2018 Newsletter by Green Lake Association

PO Box 364, Green Lake, WI 54941

2018 VOL.45 | NO.1

The Voice of Green Lake

A Publication of the Green Lake Association

GUARDING our waters from the next INVADER

GLA LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN WITH EVERY RAINSTORM, OUR STREAMS ARE HARMING GREEN LAKE

vast network of 120 miles of stream flows into Green Lake.

In 2013, the GLA and our lake management partners found 11 miles of eroding streams that are polluting the lake with phosphorus. If left unchecked, excessive phosphorus loading will cause toxic blue-green algae blooms that close beaches, diminish our fisheries, and increase nuisance weeds. In 2008, a historic flood took its toll across the Green Lake landscape. At Avalon Creek Farm, the storm washed out portions of stream, tore out trees, and eroded deep vertical stream banks. Thanks to GLA donors, volunteers, and lake management partners, one mile of stream was repaired in 2018, making it the longest stream restoration project to date. This year, Rachel Johnson, a UWâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Madison graduate student doing research in the Green Lake watershed, tipped us off to some major erosion problems on Roy Creek. The GLA sent a team to investigate and found sections of stream erosion extending in height well over our heads. These areas did not appear in the original stream inventory, meaning that they formed in the past five years.

Green Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remaining sections of actively eroding streams are dumping phosphorus into the lake and fertilizing our nuisance weeds. The GLA needs your help to restore the remaining 10 miles of degraded stream and repair those sections that will erode in future storms. You make our work to restore Green Lake possible! As someone who wants a healthier, cleaner, swimmable, and fishable lake, we invite you to make an investment today in a restored Green Lake. Please give today by returning your tax-deductible gift in the provided donation envelope. You can also donate online at greenlakeassociation.com or by calling our office at (920)-294-6480.

ARE YOU COMMITTED TO A CLEAN GREEN LAKE? Please give today by returning your tax-deductible gift in the provided donation envelope. You can also donate online at greenlakeassociation.com or by calling our office at (920) 294-6480.

ALSO INSIDE:

Gala Recap | Project Clean Streams: Avalon Creek Farm | Local Field Day Welcome, Josh | Wacky Water-Related Phenomena Explained | Volunteer Guide

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

FROM THE DIRECTOR

STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

t is not hard to be enthusiastic about the Green Lake Association’s (GLA) progress after reading about our initiatives in this edition of Times & Tides. Since a drop of water is in Green Lake on average for 21 years, achieving a cleaner lake requires a long-term approach. Measurable progress on this order of magnitude requires big picture thinking over the course of decades and generations. Expecting changes in weeks, months or years defies the natural order of this natural system. Yet, as we keep this perspective in check, we are accomplishing tangible milestones worth celebrating. We can quantify miles of restored stream, pounds of carp removed and citizen scientists in the field. That is exciting stuff! Over time, the accumulation of these projects will make incremental improvement for Green Lake. As we invest in the right projects and the right scale, we anticipate that we will start to turn the dial towards a healthier lake. This does not this will be easy. The negative effects of more intense, more frequent rain events means we have to do more than ever just to keep pace with our changing climate. Yet, this also means that our work is more important than ever. There is too much to risk to not lean in to our ambitious strategy. As we wrap up another year, thank you for your support in making that possible!

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1-2

2018 VOL.45 | NO.1

MORE THAN A FIRST DIP IN THE LAKE. Gala guests raise $165K to help provide future generations a cleaner lake.

3-4 CONSERVATION AT THE CASTLE. Volunteers plant 1,000 trees to complete stream restoration at Avalon Creek Farm. 5-6

7-9

OOSTING THE BOTTOM LINE & PROTECTING BIG B GREEN. Local field day showcases economic value of soil health management practices. UARDING OUR WATERS FROM THE NEXT INVADER. G GLA and partners defend Green Lake from new invasive species. WELCOME, JOSH! The GLA welcomes a new teammate.

11-12 WHAT WAS THAT? Explanations for the curious & downright wacky water-related lake phenomena. 13-14 BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE WATER. A volunteer recognition and recruitment guide.

MORE THAN A FIRST DIP IN THE LAKE GALA GUESTS RAISE $165,000 TO HELP PROVIDE FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH A CLEANER LAKE

reen Lake’s water quality challenges are personal. “I love that many of your Green Lake stories begin like this: ‘My parents dipped me in Green Lake when I was just a few months old,’” remarked Stephanie Prellwitz, GLA’s executive director, as she addressed a sold-out gala audience on Saturday, August 4. Prellwitz was inspired to provide a similar life experience for her daughter. In the process, though, she came face-to-face with the realities of the lake’s long-term water quality problems. “When my husband and I took our new baby, Charlotte, to the lake this summer, a thought crossed my mind as I was about to dip her in Green Lake for the very first time: ‘Is this water safe for her?’” Prellwitz reminded gala attendees that toxic blue-green algae blooms closed beaches across the state last summer. While Green Lake was not part of this infamous list, its weed and algae problems are part of the same lake degradation process. “One thing is clear: Green Lake’s water quality is not what it once was. And if our conservation efforts don’t outpace the lake’s water quality decline, we too could face the reality that many of our neighbors did—waking up to a toxic lake.” That was the message at the GLA’s 9th annual gala, Prohibition Party, held at the Shoreline Boat Center Showroom in Green Lake. Guests generously donated over $165,000 in support of three pillar projects, highlighted in the side panel. These individual projects are part of a collective lake rehabilitation strategy to ensure future generations have a lake that is safe for recreation. “Like all lakes, Green Lake has a delicate ecological balance. On one side is the clean, clear lake that our grandparents tell stories about. On the other side of that balance is what surrounding lakes like Little Green Lake and Lake Mendota

have been experiencing this year,” explained Prellwitz, as she referenced toxic algae blooms and new invasive species plaguing lakes throughout Wisconsin. There are big challenges ahead for Green Lake, but the GLA and its lake management partners are working at an unprecedented pace to tip the scale toward a restored lake. This will require a lasting commitment and significant future funding, but these challenges can be met with the support of GLA members and the Green Lake community. “I can’t emphasize enough what an exciting time it is to be part of this community. The GLA and our partners are doing some amazing things, and people across the state are starting to take note,” stated Prellwitz. “So back at the lake, as I’m holding Charlotte above the water, I was reminded of what an incredible lake we have and the inspiring progress we’re making toward improving its water quality. And, slowly, at five months old, I lowered her into Green Lake for the very first time. I felt confident that, with our collective efforts, Charlotte will have a clean lake to dip her children into one day, too.” The event was possible in part because of its 14 sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors ($10,000) Havey Communications/Mike and Jill Havey, Jerry and Judy Specht, 303 and STA-BIL products by Gold Eagle; Gold Sponsors ($5,000) Gary and Lynn Mecklenburg; Silver Sponsors ($2,500) Joe and Tina Pregont and David and Kathleen Cullen; and Bronze Sponsors ($1,000) the Graham-Saravis Families, the Green Lake Cold-Water Fishery Council, Dick and Linda Martens, McClone Insurance, Bill and Patty Miner, Outdoor Impact, Special Properties, and TranzAct Technologies, Inc. Mark your calendar for the GLA’s 10th annual gala on Saturday, August 3, 2019. h

OUTCOMES OF THE GALA Gala guests generously supported three major initiatives at the annual event, raising over $165,000. Check out the specific projects they made possible during this one extraordinary night. PROJECT CLEAN STREAMS (read more on page 4) • Turn 5,700 feet of failing streams into healthy ones to benefit Green Lake. • Sponsor expert-driven research to uncover harmful legacy nutrients through the University of Wisconsin– Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. PROJECT GREEN ACRES (read more on page 6) • H ost field days and install a network of demonstration farms to test how well specific conservation practices control phosphorus runoff through improved soil health. • S ponsor next-generation farmers at various workshops to become innovative land and lake stewards. PROJECT INVADER DEFENSE (read more on page 8) • I nstall two boat washing stations to guard Big Green’s waters from new invasive species. • R emove over 170,000 pounds of nuisance carp that muck up important estuaries and harm the lake’s water quality.

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

PROJECT CLEAN STREAMS RESTORE DAKIN CREEK A network of over 140 miles of stream flows into Big Green Lake. Of that, over 56,000 feet of its banks are eroded and are actively polluting the lake. Last year, we restored 6,000 feet. That means we have 50,000 feet left to repair. The GLA is restoring 5,700 feet of Dakin Creek and replacing a perched culvert (below) with our partners so that clean water can once again run to Big Green from this degraded stream. The icing on the cake: if we succeed, we will work with the Department of Natural Resources to bring back brook trout, not seen in this polluted tributary for 60 years.

CONSERVATION AT THE CASTLE

VOLUNTEERS PLANT 1,000 TREES TO COMPLETE STREAM RESTORATION AT AVALON CREEK FARM

aisy Girl Scouts, local residents, and GLA members planted 1,000 trees this spring at Avalon Creek Farm as the final phase of a substantial stream restoration within the Green Lake watershed. Before the stream rehab, local history enthusiasts knew the property best for its eccentric used bookstore complex, with over one million books housed in eleven buildings at one point. The most iconic of these buildings is the blue castle bookstore, situated near a ridge overlooking Little Twin Lake on the south side of Green Lake. Its original owners, Lloyd and Leonore Dickmann, converted a round slurry tank into the medieval landmark still standing today. Historic flooding in 2008 damaged many streams in the watershed. The GLA, Green Lake County, and Ripon College identified the Avalon Creek Farm site after mapping every mile Over 60 volunteers, including an enthusiastic of the larger creeks team of Daisy Girl Scouts, completed the final entering Big Green stage of Avalon Creek Farm’s stream restoraLake. The locationtion by planting nearly 1,000 trees. These trees based information will help to stabilize soil, shade the stream and naturally filter nutrients like phosphorus. has allowed the

team to identify stream sections that are actively eroding and polluting Green Lake with nutrients. In 2017, Avalon Creek Farm underwent extensive stream restoration to repair 6,000 feet of eroding stream that eventually joins Hill Creek and drains into Green Lake. The project was a joint effort between the GLA, the Green Lake County Land Conservation Department, the Green Lake Sanitary District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Outdoor Impact, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and current property managers Lynne and Brad Goldsmith. The project converted vertical stream banks into gentle slopes that can better handle the larger rain events that have been pounding the earth with increasing frequency. Trees and deep-rooted grasses now armor its banks, preventing future soil movement and nutrient pollution. Each pound of phosphorous captured in the revamped stream will prevent 500 pounds of weeds and algae from growing in Green Lake. The project joins a growing list of over 90 conservation practices in the watershed that were installed at a subsidized cost to property owners. The lake management planning team and the GLA combined multiple funding sources and private donations as an incentive for landowner participation. “We are grateful for the financial support from the many agencies that contributed to this creek restoration,” remarked Lynne Goldsmith. “We also are so thankful for all the volunteers who gave of their time so generously that week to help us replant the stream banks.” Before digging into their work, the group unveiled a trailhead stone commemorating the stewardship ethic of the

UNCOVER HARMFUL LEGACY NUTRIENTS Thick muck in our streams and on our landscapes accumulates after years of neglect. If left alone, this nutrient-rich sludge emits weed-fueling phosphorus and delays any expected water quality improvements in Green Lake by decades. Often, these “legacy nutrients” are hard to detect and are hidden in the bottom of streams. Once there, they release detrimental nutrients into the lake 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. This iconic structure is one of eleven buildings that housed over one million books at Avalon Creek Farm at one point. Its original owners, Lloyd and Leonore Dickmann, used their property to reflect their love and books and the environment. The site is home to a recent stream restoration project funded in part by the GLA.

Dickmanns. Their legacy of conservation was what inspired the owners of Avalon Creek Farm to undergo the stream transformation. “Lloyd and Leonore farmed these fields since the mid-1960s. They were dedicated conservationists before it was fashionable, utilizing conservation-minded farming practices for decades. The restoration of the creek is in line with their values and is a natural extension of their legacy,” noted Lynne. While they are no longer living, these two book enthusiasts would likely take pride in knowing that a community of over 60 volunteers came together to add a new chapter to this property’s vibrant story. h

The GLA needs to determine whether any of Green Lake’s streams are phosphorus feeders that contribute to our nuisance weed and algae problems. We are teaming up with experts at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies to uncover legacy nutrients as a potential source of lake degradation.

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

PROJECT GREEN ACRES INVEST IN OUR NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS The average age of a farmer in the Green Lake watershed is 64 years, which means a significant generational shift is on the horizon. We need to arm our young future farmers with the skills to be innovative land and lake stewards. This requires investments now to make a lasting difference in land management that benefits Green Lake’s downstream water quality. The GLA is creating a scholarship fund for the next generation of farmers in our watershed. We are sending teams of future farmers and their actively farming parents to workshops, where they can meet conservation agronomists and learn from the experts.

BOOSTING THE BOTTOM LINE & PROTECTING BIG GREEN LOCAL FIELD DAY SHOWCASES ECONOMIC VALUE OF SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

griculture can be a grueling business—volatile market prices, unpredictable weather, and variable crop yields can determine whether a farm keeps its barn doors open or shuts them for good. This year’s Conservation Field Day was an opportunity for over 75 farmers, shoreline owners, and community members to learn how these uncertainties affect local farms in the Big Green Lake watershed. The GLA co-hosted the August event at Pollack-VU Dairy in Ripon. Planting cover crops and reducing tillage are two approaches that aid soil and water quality. Among other benefits, they limit soil loss and reduce storm water runoff, keeping it from polluting local waterways. These changes do not happen overnight: “It often takes at least four years of trying to improve soil health to see a differ-

Field Day participants view a rainfall simulator, which compares how conservation practices—like planting prairie species or using cover crops—can increase infiltration and reduce stormwater runoff. These soil improvements jointly benefit conditions in the field and Green Lake’s water quality.

ence,” cautioned Becky Wagner, agronomist for Fond du Lac County’s Land and Water Conservation Department. In addition to this time lag, some farmers do not use conservation practices because they perceive them to be too expensive or too risky in an industry already burdened by slim margins. Yet for Chris Pollack, owner of Pollack-VU Dairy and fifthgeneration farmer in the Big Green Lake watershed, incorporating conservation practices has come with economic gains, not losses. Between 2015 and 2018, Pollack saved almost $6,000 on 650 acres of cropland by improving his soil health and thereby reducing his required fertilizer use. His yields even increased during this period. Apart from the environmental benefits, the boost to his bottom line makes it worth it. When asked about the biggest challenge farmers face, Pollack responded, “one word: economics.” To the unaware, the dollars-and-cents reality can be sobering. A calculation published by Iowa State University estimated that it cost $627 to grow an acre of corn in 2018. In August of 2018, a farmer could only sell that same corn for $450 per acre, or at a loss of $177 per acre. The same trend held true for soybeans. It cost $473 to grow an acre of soybeans that a farmer could sell for only $330, or a loss of $143 per acre. Farmers in the Green Lake watershed are potentially losing money for every acre of grain grown. For Stephanie Prellwitz, executive director of the GLA, understanding the challenges of farming is critical when building farmerled programs that jointly improve downstream water quality. “We sometimes hear, ‘Why aren’t farmers in the watershed doing more to protect the lake?’, but when you see these

“WE SOMETIMES HEAR, ‘WHY AREN’T FARMERS IN THE WATERSHED DOING MORE TO PROTECT THE LAKE?’, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS, YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY. WE NEED STRATEGIES THAT ALLOW FARMERS TO OVERCOME THE LEARNING CURVE AND EXPERIMENT WITH CONSERVATION PRACTICES WITHOUT THE FEAR OF LOSING MONEY.” – Stephanie Prellwitz, Green Lake Association executive director

numbers, you begin to understand why,” said Prellwitz to the Conservation Field Day attendees. “We need strategies that allow farmers to overcome the learning curve and experiment with conservation practices without the fear of losing money.” Despite the challenges producers are facing in today’s climate, many local farmers are adopting soil health-improving practices that benefit Green Lake’s water quality. In the past five years, landowners have partnered with the Lake Management Planning Team to enact over $1.9 million in conservation practices in the Big Green Lake watershed. These best management practices include restoring streams and planting cover crops. Pollack’s farm is just one example of what that looks like. Wagner pointed out that Pollack’s management practices prevent 260 pounds of phosphorus from entering Silver Creek and flowing downstream to Green Lake annually. That equates to approximately 227,500 fewer pounds of algae in the lake each year. “Conservation practices equate to better soil, increased profitability, and a cleaner Green Lake,” said Prellwitz. “That is something we can all agree is a good thing.” h

HOST A FARM DEMO DAY Since over 60% of the Green Lake drainage area is agricultural land, we need to vamp up our efforts to make sure that every drop of water flowing off every farm field is as clean as possible. The GLA is working with our partners, including Green Lake County Farm Bureau and the FFA, to host the Green Lake Area Conservation Field Day. This event that is uniquely geared toward farmers and shoreline owners. This educational event demonstrates specific conservation practices like cover crops and reduced tillage that improve soil health, increase profit, and protect the lake.

INSTALL A NETWORK OF DEMO FARMS Every rainstorm dumps detrimental nutrients into the lake. On average, this runoff fuels the growth of 8.3 million pounds of weeds and algae in the lake each year. Achieving a cleaner Big Green means we need to keep phosphorus where it is needed most: on the land and out of the lake. The GLA is spearheading a new initiative to create a network of demonstration farms. These multi-year living laboratories will test how conservation practices—like incorporating no-tillage agriculture and cover crops—make economic and environmental sense.

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

PROJECT INVADER DEFENSE COMMON NAME: SPINY WATERFLEA Number of Known Infected Wisconsin Waterbodies: 20 Example of Nearby Infected Lake: Lake Mendota (Dane County, 71 miles away), Found in 2009

GUARDING OUR WATERS FROM THE NEXT INVADER LAKE PARTNERS PLAN TO DEFEND GREEN LAKE FROM NEW INVASIVE SPECIES

Why are They a Lake Threat? • Cause more frequent algae blooms • Resulted in a month lost of clear water conditions on Lake Mendota, where they exist in the highest known densities in the world • Decrease survival rates of native fish by eating their food source, plankton • Clog fishing rods, damage a reel’s drag system and prevent fish from being landed

COMMON NAME: QUAGGA MUSSELS

n the 1990s, a tiny bottom-dwelling mollusk managed to hitch a ride to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of an international cargo ship. The lake-by-lake spread of this fingernail-sized species created monumental problems for over 270 waterbodies throughout Wisconsin. Over time, improperly cleaned boats transported the unwanted species from the Great Lakes to Green Lake. What began as a minuscule presence in 2005 quickly transformed into a Green Lake invasion by the now infamous zebra mussel. Zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species (AIS) are plants, animals, or pathogens that humans introduce—whether intentionally or inadvertently—to places where they do not naturally occur. AIS are detrimental since they lack natural predators and are able to spread rapidly, destroying ecosystems in the process. They simultaneously outcompete beneficial native species, often eliminating them altogether.

Zebra mussels, first found in Green Lake in 2005, cling to hard surfaces like this pair of sunglasses retrieved from the lake. Zebra mussels are not typically found beyond a depth of 60 feet. Their nastier cousin, quagga mussels, are not known to be in Green Lake and can tolerate waters as deep as 540 feet.

In Green Lake, zebra mussels drove out a native mussel species after they infected the lake almost 15 years ago. “If you look at a map of Wisconsin, you quickly realize there are many other aquatic invasive species in nearby lakes that we don’t yet have,” cautioned Stephanie Prellwitz, executive director of the GLA. “Zebra mussels are bad enough, but they are just the beginning of what is possible for Green Lake.” STOPPING AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS Once AIS invade a lake, there are often no treatment strategies to eliminate them. Therefore, preventing these species from ever entering a lake is the most effective approach. The risk of contamination is much higher when nearby lakes have different AIS than those present in Green Lake. “I feel like it’s a common notion that everybody goes, ‘We have zebra mussels, we have Eurasian watermilfoil, we have everything, so what’s the point?’ But the truth is, there are so many more invasive species in the Great Lakes, for example, and when we think of how close Lake Michigan is to Green Lake, it’s not that far of a haul,” explained Anna Cisar, regional aquatic invasive species coordinator with the Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council. Since recreational boats move unwanted species between waters, most lakes promote systems to clean, drain, and dry all boating gear in every body of water every time. The GLA and the Lake Management Planning team are advancing efforts to take decontamination a step further. The team is working to install two boat-washing stations at public boat launches—at Sunset Park and Dodge Memorial Park—to disinfect boats before they enter the lake. Most docked boats stay on Green Lake all year long and do not pose a threat of spreading AIS from other water bodies.

IT ALL BEGAN WITH COMMON CARP. GREEN LAKE’S FIRST KNOWN AIS WAS AN INTENTIONAL INTRODUCTION BY THE US COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES IN THE LATE 1800S. BY 1894, THE COMMISSION STOCKED AS MANY AS 35,000 CARP IN WISCONSIN WATERS AS A CHEAP, RELIABLE FOOD SOURCE.

Boats that use the lake’s public boat launches, however, are more likely to move from lake to lake and represent a higher risk of introducing new AIS to Big Green. SPECIES ZERO It all began with common carp. Green Lake’s first known AIS was an intentional introduction by the US Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the late 1800s. By 1894, the commission stocked as many as 35,000 carp in Wisconsin waters as a cheap, reliable food source. In just a few years, the “success” of these prolific spawners began to correlate with the decline of native fish stocks and deteriorated lakes. Fishers caught huge quantities of carp, yet the lack of natural predators meant they could multiply unchecked. An archived newspaper article from November 5, 1940 details how a state conservation department leased a city park located just off the Green Lake Mill Pond and built a carp pool. Here, they corralled over 300,000 pounds of carp at a time from neighboring lakes, held them until the market price was good, and sold railcars full of the fish to finance the department. This strategy divided the city, since “as far as anyone can determine, no one in Green Lake has fished for carp or eaten it.” The sight created a tourist destination where scheduled busses would pause on the road so that passengers could watch

Number of Known Infected Wisconsin Waterbodies: 6 Example of Nearby Infected Lake: Lake Michigan (66 miles away), Found in 2000 Why They Are a Lake Threat? •T hese are zebra mussels’ nasty cousin: quaggas can exist in waters as deep as 540 feet (compared to 60 feet for zebra mussels), do not need a hard surface to attach to and filter nutrients year-round (compared to only warmer months for zebras) • Each mussel filters 578 gallons of water every year, which allows sunlight to penetrate deeper and grow more nuisance weeds • Produce feces that provide a rich nutrient mat that fertilizes weeds

COMMON NAME: ROUND GOBY Number of Known Infected Wisconsin Waterbodies: 29 Example of Nearby Infected Lake: Little Lake Butte des Morts (Winnebago County, 41 miles away), Found in 2015 Why They Are a Lake Threat? • Outcompete native fish, eat their eggs and young and take over optimal fish habitat • Manipulate the food web to cause more algae to grow • Play a role in botulism outbreaks in birds, cats, dogs, and whatever else eats them raw

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

A wall of common carp attempt to migrate from the cooler waters of Green Lake to the warmer waters of the County Highway K Marsh. These “bottom grubbers... wreak ecological havoc by ripping up vegetation that stabilizes lake bottoms” (from Death and Life of the Great Lakes).

“the sight of them jumping like miniature tarpon” (a large, powerful game fish of the Atlantic Ocean). The benefits to the community stopped at the tourism boost. Carp began to spawn in Silver Creek Estuary and the County Highway K Marsh and were a major factor in the destruction of these important filtering areas. While the Silver Creek Estuary has been restored to a more natural system, the degraded County Highway K Marsh is single-handedly responsible for nearly 20% of Green Lake’s phosphorus loading to this day. Carp activity and elevated water levels from the dam are largely to blame. Since the 1800s, there are six confirmed AIS in Big Green, including common carp, curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish, and zebra mussels. Yet just beyond the lake, there are over 180 AIS within the Great Lakes’ drainage area. SCIENCE-FICTION-INSPIRED INVADER The most detrimental invasive species lurking nearby is the spiny waterflea, found just 71 miles away in the Yahara Lakes chain. “Spiny waterflea was discovered in the Yahara Lakes in 2009, and we’ve seen more algae in the lake and murkier conditions since they showed up,” explained Jake Walsh, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Limnology. “We actually found out that spiny waterflea is present in Lake Mendota in higher intensities than just about anywhere else in the world.” Like something straight out of a science fiction novel, spiny waterfleas look like nearly transparent blobs that anglers often first discover as mysterious “goo” collecting on their fishing line. A single spiny waterflea is approximately one centimeter “SPINY WATERFLEA WAS DISCOVERED IN THE YAHARA LAKES IN 2009, AND WE’VE SEEN MORE ALGAE IN THE LAKE AND MURKIER CONDITIONS SINCE THEY SHOWED UP. WE ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT SPINY WATERFLEA IS PRESENT IN LAKE MENDOTA IN HIGHER INTENSITIES THAN JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.” – Jake Walsh, postdoctoral researcher at the UW-Madison Center for Limnology

TIMES & TIDES

wide, but do not let their size fool you—these tiny invaders pack a lake-ecology-altering punch. Spiny waterfleas feed voraciously on zooplankton, including the highly beneficial algae-grazing zooplankter Daphnia pulicaria. A decrease in Daphnia populations has a cascading negative effect on many native fish, since small fish rely on Daphnia as a food source. Ultimately, more spiny waterfleas mean fewer Daphnia, which results in fewer native fish and more lake algae. The UW–Madison Center for Limnology discovered that since the spiny waterflea invaded Lake Mendota, the lake has seen a 95% reduction in Daphnia, and in turn, a month-long loss of clear water conditions. “In other words, the water is beyond murky,” noted Walsh in an article detailing the phenomenon. The negative implications of spiny waterflea infestations run the ecological and economic gamut. While some of the state’s best minds are studying the insidious species, there is no known method for their successful removal.

JUN. 15 GLA ANNUAL MEETING 9 to 11 am, Location to be Announced

WELCOME, JOSH!

In a 2016 study, the UW–Madison Center for Limnology put a price tag on improving Lake Mendota’s water clarity since the arrival of the spiny waterflea and the devastation of its Daphnia. The results were staggering. It would require a 71% phosphorus loading reduction and $80–160 million to regain the three feet of water clarity lost due to the spiny waterfleas. GUARDING BIG GREEN’S WATERS The economic and ecological ramifications are a warning to boaters to keep additional AIS out of Green Lake. Just like Green Lake’s dramatic transformation in 2005 when zebra mussels first arrived, new AIS like the spiny waterflea have the ability to wreak havoc in ways never before experienced in Big Green. The GLA and its partners do not underestimate the threat of these invaders and will continue to create a robust defense plan to keep unwanted guests out. In the meantime, lake users play a primary role in guarding Big Green’s waters by always cleaning their boats and equipment before and after spending time on Green Lake. After all, it only takes one boat from one infected lake to irreparably alter the future of this treasured natural resource. h

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

THE GLA WELCOMES A NEW TEAMMATE

Do not be fooled by the small size of these tiny invader, the spiny waterflea. Spiny waterfleas feast on plankton, which hurts native fish populations and increase the lake’s algae production.

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

The GLA welcomes Josh Schubring as its new development manager. Schubring will enhance community relationships and increase the organization’s ability to implement restoration strategies within the Big Green Lake watershed. Hailing from Franklin, Wisconsin, Schubring attended Ripon College, where he received a Bachelor’s of Business Management with emphases in environmental leadership and economics. While there, he worked in the Office of Advancement and the Marketing and Communications Department. Among other accomplishments, Schubring played a role in the development of Bovay’s Study Bar and Mercantile in downtown Ripon. “The GLA has significantly ramped up our conservation work on behalf of a cleaner Green Lake. We are fortunate to have Josh on board so that we can accelerate meaningful, measurable improvements for the lake that’s the center of our community,” stated Stephanie Prellwitz, GLA’s executive director. A handful of personal and professional experiences have shaped Schubring’s passion for the environment, including summers spent at his family’s cabin in Northern Wisconsin, his journey from a Cub Scout to an Eagle Scout, and founding Ripon College’s Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit that conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. h

AUG. 3 GLA ANNUAL GALA 5 to 10 pm, Location to be Announced AUG. 17 GREEN LAKE AREA CONSERVATION FIELD DAY 10am to 2 pm, Dukelow Farm,

W2026 County Road B, Markesan, WI 53946

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kent DeLucenay President Gary Mecklenburg Vice President Dick Martens Treasurer Marc Blackman Secretary

GLA STAFF Stephanie Prellwitz Executive Director Josh Schubring Development Manager

OFFICE ADDRESS 492 Hill Street, Suite 205 PO Box 364 Green Lake, WI 54941

Mat Boerson Deb Bierman Rich Diemer Jim Hebbe

OFFICE HOURS 9 AM–5 PM, M–F Closed on holidays

Julie Jankowski

Bill Miner

www.greenlakeassociation.com info@greenlakeassociation.com (920) 294-6480

Mike Regan Bob Wallace

STAY CONNECTED…

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

ONE | CHARA CONCRETE

TWO | DUCKWEED MATS

THREE | CARP MIGRATION

Expert answers provided by Anna Cisar, Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator with the Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.

Expert answers provided by Paul Skawinski, UW-Extension Lakes Program, UW-Stevens Point Aquatic Botany Instructor, and author of Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest.

Expert answers provided by Dave Bartz, Senior Fisheries Biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

What Happened?

Following several days of high east winds this spring, a dense mat of Chara accumulated on the west shore of Big Green packed in so thickly that it made it difficult to install pier sections.

This August, a tornado-strength storm blew a mass of duckweed from the Silver Creek Estuary into Big Green Lake, where it formed a curious but temporary island on the east end.

What Is It?

What is It?

Chara—known as stonewort or muskgrass for its skunky smell— is a native macro-algae. There are currently eight known species in the Upper Midwest ranging in height from a few inches to knee-high.

Duckweed is a tiny, free-floating, native aquatic plant. These plants are actually the smallest flowering plants in the world, though their itty-bitty flowers are not very impressive. These plants are commonly found in quiet, nutrient-rich areas like shallow bays and shorelines. The Silver Creek Estuary and its man-made channels in Sunnyside result in warm, stagnant areas: ideal conditions for duckweed. Fish, ducks, and other aquatic creatures rely on duckweed as food.

What Caused It? Weather events likely caused this year’s “Chara concrete.” Two heavy spring rains brought extra nutrients to the lake that may have boosted its population. Then, several days of strong eastern winds likely uprooted the algae, unrolling it from the lake bottom like carpet and blowing it to shore.

Should I Be Concerned? Though a nuisance when it washes on shore, this is likely a weather-induced blip and not a long-term concern. Chara is one of waterfowls’ favorite food sources and creates habitat for fish and insects. Chara acts like grass for the lake and armors its bottom. Without Chara, wind and waves would stir up sediment and re-suspend it in the lake, decreasing water clarity.

What Can Be Done?

WHAT WAS THAT?

EXPLANATIONS FOR THE CURIOUS & DOWNRIGHT WACKY WATER-RELATED LAKE PHENOMENA

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

A long-term solution to prevent excessive Chara growth is to reduce phosphorus loading to the lake. The GLA and its partners are working on watershed-wide techniques to reduce the influx of lake fertilizer. Individuals can also help by not mowing their lawns directly to the shoreline, instead leaving a buffer of native plants to absorb excess stormwater runoff and nutrients before they enter the lake. In the meantime, shoreline owners can manually remove Chara within a maximum area of 30 feet wide around piers, boat lifts, and swim rafts. For more information, refer to Wisconsin State Statutes Chapter NR 109.06(2). It is important to note that removing a significant amount of native plants makes the area more susceptible to invasive species growth.

What Caused It?

What Happened? Each spring, carp flip-flop around various parts of Big Green. The GLA and the Green Lake Sanitary District remove these invaders to both protect the vulnerable wetland areas where they spawn and to prevent them from dying and washing up on shore. Even then, their spawning-induced thrashing is unavoidable.

What is It? Carp are a non-native fish that seasonally migrate when water temperatures begin to warm in the spring. They move from deeper, colder water in the lake to shallow bays that warm more quickly. In Big Green, carp seem to prefer the Silver Creek Estuary, County Highway K Marsh, Beyers Cover, and Norwegian Bay.

What Caused It?

Heavy rain caused a large amount of water to flush out of the Silver Creek Estuary and into the lake. Since duckweeds are free-floating plants, they get pushed anywhere the wind or water takes them. In this case, the rain and added stream flow caused duckweeds to get pushed into Green Lake.

Seasonal changes in temperature and day length spur carp to migrate and spawn. After spawning, some carp disperse to other parts of the lake, but most will spend the summer months in shallow, turbid areas like the County Highway K Marsh. There is also a less noticeable fall migration when carp leave these shallow areas and return to the main lake to overwinter.

Should I Be Concerned?

Duckweeds compete for nutrients with less desirable species, so their presence in the Silver Creek Estuary prevents the establishment of stringy, filamentous algae and toxic blue-green algae. The turbulent lake is not a suitable home for duckweed, so they will not ever “take over” the lake. Once in the lake, these tiny plants will float around for a while, but will not hang around in the open water for long. They will either be eaten, die from water turbulence, or a few may find their way to a quiet location where they will live for the rest of the season.

Yes, as large concentrations of carp will often create havoc on shallow vegetated areas while spawning and/or feeding. The destructive actions of carp and their impact on the shallow habitat of Big Green is concerning. However, the GLA and the lake management planning team has made strides in mitigating these effects.

What Can Be Done? Short-term management is manual removal, restricted to 30 feet around a pier. State law prohibits duckweed from being harvested en masse or chemically treated, and the Green Lake Sanitary District’s weed harvester cannot effectively collect this tiny plant. The best long-term option for duckweed management is to reduce phosphorus loading to throttle back its growth in quiet areas like the Silver Creek Estuary.

What Can Be Done? The lake management planning team uses carp barriers and a commercial angler to remove carp from the lake and County Highway K Marsh. These actions—along with maintaining a healthy, balanced lake ecosystem—will help keep carp numbers in check and reduce their impact on the lake. h

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

TIMES & TIDES

VOL. 45 | NO. 1

2018 VOLUNTEERS

BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE WATER A VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND RECRUITMENT GUIDE

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? The Green Lake Association relies on hands-on volunteers to be our boots on the ground and in the water. If you are looking for ways to get engaged for Big Green, this GLA volunteer recruitment guide is a perfect place to get started.

CITIZEN SCIENCE

OFFICE AND OUTREACH

Are you a data geek looking to get in the field? Consider becoming a citizen scientist for the GLA to either monitor Green Lake’s water clarity or to test stream health in one of Big Green’s tributaries from May through October. Your measurements are added to a WDNR online portal and contribute to expert research on Green Lake.

It takes behind-the-scenes work to get the word out about our lake-loving efforts. Office and outreach volunteers get mailings out the door, file paperwork, enter data, and everything in between. All of this contributes to expanding our message to the broader community, and allows us to grow other efforts on behalf of the lake.

“I have always enjoyed the field work that accompanies the sciences, and being a citizen scientist allows me to continue using my degree focus [and] learning new things from the world around us. It also keeps me proactive with important concerns about the environment. I enjoy working in the field and see it as an opportunity to be part of the solution.”

“My love for Green Lake and the work the GLA is doing to protect it motivates me to volunteer. I enjoy working with fellow volunteers and see the opportunity as a chance to continue building friendships within the community.”

– Don Bogdanske, retired teacher and independent researcher

– Pete Blum, veteran and retired marketing professional

EVENT PLANNG Get ready to party for a purpose. Whether you want a small role or a large one, consider becoming an event volunteer. Join the gala committee and help us organize our annual fundraiser. Don’t have as much time to devote? Help us with the heavy lifting during event set-up and take-down. Let us know your interests, and we will be happy to find the perfect role for you. “The most memorable moment I have had while volunteering on the gala committee over the last four years has been watching how the GLA and gala have grown! I am also so very proud of how this community has stepped up to the task of keeping Big Green healthy. It makes me proud to say I live in Green Lake.” – Lu Ellen Bold, Green Lake resident and volunteer extraordinaire

GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ADVISORS Do you have a professional career or knowledge that aligns with the GLA’s mission? Grant writers and technical advisor volunteers guide our strategic planning and are essential to our success. Whatever your time availability, consider sharing your technical skills with us. “After visiting for many years, I moved to Green Lake last year and wanted to find a volunteer opportunity where my contributions could make a difference. I attended GLA annual meetings and was impressed with the way the GLA was using science and evidencebased decision making to improve the water quality. We look at the lake and think about how beautiful it is, but it won’t always be this way if we don’t act. I decided I would make the GLA ‘my thing.’ “ – Sharon Dolan, retired scientist

Katie and Finn Alvord Ryan and Rachael Avery Dave Bartz Kim Bates Deb Bierman* Marc Blackman* Pete Blum Mat Boerson* Don Bogdanske Lu Ellen Bold Dave Bolha Mary Jane Bumby Anna Cisar Judy Craig Marley Crane Bri Cyr Kent* and Lee DeLucenay Rich Diemer* Dave Dockus Susan Dockus Sharon Dolan Tom Fox Jim Goyette Jesse Hanrahan Mike and Jill Havey Jennifer Hawley Jim Hebbe* Marcel Hones Mike and Julie* Jankowski Rachel Johnson Krista Kamke Pat Lake Leonard Family Dallas Lewallen David and Joan Lloyd Chris Lyke Marlene Lynch Dick* and Linda Martens Cory McDonald Gary Mecklenburg* *Denotes GLA board member.

John and Jennifer Meiborg Ryan and Loni Meiborg and Family Vanessa Meyer Bill Miner* Jessie Kiley Mitchel Craig Moldenhauer Jimmy and Alison* Niescier Wayne Nowicki Mollie Oblinger Natasha Paris Tom Penfield Kurt Piernot Pilgrim Center Chris Pollack Stephanie Prellwitz* Mike Regan* Emily Rice Josh Schubring* Levi Schultz Mike Shervey Shoreline Boat Center Staff Barbara Sisson Gene and Gloria Smedema Dan Smith Mike Streit Emily Thiel Tim and Lynn Thiel Anita Thompson Mark and Barbara Jim and Dora Vertenten Steve Wagner Lauren Walker Bob Wallace* Jake Walsh Kathy and Bernie Westfahl Savannah White Michael Zook Nick and Xena Zupan