Wind Lake, Wisconsin

Message from the Chair

As I write this article in late July, the lake level is still above the spillway. What a difference consistent rain does for the lake level! After three years of lower lake levels, it is great to see everyone benefit from higher lake levels. Our Wisconsin summers go by too fast and we need to enjoy the lake as much as possible. Having a "full" lake basin certainly benefits many lake activities.

In 2023 the Board contracted with Solitude Lake Management to develop a new five year Aquatic Plant Management Plan. The plan was submitted and approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in early 2024. This plan is required for the District to harvest weeds and chemically treat specific areas of the lake.

In early-June, the District again worked with the United States Department of Agriculture in collecting and removing geese from Wind Lake. Over 100 geese were removed last year and this year we removed almost an additional 100 geese, which greatly helps lake quality. While the geese may look majestic, they present a ecological hazard to lake water and parasite hazards to children and pets when they gather on shorelines. The Board will continue to monitor geese levels every spring and will request goose removals as needed.

Harvesting operations began in early June and has been ongoing since. The higher lake level has allowed the harvester to access areas more consistently. Property owners are encouraged to use the District Harvesting Hotline with their requests and concerns (262-332-3670). Harvesting requests can be addressed quicker and more accurately when using the hotline. I want to thank our Harvesting Program Manager Patrick Fitzgerald, who did a great job this summer maintaining the harvester and scheduling the operators. I also want to thank Jerry Kotarak and his trucking company that hauls the harvested weeds away. Jerry saves the District thousands of dollars every year with his flexible billing. He truly wants Wind Lake to be the best it can be and he has stepped up in a big way.

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 causes 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. With the additional information, Onterra will help justify the need for a treatment and then successfully write a grant. The grant could offset the cost of an Alum treatment by up to $200,000.

Also approved at the 2023 Annual Meeting was the request to apply for a WDNR grant for a second harvester and once a grant was secured, purchase the additional harvester. The grant has been applied for and the Board is awaiting results. The second harvester would be smaller and could access additional areas, allowing for more mechanical harvesting and less chemical treatments. It would off-load on same trailer as the large harvester, allowing for joint operations and help reduce trucking costs. The District has already seen the benefits of owning/operating our own harvester versus contracting. The second harvester will strengthen the harvesting program and help maintain water quality for the long term.

Please consider attending the Annual Meeting on Thursday September 12th. The WLMD Board understands that we get our direction from District stakeholders and the Annual Meeting is the best place for you to provide input.

As always, I am honored to be your WLMD Chair,
Ron Mayer