2017 VOL.44 | NO.1
The Voice of Green Lake
A Publication of the Green Lake Association
2017 Conservation Field Day
DIGGING DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ALSO INSIDE:
Gala Recap | Carpe Diem: LMP Team Carp Update | Restoring our Streams Meet Rachel Johnson | Green Lake’s Citizen Scientists | Leadership Campaign
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FROM THE DIRECTOR
STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As I write this, my husband and I are making travel plans to join family in Minnesota so we can celebrate Thanksgiving together. We often spend a portion of our evenings brainstorming the perfect gift to give a loved one during the holidays. We are priming and painting a nursery as we anticipate the arrival of our first child. This time of year reminds me that there is so much to be thankful for – Not just at home, but at the Green Lake Association as well. Our generous donors nearly tripled Annual Gala proceeds to install water-quality focused conservation projects at a rate the Green Lake Association has never seen in its 66 year history. We had more Citizen Scientist volunteers taking water clarity readings than we have ever had before. We co-hosted the first-ever Green Lake Area Conservation Field Day that brought together over 60 farmers, shoreline owners and community members. With the help of our partners and to the relief of lake users, we removed a record-breaking number of nuisance carp from the lake. The work of the Green Lake Association would not be possible without the individual support of families and community members who value the lake and want to see it preserved for future generations. As my family continues the tradition of circling the Thanksgiving table to voice our thanks, you can be sure that this community and Green Lake Association members will be on my mind. For your continued investment and vision of a cleaner Green Lake, I am offering my thanks to each and every one of you this year.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2017 VOL.44 | NO.1
1-2 Get your Kicks Gala Annual event raises $83,000 3-4 Carpe Diem! LMP team removes 170,000 pounds of carp in an effort to restore the CTH K Estuary 5-8 2017 Conservation Field Day Digging deep into conservation practices 9-10 Restoring Green Lake’s Streams GLA members raise over $30,000 to restore 14,000 feet of degraded streams 11-12 Green Lake’s Citizen Scientists Fishing, swimming, tubing… and measuring water clarity? 13-14 Meet UW-Madison Graduate Student Rachel Johnson 15
Leadership Campaign: Every Acre Counts
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hat do conservation field days, stream and wetland restoration, carp removal efforts and student research all have in common? They each represent key programs on behalf of a cleaner Big Green that received a boost of support at the Green Lake Association’s (GLA) 8th annual gala, Get Your Kicks, on August 5, 2017. Gala guests gave generously and raised $83,000. A follow-up stretch goal raised gala proceeds to $91,200, making this the most successful gala in the organization’s history. “You could almost feel an electricity of enthusiasm in the room,” said Stephanie Prellwitz, GLA’s executive director. “It was a demonstration of how deeply our community cares for Green Lake like I’ve never seen before.” Key programs funded by these generous donations included the removal of over 28,000 nuisance carp from the lake, restoration of 2.6 miles of eroding streams and installation of over 6,000 plants in the degraded County Highway K Estuary, among others. An anonymous matching gift of $15,000, discovered that evening in an envelope on the chair of Kent DeLucenay, GLA president, started the evening off on a momentous note that inspired others to give. “The anonymous matching gift was unexpected and created an excitement that spurred on the giving by the members and guests present,” remarked DeLucenay. A record-breaking 13 sponsors made the record-breaking gala
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GET YOUR KICKS GALA
Annual event raises $83,000 for lake-focused projects
possible. These sponsors included: Platinum sponsors Havey Communications, Mike and Jill Havey, STA-BIL and 303 products by Gold Eagle, Shoreline Boat Center; Gold sponsors Mark and Barbara Thompson; Silver sponsors Green Lake Cold-Water Fishery Council, Lynn Grout-Paul and Justus Paul, McClone, Gary and Lynn Mecklenburg, Jerry and Judy Specht, TranzAct Technologies; and bronze sponsors Dick and Linda Martens. The success of the evening would not have been possible without the efforts of: • The gala committee – Kim Bates, Lu Ellen Bold, Julie Jankowski, Yvonne Richter and Alison Thiel, • Shoreline Boat Center, who donated the venue and worked with the gala committee to create an unforgettable evening, • Volunteers Emily Thiel, Rachael and Ryan Avery, Jimmy Niescier, Krista Kamke, Dallas Lewallen, Chris Lyke, Abby Gundrum and Brady Stockwell, • The Barrett House for volunteering their top-notch skills and support behind the bar, • Steve Wagner of Wagner’s Auction and Real Estate for donating his superb auctioneer services with us, • Malcolm McIntyre for his outstanding photography that captured the night’s splendor, • Kent and Lee DeLucenay, Rich Diemer, Deb Bierman, Jim Hebbe, Mat Boerson, Mike and Ruth Maddock, and Julie Jankowski, GLA Directors who helped set up the event,
• T he many in-kind donors who put together gift baskets, beautiful artwork, travel and sports packages and more to fill our bucket raffle and live auction displays, • The enthusiastic auction winners, project pledge participants and guests who continue to show their support of our lakeloving initiatives to improve water quality, • The Ripon Commonwealth, Green Laker and Green Lake Reporter, for their coverage to help us spread the word, and • The Heidel House Resort and Spa, who donated linens for the event. Be sure to mark your calendar for the GLA’s 9th annual gala to be celebrated on Saturday, August 4, 2018. It is going to be the cat’s meow! h
OUTCOMES OF THE GALA Check out the specific projects that gala attendees made possible during one extraordinary night: • T WO farm demo days to encourage farmers to adopt win-win strategies that are good for crop yields, good for soil and good for Green Lake. Read more on page 5. • T urning 14,000 feet of failing streams into healthy ones to benefit Green Lake. Read more on page 9. • S aying adios to over 28,000 nuisance carp that muck up important estuaries and harm the lake’s water quality. Read more on pages 3-4. • E xpediting the restoration of the degraded County Hwy K Estuary with over 6,150 phosphorus-absorbing plants. Read more on page 4. • S ponsoring over 300 water quality samples as part of expert-driven research through the University of WisconsinMadison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
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CARPE-DIEM!
LMP team removes 170,000 pounds of carp in an effort to restore the CTH K Estuary
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he notable absence of Green Lake’s most-wanted from its shores this summer has left many wondering: “Where have all the carp gone?” While it may seem that the stinky tide of floater carp from 2016 is a distant, smelly memory, the reality is not as simple. Thanks to the proactive guidance of the Lake Management Planning (LMP) team, a commercial fisherman successfully netted and removed over 170,000 pounds of carp from Big Green this summer. In doing so, the team simultaneously removed 6,140 pounds of phosphorus from the lake, which in turn prevented the growth of 3.1 million pounds of algae in Big Green. “Good and dependable people made this summer a carp removal success story,” remarked Charlie Marks, Green Lake Sanitary District (GLSD) Administrator. “The commercial fisherman did an excellent job and will be rehired for 2018 carp removal as needed. On top of that, GLA and GLSD staff were responsible for daily fyke net maintenance and were very diligent in their removal efforts.” These more aggressive carp management strategies made all the difference this year. “We did not receive a single report of dead floating carp this summer. That in itself is a success,” noted Marks. The results speak for themselves, but the work is not done. A mature, female carp can lay up to one million eggs. Every female carp that squeaked by this summer has the chance to quickly replenish Green Lake’s carp population. While improved carp removal substantially reduced floater carp in 2017, a carp’s highly efficient reproduction means that the LMP team will mostly likely need to repeat these measures in future years to yield similar results.
“Carp prefer warm, shallow, weedy areas for spawning. However, they will try to find suitable habitat for spawning anywhere on the lake and can adapt to a wide variety of conditions,” explained Dave Bartz, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologist. “They can tolerate low oxygen and very turbid conditions,” he emphasized about the species’ resilience. Green Lake Association members directly supported the successful carp blitz. Donors contributed over $15,000 at the gala to offer weight-based subsidies for a commercial fisherman and to sponsor summer staff to remove carp in both 2017 and 2018. The Green Lake Sanitary District also contributed significant funds and staff for these efforts. “It was incredible to see our members step up in such a major way to support carp removal and other lake management strategies this year,” said Stephanie Prellwitz, Green Lake Association’s executive director. “The carp and phosphorus numbers speak for themselves: Their generosity directly led to a cleaner Big Green.” Given their destructive nature, carp removal improves Green Lake’s water quality, improves native aquatic plant growth and establishes healthy habitat for aquaitc life directly impacted by the scaley behemoths. Carp are a non-native species in Green Lake that migrate to the shallow waters of the CTH K Estuary to spawn. Once in the estuary, their abrupt spawning and destructive feeding movements uproot native plants and cause phosphorus-loaded sediment to enter Green Lake, where one pound of phosphorus can fuel the growth of 500 pounds of weeds and algae. The damage does not stop there. On top of reducing water quality for Green Lake, carp negatively affect the ability of native fish species to thrive. “Aquatic plants are refuge and habitat for young fish,
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Green Lake School District students and Dallas Lewallen, GLSD plant operator, sorted through three native plant varieties: sago pondweed, wild celery and arrowhead to plant in the currently degraded wetland. With significantly less carp in the estuary to stir up bottom sediments, these plants stand a much better chance of taking root!
WETLAND RESTORATION This summer, the Lake Management Planning (LMP) team and Green Lake School District students joined forces in an effort to revegetate the CTH K Estuary and expedite the important wetland’s restoration.
zooplankton and beneficial algae species,” noted Ted Johnson, DNR water resources biologist. “By destroying habitat and lowering water quality, carp create a condition where fewer fish and wildlife species can survive.” It is clear that the destructive nature of the invasive carp knows no bounds. Taking what they have learned from 2017, members of the LMP team plan to use this summer’s carp removal success as a model moving forward. The team’s ultimate goal is to continue removing as many carp from the lake as possible and restore the CTH K Estuary to a natural phosphorus sponge for a cleaner Green Lake. “We are learning new things about carp removal each and every year. I believe we have swung the balance of power to benefit aquatic plant growth and healthy game fish populations. However, we need to maintain consistent efforts to remove carp from the lake and the CTH K Estuary next summer and the foreseeable future,” stated Marks. “Carp are strong, resilient fish and they will bounce back if we do not stay committed to our current removal efforts.” h
The group spent two days preparing and placing 27,500 native plant propagules, or root stock, into the estuary as part of a multi-year attempt to convert the presently degraded wetland into a healthy one. By re-establishing native plant varieties - such as sago pondweed, wild celery and arrowhead - the team hopes to restore the CTH K Estuary to a natural filtering system for the lake.
MEET THE MUSCLE BEHIND REMOVAL STU MARKS Green Lake Sanitary District plant operator “I feel obligated to jump at the opportunity to help keep this gorgeous lake in great shape. To be able to work with great people in the process is an added bonus.”
DALLAS LEWALLEN Green Lake Sanitary District plant operator “We can all be encouraged by the amount of carp removed from Big Green Lake in 2017. There was great teamwork this past summer by all partners, including a very effective group of commercial fishermen. Continued carp removal on all fronts in the future is necessary to ensure the health of this lake.”
BRADY STOCKWELL Green Lake Association project intern Thanks to the proactive guidance of the LMP team, a commercial fisherman successfully netted and removed over 170,000 pounds of carp from Big Green this summer! Rain or shine, these guys did an outstanding job removing the beady-eyed bottom dwellers from Green Lake.
“Although carp removal may not seem like the most glamorous job, it was a very rewarding experience for me to put in the daily effort and be part of this strategy to improve Green Lake’s water quality.”
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2017 CONSERVATION FIELD DAY DIGGING DEEP INTO conservation practices
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The average person will drive around the watershed and just see the fields,” explained Caleb Zahn, soil conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “When I drive around, I see all the conservation practices.” Cover crops, retention ponds, grassed waterways, restored streams and buffers are examples of best management practices (BMPs) sprinkled throughout the Green Lake watershed. These conservation practices are quietly paving the way towards a cleaner, healthier Big Green Lake. To dig deep into critical but overlooked practices, the Green Lake Association (GLA), Green Lake County Farm Bureau, Green Lake County Land Conservation Department, NRCS, Ripon FFA, UW-Extension and many volunteers hosted a free
Over 60 participants attended the Conservation Field Day – a collaboration of the Green Lake Association, Green Lake County Farm Bureau, Green Lake County Land Conservation Department, NRCS, Ripon FFA, UW-Extension and many volunteers.
Conservation Field Day on Saturday, August 26 at the Wilke Farm in Ripon, Wisconsin. “We really wanted to do something to share our story with the public,” explained Dave Wilke, local farmer and past president of the Green Lake County Farm Bureau. “The Conservation Field Day allowed us to relay our message and show what producers are doing as far as conservation, the different types of resources we have, and how farming has changed over the years.” In just five years, landowners have installed over $1.8 million in various BMPs in the Green Lake watershed, a 107 square mile area that drains to Wisconsin’s deepest natural inland lake. In addition, in 2017, Green Lake Association members raised over $10,000 to enhance conservation programs offered to farmers. BMPs jointly promote soil conservation and protect water quality by keeping nutrient-rich sediment out of waterways that drain to the lake. In agricultural areas in particular, BMPs retain excess nutrient pollution on farm fields, where it can fertilize crops. “We’re trying not to over apply nitrogen, phosphorus and [potassium] because it costs too much money and it has a really good chance of winding up [in nearby streams],” said Wilke. By keeping soil in place, these practices are actively making a difference for Big Green’s waterways. Between 2012 and 2017, Green Lake BMPs have resulted in an estimated 3,900 pounds of phosphorus diverted from Big Green Lake. In terms of visible improvements, those BMPs prevented 1,950,000 pounds of weeds and algae from growing in the lake and tangling toes.
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Farmer Spotlight Video Green Lake Association interns, Chris Lyke and Abby Gundrum, had their hands full this summer documenting the diverse world of best management practices (BMPs) and the lives of those who understand them best – farmers. Taking their knowledge of conservation farming to the next level, Lyke and Gundrum sat down with area producers in the Green Lake watershed to learn about their management decisions when it comes to implementing BMPs. “After conducting interviews with several farmers and conservationists in the area about preventing erosion and “everyone we talked to was very knowledgeable on sustainable farming practices and could detail specific actions that they were taking to either make their operation more sustainable or improve Green Lake’s water quality in some way.” – Chris Lyke, Green Lake Association intern
Pat Lake, NRCS Soil Conservationist, used a rainfall simulator to show how five differently-managed soils handle the same 1’’ rain event in terms of infiltration (back buckets) versus runoff (front buckets). From left to right, notice the infiltration/runoff differences in well-managed pasture; regularly tilled field with cover crops; regularly tilled field with no cover crops; lawn; and undisturbed prairie.
The Conservation Field Day used various demonstrations and a bus tour to showcase conservation practices to a broad audience – to farmers and landowners to consider on their own property, or for the public to gain a deeper appreciation for what is being done to improve soil health and downstream water resources. “Education of the public is key and that is exactly what the event accomplished,” noted Boni Jensen, GLA member and Green Lake Sanitary District commissioner. “As you listened to [the speakers], you began to realize that better soil equals better water and better crops.”
utilizing best management practices, I learned so much about the complex relationship between the lake and those living or working near it,” explained Lyke. “Something that really stuck out to me was that everyone we talked to was very knowledgeable on sustainable farming practices and could detail specific actions that they were taking to either make their operation more sustainable or improve Green Lake’s water quality in some way.” Over 60% of Green Lake’s drainage area is agricultural, which is why farmers play an important role in ensuring that we can achieve a cleaner, healthier lake. Countless conservation practices have been implemented over the years benefiting the land and the lake, however conversation or celebration of these practices rarely takes place. Lyke and Gundrum were happy to get the ball rolling. The result was a five-minute video showcasing local producers and the practices they find work best in their operations. The spotlight video can be found at http://bit.ly/2iXUDVj. Check it out today!
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Over 60 participants attended the event and learned about conservation practices making a difference for the lake. These participants included shoreline owners, farmers, community members and conservation staff. “Participants were able to see soil health demonstrations, experience a soil pit comparing soil in a tilled field to undisturbed prairie soil, and watch a rainfall simulation on differently managed soils,” remarked Kurt Piernot, a member of the GLA and field day planning committee. “For a landowner to implement new conservation practices, it really needs to be something that works with their property. For farmers, they need to ask themselves how the practice will work in their operation with their machinery, how much it is going to cost, what benefits they will receive from installing the practice and really whether it makes economic sense.” – Caleb Zahn, soil conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pat Lake, NRCS soil conservationist; Jamie Patton, Shawano County UW-Extension ag agent; and Natasha Paris, Ripon High School ag teacher and FFA leader were featured speakers
who shared their enthusiasm for soil health and knowledge of conservation practices with the group. With a wide variety of practices to choose from, establishing BMPs is not a “one size fits all” solution. “For a landowner to implement new conservation practices, it really needs to be something that works with their property,” explained Zahn. “For farmers, they need to ask themselves how the practice will work in their operation with their machinery, how much it is going to cost, what benefits they will receive from installing the practice and really whether it makes economic sense.” As highlighted in the side panel, there are multiple programs in place to help landowners plan, implement, maintain and fund site-specific conservation practices. These funding sources are available to assist farmers, shoreline owners and landowners. Based on the success of the inaugural event, the Conservation Field Day team is planning to host a field day next year to increase awareness and appreciation of BMPs and those who use them. “I think there were a lot of people looking for answers that day,” recalled Wilke. “People had the opportunity to learn new things about conservation farming that they maybe didn’t know before and, in general, better understand what farmers are doing – it was eye opening for lakeshore owners and farmers alike.”h
AGGREGATE STABILITY DEMONSTRATION Soil samples taken from a no-till, cover cropped field (left) and a conventionally tilled field (right) were immersed in a column of water. The no-till sample had greater aggregate stability and remained intact, while the conventional tilled sample easily broke apart. Healthy soils have increased microbial activity, which produces secretions that “glue” the soil together and prevent erosion.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Field day participants watched as Jamie Patton, Ag Agent for Shawano County UW-Extension Agriculture, used a soil pit to show how soil in a tilled field varies greatly from undisturbed prairie soil in a previous fence line.
The Green Lake County portion of the watershed is one of four in the state to receive National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) funding, an NRCS program designed specifically to help prevent inadvertent sediment and nutrient runoff in priority watersheds where water quality is a critical concern. To learn more about financial assistance programs available through the NRCS, visit their website at http://bit.ly/2zm0sSN. Landowners within the Fond du Lac County portion of the watershed can install potentially free conservation practices because of a grant awarded to the Green Lake Sanitary District by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In both counties, multiple funding sources from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Green Lake Sanitary District and Green Lake Association can result in little to no cost to participants. Participants can work directly with conservation staff to develop strategies that best suit their property and goals. To learn more about implementing potentially free conservation practices, please contact:
Ripon High School Ag Teacher and FFA leader, Natasha Paris, spoke to participants about the five keys to soil health: armor on the soil, minimize disturbance, keep as much living root in the ground as possible, incorporate diverse crops, and incorporate animal impact.
In Green Lake County: In Fond du Lac County: Caleb Zahn, Paul Tollard, Fond du Lac County NRCS District Conservationist Land & Water Conservationist (920) 294-6140 (920) 923-3033 ext. 4658 caleb.zahn@wi.usda.gov paul.tollard@fdlco.wi.gov
AG SURVEY The GLA, in partnership with the UW-Extension Center for Land Use Education at UW-Stevens Point, recently sent a survey to every farm owner in the Green Lake watershed. The voluntary assessment sought to better understand agricultural producers’ land management decisions and input for solutions that collectively benefit crops, soil health, and downstream water resources.
After the field portion of the event, participants hopped on a bus for a tour of how farmers in the Green Lake watershed are incorporating various conservation practices that benefit Green Lake’s downstream water quality. Here, participants learn about a manure management system at Dave Wilke’s farm.
A phenomenal 40% of the surveys were completed and returned. The voluntary, anonymous responses will be used as the foundation of future programs and potential incentives to increase the adoption of conservation practices in the Green Lake area. These programs will be incorporated into the Lake Management Plan for Green Lake, a document that guides watershed management to improve water quality for Big Green Lake. The Ag Survey was funded in part by a DNR grant, the Green Lake Sanitary District and over $3,300 raised by GLA members at the annual gala.
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RESTORING GREEN LAKE’S STREAMS GLA members raise over $30,000 to restore 14,000 feet of degraded streams
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hat would 14,000 feet of restored streams look like for Green Lake? Thanks to the generous support of Green Lake Association (GLA) members, we have the chance to find out. Already in 2017, the GLA has worked with its partners to restore 6,000 feet of degraded streams. “We have up to 27 miles of tributaries directly surrounding the lake. Many of these streams have eroding banks that are contributing sediment into the stream, which gets carried down to Big Green Lake, along with the phosphorus and other nutrients tied to it,” explained Derek Kavanaugh, soil conservationist for the Green Lake County Land Conservation Department (LCD). The connection between erosion and phosphorus comes down to soil chemistry. Soil particles have a natural electric charge and phosphorus has the opposite electric charge, so the two readily bind to each other. Eroding stream banks are doing more than creating muddy water and degrading aquatic habitat. They transport excessive nutrients downstream that fuel the growth of weeds and algae in Big Green. The “greening” of Green Lake is more than an aesthetic nuisance. The lake’s phosphorus-fueled weeds and algae excessively grow and then naturally decompose in the lake
in a nutrient-driven process that consumes oxygen. A lack of oxygen in the lake can cause “dead zones” and can make it challenging for aquatic life to survive. Restoring streams helps to cut off a source of lake-deteriorating nutrients, benefiting downstream wildlife and water quality for Green Lake. It also improves in-stream habitat and water quality so that the waterways can support fish and macroinvertebrates – an important component to the ecology of a stream. In 2014 and 2015, the GLA, Green Lake County LCD and Ripon College sponsored interns to walk every single mile of streams entering Big Green Lake to document problem areas. “They took inventory every 150 feet and recorded up to 30 different items including bank erosion, bank height [and] erosion potential, among others. Now, we use that information to prioritize stream banks that could benefit from restoration,” noted Kavanaugh. Since 2012, the LCD and participating landowners have restored over 18,000 feet of streams within the Green Lake watershed. To continue such great momentum, GLA members recently raised $33,000 to restore another 14,000 feet. The GLA has already put a portion of gala-raised funds to good use on Brad and Lynn Avalon’s property on County
Watch the Avalon stream restoration project unfold in minutes in the Green Lake County Land Conservation Department’s time-lapse video! See the video at http://bit.ly/2i0nmVF.
Since 2012, the LCD and participating landowners have restored over 18,000 feet of streams within the Green Lake watershed. This photo shows one such restoration success story on Brian and Jodi Olmen’s property, completed in 2016.
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DEGRADED stream Limited buffer Limited space between streams and the surrounding landscape allows for nutrients and pollutants to more easily enter a waterway. Inaccessible floodplain During intense rain events, vertical stream banks prevent water from expanding to the floodplain. The rushing water can place a tremendous amount of stress on a stream bank increasing its likelihood of erosion. Spotty vegetation Streams with limited or invasive vegetation lack the root systems necessary to stabilize stream banks, reduce soil erosion, and filter out nutrients.
Highway K on the south side of the lake. “This is our largest stream restoration project to date, and it brings our total to just over 3.4 miles of streambank restored in the past 5 years,” remarked Kavanaugh. Boots hit the ground on the 350-acre property in early October to restore 6,000 feet of an unmarked tributary to Twin Lakes. The stream eventually joins Hill Creek and drains into the lake. “Our partners have really stepped up in a big way to make these projects happen. Not only from a funding standpoint, which has been outstanding, but we are also thankful to the landowners who work with us to restore these streams. It’s a big change to their property and they have been great supporters.” noted Kavanaugh. Sixty-eight percent of failing streams identified in the stream inventory are still in need of repair, which means there is plenty of work to do. To learn more about restoring a vulnerable stream on your property and the funding options available, contact Derek Kavanaugh at the Green Lake LCD at (920) 294-4057 or dkavanaugh@ co.green-lake.wi.us.h
healthy, restored stream Natural sloping stream bank Restoring an exposed, vertical stream bank to a natural, gradual slope reduces soil erosion and allows for wildlife to more easily access the stream. Accessible floodplain By creating a more accessible floodplain, the stream’s velocity is reduced during high-flow conditions. Now, during intense rain events, water will expand over the flood plain and reduce the stress placed on the stream bank. Appropriate buffer Establishing a healthy, vegetated buffer between streams and the surrounding landscape helps to capture sediment and nutrients before they enter our waterways. Healthy vegetation Trees, grasses and bushes have roots that help stabilize stream banks, reduce soil erosion and serve as a natural filtering system for our waterways. Healthy vegetation also contributes shade, food and shelter for wildlife.
Vertical stream bank Exposed sediment from vertical stream banks can easily erode and be transported downstream along with any nutrients tied to it.
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GREEN LAKE’S CITIZEN SCIENTISTS Fishing, swimming, tubing… and measuring water clarity?
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or many of us, caring for Green Lake means spending time on it – fishing for that record-breaking lake trout, swimming the shallows of Norwegian Bay, skiing and tubing until you are physically sore, or sailing along Big Green’s beautiful emerald shores. For community member Wayne Nowicki, caring for the lake also means monitoring its health. “Geri and I bought our place in Green Lake 25 years ago. For our young family, it provided the excellent location and recreational opportunities we were looking for,” explained Wayne. With extensive professional experience in the Pharmaceutical and related life science industry, Wayne shares his analytical skills with Big Green as a Green Lake Association Citizen Scientist. “I’m very concerned about Green Lake’s water quality. Over 25 years, you see a lot of changes, including water clarity, frequency of algae blooms and fish habits. With a body of water this large, change is gradual – both for the good and
A black and white Secchi disk is used by Green Lake Citizen Scientists to measure and record water clarity once a month from May to August.
the bad,” noted Wayne as he referenced Green Lake’s retention time (time it takes to completely replace the water in Big Green) of 21 years. Citizen Scientists, like Wayne, measure and record water clarity once a month throughout the summer using a black and white device called a Secchi disk. With the disk, volunteers can determine water transparency by lowering the disk into the water and measuring the depth at which the disk is no longer visible from the surface. Water clarity is an indicator of lake health and signifies the amount of algae in the water. High algae concentrations and poor clarity can negatively affect plant, insect, fish and wildlife communities. Long-term water clarity monitoring can indicate trends in lake health, for better or for worse. Citizen Scientist data are used in combination with water clarity readings collected by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). These data allow us to track the long-term lake health and seasonal fluctuations in algal blooms. Since its inception in 2016, over 21 Citizen Scientists volunteers have collected over 90 data points around Green Lake during the summer months from May through August. When compared to data collected by the USGS and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) dating back to 1986, Citizen Scientist’s data display similar changes, but provide more temporal information. Shallower water clarity typically occurs during May, followed by deeper clarity in June and shallower clarity once again in August. “There are a lot of factors that influence [seasonal] water clarity, but it all really depends on how much algae there is in the water,” explained Dale Robertson, USGS hydrologist and Green Lake researcher. “Very often, after ice out, there is a
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2016-2017 CITIZEN SCIENTISTS Thank you to all of Green Lake’s Citizen Scientists! Your commitment and concern for Big Green builds on a long history of water quality data collection. Green Lake is a complex system with natural variations from year-to-year and month-to-month, so thank you for helping us track these complex lake-health trends. Harry Gryske
Pete Blum
Gary Mecklenburg
Judy Craig
Caleb Meiborg
Marley Crane
Wayne Nowicki
David and Sonni Dockus
Kurt Piernot
Sharon Dolan
Pilgrim Center
Brenda and Ryan Flanigan
Mike Shervey
Tom Fox
Dan Smith
Sidney Galatowitsch
Kathy and Bernie Westfahl
If you are interested in becoming a 2018 Citizen Scientist and learning more about the program, please contact Alison Niescier at alison@greenlakeassociation.com or call the Green Lake Association office at (920) 294-6480 Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM.
Average Green Lake Secchi Depth: DNR/USGS (1986-2017) and Citizen Scientist Monitoring (2017) 0
Secchi Depth (ft.)
lot of runoff and nutrients input into the lake [in early spring]. Temperatures warm up and algae starts growing. Because of all of this algae, water clarity goes down and the fish start eating often causing a clear water phase around June. Gradually algae will start growing back [in August] and the cycle repeats itself.” Citizen Scientists who were unable to conduct offshore measurements monitored clarity from their pier or shoreline and documented important near-shore fluctuations in water clarity, including the presence of increased vegetation and algal blooms. “Green Lake’s water clarity has improved over the past few years,” noted Robertson as he explained how Secchi data are used to track long-term changes in lake health, including changes in the biological community and the effectiveness of conservation practices designed to reduce nutrient loading to the lake. “Currently, the best management practices that are being used throughout the watershed seem to be working to prevent Green Lake’s nutrient concentrations from getting worse. It’s not that it’s improving much, but it’s holding its own.” Robertson added how clarity improvements are related in part to the introduction of zebra mussels that filter algae from the water. As the Lake Management Planning team continues its robust push of conservation strategies in the watershed, volunteers like Wayne play an important role in tracking when those conservation practices begin to influence long-term improvements in the lake’s water quality. “I hope that the water clarity data is useful in gaining an understanding of the changes in Green Lake,” explained Wayne on why he participates in the program. “Just as importantly, the program provides homeowners and other interested parties the opportunity to feel that they can be part of the solution in seeing the lake management program succeed.”h
Ken and Kim Bates
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Citizen Scientist Average Secchi
When compared to data collected by the USGS and the DNR dating back to 1986 (shown in blue), Citizen Scientist’s data (shown in red) display similar changes, but provide more temporal information. Shallower water clarity typically occurs during May, followed by deeper clarity in June and shallower clarity once again in August.
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MEET RACHEL JOHNSON UW-Madison Graduate Student Research in Green Lake
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n a partnership pushing the boundaries of scientific lake research, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Green Lake Association (GLA) are spearheading graduatelevel student research on Big Green. Rachel Johnson is a UW-Madison graduate student pursuing a double master’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering and Water Resources Management who will be conducting valuable research in Green Lake (2018-2019). Rachel’s research is being funded by a Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Water Resources. For her project, she will be working with her advisor, Dr. Anita Thompson, the GLA, and the Lake Management Planning team to design a project that supports the goals of a cleaner lake. Johnson recently shared with the GLA her research goals, previous field work experience and how she developed a love for lakes. GLA: What sparked your interest in studying environmental changes, and in particular, lakes? Johnson: My interest in lakes started as a kid growing up in Minnesota. I am from Woodbury, a suburb of St. Paul, but I spent my summers at Lake Pulaski in Buffalo, MN. My great grandparents built a cabin on the lake in the 1920s and my siblings, cousins and I are the third generation to have grown up on that land. As a kid I heard stories from my great aunt and grandpa about their memories of the lake – the water used to be so clear, there was an island, the dock was twice as long and there were less weeds. Over my lifetime, I have also witnessed changes in the lake. Water quality has declined and invasive lake weeds now rise to the surface by early July. I think that spending summers outside and seeing changes in a place that is so special have motivated me to study environmental changes.
GLA: How did you end up choosing Green Lake as your research site? Johnson: Green Lake presented an amazing opportunity for me to work with established groups – the GLA, the Green Lake Sanitary District, the Green Lake Conservation Department, and other collaborators – to help answer questions that are meaningful for their goals in improving the water quality of Green Lake. I am excited to be doing research in a place that has a long history of research and collaboration. GLA: What do you hope to accomplish in your research study? Johnson: Over the next few months, I will be planning my project and hope to start field work this upcoming summer. The overarching goal of my project will be to help guide the decision-making processes within the Green Lake watershed to ultimately improve the water quality of tributaries and the lake. My research will likely involve a combination of field work, existing data, GIS/spatial analysis and modeling, and be focused on a sub-watershed within the larger Green Lake watershed. GLA: Have you been able to spend any time in Green Lake yet? Johnson: This summer I had the opportunity to assist my lab mate, Sarah Fuller, with some of her water quality sampling in the Silver Creek and County Highway K Estuaries on two very beautiful days. I also attended the GLA’s annual meeting and first annual Conservation Field Day. GLA:Can you tell us about any previous field work or research you have conducted? Johnson: In my undergraduate at Carleton College in Northfield, MN I found a way to combine my love of nature
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UPCOMING EVENTS JAN. 27 MOONLIGHT WALK AND BONFIRE at SUGAR ISLAND 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Sugar Island MAR. 17 LAKE TROUT REARING FACILITY TOUR 9 to 10:30 am at Green Lake Sanitary District Apr. 23 EARTH DAY CONSERVANCY CLEANUP 9 to 11 am, Location to be Announced Apr. 28 bird watching AT SUNNYSIDE 6 to 7:30 am at Sunnyside Prairie (event is part of Green Lake’s Bird Festival) maY 5 MITCHELL GLEN TOUR 8 to 10 am and 10 to Noon at Mitchell Glen
and curiosity about the natural world in the form of a Geology major. In classes, I studied hydrology, geomorphology, sedimentology and environmental studies, and I participated in three major research projects. One of these research projects involved visiting and interviewing farmers in southern Minnesota and China to learn about how they make decisions about sustainable farming practices. From this project, I became interested in the connections between land use and water quality. Most recently, I monitored water quality with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization in Minneapolis, where I became especially interested in how best management practices improve water quality in our lakes and rivers.
JUN. 16 GLA Annual Meeting 9 to 11 am, Location to be Announced aug. 4 GLA annual gala 5 to 10 pm, Location to be Announced
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kent DeLucenay President Mike Maddock Vice President Dick Martens Treasurer
GLA: What are your professional goals for after graduation? Johnson: Currently I am leaning towards working in the field of green infrastructure, which is a way to manage flooding risks and water quality in ways that are beneficial not only environmentally, but also economically and socially. It looks to restore and mimic the natural water cycle while improving the quality of life in communities. Green infrastructure includes projects like green roofs, land conservation and restoration, rain gardens and urban trees.
Marc Blackman Secretary
GLA: What activities do you enjoy outside of the classroom? Johnson: In my free time, I enjoy biking around the Madison lakes, cooking new foods, salsa dancing, camping in state parks, playing volleyball and traveling. A fun fact is that I am a Master Water Steward! Similar to the Master Gardener program, it’s a certification program supports community leaders to educate and install projects like rain gardens, rain barrels, and native plantings that reduce stormwater runoff. h
Mike Regan
GLA STAFF Stephanie Prellwitz Executive Director Alison Niescier Project Manager
OFFICE ADDRESS 492 Hill Street, Suite 105 PO Box 364 Green Lake, WI 54941
Rich Diemer Mat Boerson Deb Bierman Jim Hebbe Julie Jankowski Gary Mecklenburg Bob Wallace
OFFICE HOURS 9:00am – 5:00pm Mon – Fri Closed holidays
CONTACT US www.greenlakeassociation.com info@greenlakeassociation.com (920) 294-6480
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PO Box 364, Green Lake, WI 54941
GLA LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN Every Acre Counts
This year, with the help of our partners and members, the Green Lake Association removed hundreds of thousands of pounds of invasive carp from the lake. We are currently restoring thousands of feet of degraded stream. We planted tens of thousands of aquatic plants to expedite the restoration of a degraded estuary. The task of restoring Green Lake is a monumental one and we are only just beginning. A cleaner Green Lake will involve tackling every opportunity and improving every acre of land. Since over 60% of Green Lake’s drainage area is agriculture, a portion of our strategy focuses on incorporating conservation practices in agricultural areas, so the stormwater runoff that eventually does drain to Green Lake will have less nutrient pollution. We critically need your support to boost conservation practices offered to landowners who care in the Green Lake watershed. The Green Lake Association and our partners are building a strong foundation for success. In the past year, we: 1) Hosted a Conservation Field Day to bring shoreline owners, farmers and the community together to learn about the efforts producers are making on behalf of a cleaner Big Green, 2) Created a moving video highlighting the good work being done by local farmers, 3) Sent a survey to every farm owner in the watershed to cultivate stronger partnerships and programs with the agricultural community. We are also using the results of our recently developed Phosphorus Prioritization
Plan to aim our nutrient-reducing efforts exactly where they will be the most effective. Ultimately, we have to move faster to get more of these critical projects going. It has taken decades for Green Lake to degrade and it will take years to restore it. Remember, a drop of water is in Green Lake for at least 21 years before it flows out the Puchyan River. The Green Lake Association has proven that it is up to the task of transforming good ideas into successful opportunities that make a difference for the lake. But our work is not complete and we need your personal contribution. We urgently require substantial resources to expand and build upon these crucial efforts. As a not-for-profit organization focused on improving Green Lake’s water quality, the Green Lake Association relies on your generous support to take this essential work to the next level.
Are you committed to a clean Green Lake? Will you help us partner with committed farmers and landowners to improve Green Lake’s water quality? Please give today by returning your tax-deductible gift in the provided donation envelope. You can also donate online at www.greenlakeassociation.com or by calling our office at (920) 294-6480.