where a more localized approach may be desirable to accommodate recreational use. An exemption is also included for water-skiers pick up and drop off zones.

This bill is a positive step forward to preserve water quality, prevent shoreline deterioration, and improve public safety for citizens who are fishing, swimming, and paddling on our shorelines.

Boating too close to shorelines can contribute to shoreline erosion problems, reduce water clarity by stirring up lake bed sediments,
release phosphorus—the nutrient responsible for algae blooms—from lake bed sediments, and harm fish habitat when propellers uproot shore land plants.

WAL - AB 3 - Phosphorus fertilizer ban passes

The state Senate unanimously passed the Clean Lakes Bill (AB 3) which will prohibit the display, sale, and use of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus, with certain reasonable exceptions. This bill is modeled after Dane County's existing and successful county ordinance. When the Governor signs the bill, Wisconsin will have a statewide law regulating phosphorus in lawn fertilizer!

Many Wisconsin Association of Lakes members have been working for years to develop phosphorus free lawn fertilizer programs on a lake by lake basis, asking retailers to stock phosphorus free fertilizer, and working with their town, village, or city governments to pass local phosphorus ordinances. But local efforts—while widespread across the state—have not been enough.

The contacts citizens have made with their legislators, testimony offered at public hearings, and resolutions passed by counties, lake groups, and local governments supporting a statewide ban on phosphorus in lawn fertilizer have been critical to demonstrate support for this issue. Many small actions have enabled Wisconsin lake groups, local governments, counties and citizens to achieve a statewide victory that is a significant step forward in the efforts to curb the avalanche of nutrients that pollute our public lakes.

Congrats to an original contributor and long time member of the WCLA for his continued efforts on behalf of everyone in Walworth County.

Pell Lake -------local volunteer Richard Olenoski soon will be recognized for his countless hours of service to the community. On Wednesday, Sept. 24, local Modern Woodmen of America members will honor Olenoski with the Hometown Hero Award at 5:30 PM, at Upper Crust Restaurant, Highway H.

According to a statement from Modern Woodmen member Frank Chesen, Olenoski will be recognized for his many acts of volunteerism.

As part of the Hometown Hero program, members of the Twin Lakes Modern Woodmen camp will present Olenoski with a certificate and a $100 grant, which he will present to a charitable organization of his choice.

Local Modern Woodmen members and guests are invited to attend the event. For reservations, call Chesen by Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 279-6196.

Founded in 1883, as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States. The Twin Lakes camp provides a number of volunteer services and social activities for local members.

In September, the WCLA bid goodbye to founding WCLA member Kevin MacKinnon as he moved to Texas in retirement. A going away party was organized by friends and a huge turnout came to honor Kevin. The Delavan Lake Sanitation District named their building after him, the Governor awarded him and the WCLA created an education fund named in his honor. His efforts on our behalf as well as lake people throughout the state were exemplary, and will be sorely missed. In addition, he was simply an outstanding person.

Audrey Green (Walworth County Lakes Specialist) and Mary Knipper (Lake Delavan) will be presenting at the WAL convention in April a breakout on holding Pontoon Classrooms for local schools.

Senate Bill 197 (Statewide ban on Phosporus) had a final hearing on 8/28 with no negative comments. It is expected that the bill will come up for vote after the state budget is passed.

AB 42/504 (Restore Independent Secretary of DNR) is being discussed. It is expected that the bill will pass, but will probably not take effect until after the next gubernatorial election.

NR 115 (Shoreland Zoning) After four years of contentious discussion, this bill will probably go back to committee for more revision.

According to Audrey Greene, the next big invasive battle is Hydrilla, a plant that makes Milfoil look like a drop in the ocean. It is more hardy and noxious than any other invasive plant currently in Wisconsin. It is closest to us in Indiana and the state is beginning to look at proactive planning to combat this plant.