Green Lake Association Inc

ENSURE THE CONSERVATION OF BIG GREEN LAKE AND ITS WATERSHED WITH A SINGULAR FOCUS ON WATER QUALITY.

INFORMATION AND EDUCATION: THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION (GLA) USES VARIOUS INFORMATION AND EDUCATION METHODS TO INFORM DONORS AND MEMBERS. PRIMARY COMMUNICATION TOOLS INCLUDE: EVENTS, SUCH AS OUR ANNUAL MEETING, ANNUAL GALA, AND OTHERS; PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL REPORT AND TIMES & TIDES NEWSLETTER; AND REGULAR EMAILS, PRESS RELEASES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA RELEASES. HIGHLIGHTS OF THESE 2021 INFORMATION AND EDUCATION COMMUNICATION TOOLS ARE BELOW. -THE ANNUAL MEETING, OPEN TO GLA MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE THE LAKE'S CHALLENGES AND THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO PROTECT IT. THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD IN PERSON WITH OVER 70 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE AND 1,052 HOUSEHOLDS WATCHING FROM HOME. - THE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT, PUBLISHED IN Q1 OF 2021, SUMMARIZED THE GLA'S MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE YEAR. IT WAS SENT TO NEARLY 1,100 HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. - THE ANNUAL GALA IS A COMMUNICATION AND STEWARDSHIP EVENT TO FUND LAKE- PROTECTING PRACTICES. THE 2021 ANNUAL GALA WAS COMPLETED VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS. OUR "SHINE A LIGHT" VIRTUAL GALA SECURED 73 SPONSORS AND OVER 1,010 HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVENT. - THE 2021 TIMES & TIDES NEWSLETTER WAS SENT TO OVER 1,200 HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. - IN 2021, THE GLA HAD 60 VOLUNTEERS LOGGING 252 HOURS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK. - THE GLA SENT NUMEROUS EMAIL BLASTS TO 1,700 RECIPIENTS. - MANY PRESS RELEASES, WRITTEN EITHER BY THE GLA OR BY LOCAL JOURNALISTS, WERE PUBLISHED IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. - PAINTED SEVEN STORM DRAIN MURALS IN DOWNTOWN GREEN LAKE TO BRING AWARENESS THAT STORM DRAINS ARE DIRECT CONDUITS OF POLLUTION AND RUNOFF TO THE LAKE. - HOSTED A LEAF COLLECTION DAY AT AVROM FARM AND A LEAF CLEAN-UP VOLUNTEER DAY. THE GLA COLLECTED 560 POUNDS OF LEAVES THAT MIGHT HAVE ENDED UP IN GREEN LAKE. - HOSTED A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT THE GLA OFFICE TO TALK TO MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR WORK.

RESEARCH: THE GLA FACILITATES COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH TO INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING OF GREEN LAKE AND TO INFORM PRACTICES TO PROTECT ITS WATER QUALITY. VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES AND FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH STUDIES THAT INTEGRATE APPLIED SCIENCE WITH THE GLA'S MISSION. THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL RESEARCH EFFORT IS A LAKE STUDY, FACILITATED BY THE GLA, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY. IN 2021, THE GLA SUBMITTED A FINAL LAKE STUDY REPORT TO THE WDNR, WHICH IDENTIFIED THAT A 50% PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION IS REQUIRED TO REACH GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY CRITERIA (15 G/L) AND A 70% PHOSPHORUS REDUCTIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO REACH OLIGOTROPHIC CONDITIONS (12 G/L). THE GLA PREPARED AND SUBMITTED A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN TO THE WDNR ON BEHALF OF THE LAKE MANAGEMENT PLANNING TEAM. THE PLAN IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE WDNR AND EPA; ONCE APPROVED, THE PLAN WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO A NEW AND LARGER SOURCE OF FEDERAL GRANTS. IN COLLABORATION WITH UW-OSHKOSH AND MARY JANE BUMBY, THE GLA CONDUCTED A 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY AQUATIC PLANT SURVEY. IN COLLABORATION WITH DR. AARON THOMPSON OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY, THE GLA SUBMITTED A FINAL REPORT TO THE WDNR FOR A SHORELINE SURVEY, INTENDED TO SOLICIT MEMBER FEEDBACK ON OUR STRATEGIES. THIS SOCIAL SCIENCE SURVEY WAS PREVIOUSLY SENT TO 1,386 HOUSEHOLDS WITH NEARLY 700 RESPONSES. THE GLA LED A WORKSHOP AND FIELD DAY WITH AN ENGINEERING FIRM AND LOCAL LAKE MANAGEMENT PLANNING TEAM (LMPT) PARTNERS ON PHOSPHORUS INTERCEPTION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE WATERSHED. THE LMPT OFFERED THEIR SUPPORT OF THE GLA PURSUING A PILOT PROJECT WITH KIESER & ASSOCIATES TO USE CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY TO INTERCEPT DISSOLVED PHOSPHORUS FROM THE OUTLET OF AN AGRICULTURAL RETENTION POND. THE GLA WROTE FIVE WDNR PLANNING GRANTS, SUBMITTED BY GREEN LAKE COUNTY, TO SUPPORT THIS PILOT PROJECT. KIESER & ASSOCIATES WAS ALSO CONTRACTED BY THE GLA TO COMPLETE A FLOW STUDY TO DETERMINE IF FLOW THAT ENTERS THAT LAKE AT THE COUNTY HIGHWAY A BRIDGE "SHORT CIRCUITS" THE LAKE AND QUICKLY EXITS THE LAKE. THIS STUDY WILL DETERMINE THE PRIORITIZATION AND LOCATION OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO REDUCE PHOSPHORUS LOADING. THE GLA IS ENGAGED IN ONGOING RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND SHORELINE MOTIVATIONS TO INFORM PROGRAMMATIC FOCUS & PLANNING. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: - TOOK 86 WATER CLARITY MEASUREMENTS TO HELP MONITOR CHANGES IN THE LAKE DURING THE YEAR. - SAMPLED AND CONFIRMED WHITING EVENT WITH EXPERTS IN BEYERS COVE. - DEPLOYED THE SWIMMER'S ITCH INCIDENT REPORTING TOOL.

PILLAR PROJECTS: THE GLA HAS THREE PILLAR PROJECTS THAT FULFILL OUR MISSION BY HELPING TO PROTECT GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY: PROJECT CLEAN STREAMS, PROJECT GREEN ACRES, AND PROJECT INVADER DEFENSE. PILLAR PROJECTS REQUIRE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MANY SOURCES: GRANTS, DONORS, AND MEMBERS. THE GLA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT 100% OF ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS DONATE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS. 1. PROJECT CLEAN STREAMS A)STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT CLEAN STREAM FOCUSES ON STREAM AND WETLAND RESTORATION IN THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED. A VAST NETWORK OF OVER 140 MILES OF STREAM FLOWS INTO BIG GREEN LAKE; THE GLA HAS CO-CONDUCTED FIELD STUDIES TO ESTIMATE THAT OVER 11 MILES OF ITS BANKS ARE ERODED AND ARE ACTIVELY POLLUTING THE LAKE WITH SEDIMENT AND PHOSPHORUS. THE GLA AND OUR PARTNERS ARE MAKING REPAIRS TO STREAMBANKS TO LIMIT PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION IN GREEN LAKE. OUR AIM THROUGH PROJECT CLEAN STREAMS IS TO REPAIR A MINIMUM OF ONE MILE OF ERODING STREAM BANKS EACH YEAR. THE GLA HAS HELPED CO-FUND THE COLLECTION RESTORATION OF OVER 8,805 FEET OF STREAM (3,660 FEET ON DAKIN CREEK, 2,420 ON WHITE CREEK, AND 2,725 ON ROY CREEK) TO DATE. IN 2021, GLA VOLUNTEERS REVISITED DAKIN CREEK TO PLANT TREES AND SHRUBS TO FURTHER ANCHOR SOIL IN PLACE ON THE STREAM'S FLOODPLAIN. THIS WILL PROTECT THE RESTORATION PROJECT FROM FUTURE DAMAGE DURING POWERFUL PRECIPITATION EVENTS. B)SALT WISE THE GLA COMPLETED A TRIAL RUN OF COLLECTING SALT MEASUREMENTS FROM GREEN LAKE STREAMS TO GUIDE FUTURE VOLUNTEER-LED EFFORTS TO ASSESS SALT AS A POTENTIAL WATER QUALITY CONCERN. 2.PROJECT GREEN ACRES PROJECT GREEN ACRES FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE ADOPTION OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN THE WATERSHED, WHICH ENCOMPASS 65% OF THE WATERSHED'S AREA. THE GLA AIMS TO PARTNER WITH AGRICULTURAL NEIGHBORS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, FUNDING, AND RESOURCES TO INSTALL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED. A)NO-TILL DRILL THE GLA SURVEYED LANDOWNERS IN THE WATERSHED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE GLA CAN FILL GAPS IN CONSERVATION ADOPTION. IN RESPONSE TO THIS FEEDBACK, THE GLA PURCHASED A NO-TILL DRILL WITH A PRAIRIE SEED ATTACHMENT TO ALLOW FARMERS TO PLANT COVER CROPS AND PRAIRIE BUFFER STRIPS TO REDUCE PHOSPHORUS LOADING. THE GLA IS LEASING THE NO-TILL DRILL TO GREEN LAKE COUNTY, WHO IS MANAGING ITS USE. B)CONSERVATION FIELD DAY THE GLA HOSTED A FIELD DAY AT AVALON CREEK FARM, WHICH FEATURED TALKS ON MANAGED GRAZING, SOIL HEALTH, COVER CROPS, AND STREAM RESTORATION. THE FIELD DAY HAD NEARLY 150 ATTENDEES. C)DEMONSTRATION FARM THE GLA SPONSORED A DEMONSTRATION FARM IN THE WATERSHED AS PART OF THE UPPER FOX WOLF FARM DEMONSTRATION NETWORK. CHRIS POLLACK OF POLLACK-VU DAIRY WILL WORK WITH THE NRCS-LED PLANNING TEAM TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO INCREASE ADOPTION OF PHOSPHORUS-REDUCING WITHIN THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED. 3.PROJECT INVADER DEFENSE PROJECT INVADER DEFENSE FOCUSES ON AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION, AS INVASIVE SPECIES PERMANENTLY IMBALANCE THE LAKE AND DEGRADE ITS WATER QUALITY. A)DUCKWEED MITIGATION TASK FORCE IN 2021, THE GLA FORMED A DUCKWEED MITIGATION TASK FORCE WITH THE GREEN LAKE SANITARY DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO MINIMIZE DUCKWEED ACROSS THE LAKE. THE GOAL OF THE TASK FORCE IS TO GAIN PERMISSION BY THE WDNR AND GREEN LAKE COUNTY TO INSTALL SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY TO CAPTURE, DEWATER, TRANSPORT, AND REPURPOSE DUCKWEED. A PETITION DRIVE TO THE DNR TO IMPLEMENT COUNTERMEASURES RECEIVED 765 SIGNATURES. B)CLEAN BOATS CLEAN WATERS IN 2021, THE GLA, ALONG WITH SUPPORT FROM GOLDEN SANDS RC&D AND THE WDNR, HOSTED TWO WATERCRAFT INSPECTORS AT FOUR PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHES IN GREEN LAKE. THE INSPECTORS INSPECTED 2,209 BOATS. C)BOAT WASH STATION THE GLA COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL PARTNERS-GOLDEN SANDS RC&D, THE GREEN LAKE SANITARY DISTRICT, AND GREEN LAKE COUNTY-TO SECURE THE APPROVAL OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN GREEN LAKE COUNTY TO INSTALL A BOAT WASH STATION AT DODGE MEMORIAL COUNTY PARK. IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT AND ON BEHALF OF PROJECT PARTNERS, THE GLA SUBMITTED A 24,000 WDNR GRANT. D)COMMUNITY PROJECT SUPPORT THE GLA PROVIDES MONETARY SUPPORT FOR WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE WEED HARVESTING, TROUT STOCKING, TRAINING FOR SCUBA RESCUE ON GREEN LAKE, AND HAMMER'S TRAIL MAINTENANCE. PETITIONED THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY TO RESTORE A STAFF POSITION WITHIN THE LAND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO WORK WITH FARMERS ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES.