OCLRA (Oneida County Lakes & Rivers Association) NEWS

Happy Holidays to all from OCLRA

Maine loon count report cites mortality from boat wakes

Wakeboat concerns gain attention; OCLRA eyes resolution

“Forever chemicals” found at high levels in Oneida County township

Keeping an eye on road salt

Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership supports lake habitat projects

A book about walleyes? It’s about time!

Happy Holidays to all from OCLRA

The Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association board of directors wishes you Happy Holidays and thanks you for your interest in protecting and improving our county’s water resources. We look forward to supporting you in the New Year and to your support for our initiatives on behalf of lakes, streams, wetlands and groundwater – it’s all connected!

Maine loon count cites mortality from boat wakes

The 2022 Loon Count conducted by Maine Audubon contained good news in that while adult loon numbers decreased slightly, chick numbers went up, and long-term trends indicated a population of adults that has grown over the years. The report also raised concern about how boat wakes are affecting loons:

“Despite general upward trends, it’s clear that motorized water crafts (from wake boats to jet skis) that do not follow state laws, like the law prohibiting wake-producing speeds within 200 feet of shore and islands, continue to pose a serious threat to Maine’s loons. Trauma, especially from boat strikes is now the leading cause of adult loon deaths in Maine, above lead poisoning from ingesting lost and discarded lead tackle. Loon counters also continued to report loon nests that were flooded and eggs that were washed out of the nest by boat wakes.”

Wakeboat concerns gain attention; OCLRA eyes resolution

A recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has helped raise the profile of concern over wakeboats in our state. The articles reports on recent “requests by Natural Resources Board members for action, including new laws, to address the issues.” The article does a good job of summarizing the concerns about hazardous wakes raised by lake residents and other lake users; it is worth sharing with lake group members.

Meanwhile, at its next meeting on January 9, the OCLRA board will consider a resolution in support of ways to mitigate the damage and disturbance caused by enhanced boat wakes. Such measures may include boater education and limits on how and where wakeboats may operate so as to avoid conflicts with quiet recreation, property damage, shoreline erosion, disturbance of bottom sentiments, and more.

“Forever chemicals” found at high levels in Oneida County township

The DNR has detected high levels of PFAS (known as “forever chemicals) in private wells in the Town of Stella near Rhinelander. PFAS are chemicals used in a variety of products including fire-suppression foam, fire-resistant fabrics, non-stick cookware, and packaging. They are suspected of causing a variety of adverse health effects including cancers and harm to immune systems. Among about 30 private wells the DNR tested, several had PFAS levels 160 times higher than the state standard for drinking water (70 parts per trillion). Where the chemicals came from is a mystery. According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “James Yach, a DNR employee, said the department has requested assistance from the U.S. EPA in investigating the source…’There aren’t any of the typical things you’d look for like an industrial source or an airport where they’d use PFAS materials.’”

Keeping an eye on road salt

Road salt (and salt in general) is becoming an issue for Wisconsin’s waters. Wisconsin Salt Wise is again sponsoring Salt Awareness Week: January 23-27. You’ll be able to join virtual presentations dealing with salt in drinking water and freshwater ecosystems, and how to be a freshwater advocate in your community. Livestreams will run from 12:30-1 p.m. each day. Visit here to find out more.

Meanwhile, progress has been made on mitigating the impact of salt runoff to Lake Julia from a new parking area at Crescent Elementary School. As reported in last month’s eNews, OCLRA board member and Oneida County Supervisor Bob Thome has worked with multiple parties to address the issue. The DNR recently reported that the school is working on an updated stormwater management plan for the site and has proposed strategies to reduce the amount of salt applied. Others involved with this issue include the Rhinelander School District, Nicolet College, Oneida County Planning and Zoning, Oneida County conservationist Michele Sadauskas, Wisconsin Lakes, the Lake Julia Lake Association, the Town of Crescent, and the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership supports lake habitat projects

The Midwest Great Lakes Partnership a multi-state effort to restore and protect habitat in and around glacial lakes and their watersheds. Its initiatives focus on the chemical, physical, and biological components of fishery habitats. The partnership offers grants for three to five projects per year, generally from $30,000 to $100,000. Get details at http://midwestglaciallakes.org/grant/.

A book about walleyes? It’s about time!

Anglers and others who have followed the walleye restoration project on the Minocqua Chain will likely appreciate a new book by Paul Radomski: Walleye: a Beautiful Fish of the Dark (University of Minnesota Press) It doesn’t convey any magic formulas for restoring the chain’s natural walleye reproduction, but it will help folks appreciate the complexity of trying to rebuild a fishery. Radomski is a fisheries biologist, a walleye angler, and an environmental advocate who sees the big picture, perceiving walleyes’ success as dependent on proper care for our lake and river ecosystems.

Radomski describes in detail the enormous challenge of fostering healthy walleye fisheries in the face of multiple variables like weather, water temperature, lake bottom characteristics, food abundance, vegetation, predator-prey interactions, water clarity and quality, and the structure of the walleye population itself.