September 6th, 2002

Lake Management Plans-What Now-

Aquarius Systems’ Aquatic Plant Harvesting Seminar

Craig Helker, Wisconsin DNR

Lake Management Plans

• What?

• What Now?

• Now What?

WHAT?

Lake Plans• Formulate

proactive strategies rather then reactive attacks

• Anticipate time and money

• Balance Lake Use Goals

• Publicize expectations

A Way to Look Before You Leap

Types of Plans

• Aquatic Plant Management Plan

• Lake Management Plan

What is an Aquatic Plant Management Plan?

An Aquatic Plant Management Plan has the following components:

• Goals & Objectives• Lake Information• Management

Intensity• Management

Method• Monitoring &

Assessment• Education• Business Aspects

Goals

• Goals– Broadly lists your lake’s desired

accomplishments

• Nuisance Relief• Protect and promote native

plants• Prevent introduction of exotics

Objectives

• Objectives– Lists specific tasks that need to be

completed to achieve your goals

Lake Information

Aquatic Plant

Community

Physical Characteristics Recreation and

AestheticsFish & W

ildlife

Comm

unity

Physical Characteristics

Delineate:• Navigational

Hazards• Shallows (< 3 ft)• Littoral growth

zones (3< >15 ft)• Deep zones (> 15

ft)

Aquatic Plant Community

Delineate:• Nuisance exotic

species• Mixed nuisance

growth• Healthy aquatic

community• Restoration areas

Aquatic Life Community

Delineate:• Critical areas• Outstanding areas• Fair areas• Minor areas• Degraded areas

Recreation & Aesthetics

Delineate:• Intense recreation• Moderate

recreation• Near-shore

riparian use• Resource based

use

Management Intensity

• ProhibitedManagement

• Selective Management

• Nuisance Relief• No Restrictions• Restoration

Management Methods

• Harvesting– Manual – Mechanical

• Chemical– Selective– Contact

• Biological– Weevil

• Other– Drawdown– Dredging

Generally Used in WI

Monitoring & Assessment

• Requirements– Quantitative

information– Comparative from

year to year– Objective– Presented to lake

users– Feedback for plan

modifications

Critical to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency

020406080

100

%

1995 1996 1997 1998

Big Muskego Lake

Native Plants Frequency

Information and Education

• Very Important

• Educates lake users on ways to improve the lake

• Educates on management activities on the lake

What is a Lake Management Plan?

Lake Management Plans

• Identify issues that are of concern

• Set realistic goals, objectives and actions

• Identify needed funds and personnel

Information Used in Developing a Lake Management Plan

• Lake Data• Watershed

Information• Land Use• Lake User Surveys

A Lake Management Plan should include the following:

• Define Critical Issues

• Statement of Goals• Implementation

Steps• Indicators of

success

Who Develops the Plan

• Team Work– Lake Users– Lake Experts

• Focus groups– Funding– Communications– Zoning– Management

Measures

What Now?

Start Planning

Contacts– UWEX– DNR – WAL/NALMS– Planning

Commissions

Funding– Lake Management

Planning/Protection Grants

Where to go for Planning Information?

• Your Aquatic Harvesting Program (WDNR 1997)

• Journal of Aquatic Plant Management

• University of Florida Aquatic Plant web page

Where to go for more Planning answers?

• Wisconsin Aquatic Plant Management Plan Manual (in development)– Comments welcome on draft outline (see me for copies)

• Minnesota Sustainable Lakes Planning Workbook

Now What?

Need a Plan?

Start the Planning Process!

Have a Plan?

Use It!

"Would you tell me which way I ought to go from here?" asked Alice.

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get," said the Cat.

"I really don't care where" replied Alice.

"Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," said the Cat.

- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland