Wind Lake, Wisconsin

Message from the Chair

What a great time of year! Spring is here and with the ice off, the lake looks amazing. Warmer weather is coming and everyone is looking forward to enjoying our lake this summer. Last year we finally had consistent rain and we were able to maintain a near full lake basin for most of the boating season. We all realize how fast summer goes by and how important it is to make every day count. The WLMD Board is looking at options to improve buoy marking and locations on the lake. We will continue to work hard to make Wind Lake safe and enjoyable for everyone.

If you have driven past the public launch, you may have noticed the construction. The Norway Sanitary District is in the process of upgrading/re-locating a lift station. Lift stations take sewage from a low level and pump it to a higher level where "it" can flow downhill. The new lift station will be located next to the public launch driveway, but should not affect launch operations once the construction is complete. There have been a couple significant delays during construction but hopefully the contractor can complete most of it before boating/fishing season. Once the new lift station is functioning, the old station will be removed and landscaping restored. When construction started, the fence along the WLMD property by the launch was removed. The contractor will need to replace the fence or compensate the District accordingly.

As we enter the 5th year of operating the WLMD harvesting program, we are assembling our harvesting team for this year. With the limited snow cover this winter and the lake water warming early, we are preparing for rapid weed growth. A huge advantage of owning and operating our own harvester is that we are able to harvest when and where it is needed. Please remember to use the Harvesting Hotline (262-332-3670). The intent of the hotline is to provide direct contact with the Harvesting Program Manager and address issues as quickly as possible.

At the 2023 Annual Meeting, District shareholders approved the process of determining the need for an Alum treatment and then subsequently applying for a grant. An Alum treatment would reduce excess nutrients in the lake water that cause algae. Evaluating lake water quality data requires expertise, especially when a grant request is involved. The Board contracted with Onterra, an environmental consultant from De Pere to help research and collect data. While our current water quality is good, the additional data will help determine the need for a treatment and will help justify a grant request. The grant could offset the cost of an Alum treatment by up to $200,000. The District is also currently setting aside $25,000 annually from lake dues towards the future treatment.

Also approved at the 2023 Annual Meeting was the Resolution to purchase a second harvester, contingent on successfully receiving a grant. The advantages of a second harvester (which would be smaller) is it would be able to access more areas, allow for more mechanical harvesting and less chemical treatments, and it could off-load onto the same trailer as the large harvester. It would also provide a backup option in the case of a long-term breakdown of the large harvester. The Board applied for the grant and we hope to hear a decision soon. If successful, the District could take delivery of the smaller harvester next spring.

A frustration of lake owners is the infiltration of geese on the shoreline. Geese can present a parasite hazard on the shoreline and an ecological hazard in the water. The District worked with the USDA the last two years to complete successful roundups as over 200 geese were collected. The District has to cover the cost of the roundup, so hopefully a roundup will not be required this year but we will monitor the number of geese again this year.

As your District board, we are working hard to find the proper balance of lake management in the most cost efficient manner. We appreciate your trust and support as we work to keep Wind Lake great.
Ron Mayer
WLMD Chair