Wisconsin Association Of Lakes Inc

THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES WORKS TO CONSERVE, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE WISCONSIN'S LAKES.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAKE ORGANIZATIONS: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES PROVIDES DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAKE ORGANIZATIONS IN WISCONSIN ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES THROUGH ONE ON ONE CONSULTATIONS AND MEETINGS. IN 2021 THIS WORK FOCUSED ON HELPING ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. TOPICS CENTERED AROUND HOW TO HOLD EFFECTIVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS, HOW TO COMPLY WITH STATE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS, AND BEST PRACTICES TO MEET SAFELY IN PERSON IF REQUIRED TO DO SO BY STATUTE. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDED THE IMPACTS OF WAKE BOATS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL IMPACTS TO LAKES, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND PROBLEMS WITH SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT AND POLLUTED RUNOFF.

LAKEKIT: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES PROVIDES ACCESS TO A WEBSITE PLATFORM FOR LAKE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR LAKEKIT PROGRAM. USING A "MULTI-SITE NETWORK" PLATFORM ON WORDPRESS, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER LOW COST WEBSITES TO LAKE ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THE LAKEKIT PROGRAM HANDLES BACK END MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, BACKUPS, UPGRADES, AND TROUBLESHOOTING, WHICH LEAVES THE INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS TO FOCUS ON CONTENT. MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM IS HANDLED BY A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, WI LAKES STAFF, AND A PROFESSIONAL WEB SERVICES PROVIDER. THE LAKEKIT PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE LAKE ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT UTILIZING A ROBUST ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AS WELL AS BUILDING TOOLS TO PROVIDE CHANNELS TO COMMUNICATE "LAKE NEWS" STATEWIDE (FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2021 SEVERAL LAKEKIT SITES USED A FEED FROM THE WI LAKES BLOG DIRECTLY TO THEIR SITE).

EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND THE LAKES COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ABOUT BASIC LAKE ECOLOGY, SHORELINE MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION, AND VARIOUS THREATS TO HEALTHY LAKE ECOSYSTEMS. WISCONSIN LAKES OFFERS DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS TO PROMOTE THIS INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE "LAKE CONNECTION", AN E-NEWSLETTER OF GENERAL INFORMATION, THE "LAKE POLICY REPORT" WHICH COVERS STATE LEVEL POLICY THAT IMPACTS WATER, AND A BLOG AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL POSTS ON OUR WEBSITE, WISCONSINLAKES.ORG.IN ADDITION, WE PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AND PRESENT AT SEVERAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS AS PART OF THE WISCONSIN LAKES & RIVERS PARTNERSHIP, A COLLABORATION WITH THE EXTENSION LAKES PROGRAM AT UW-STEVENS POINT, THE WI DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. EVENTS IN 2021 WERE HELD VIRTUALLY DUE TO THE COVID-19. VIRTUAL EVENTS INCLUDED THE WISCONSIN LAKES & RIVERS CONVENTION AND RED CEDAR WATERSHED CONFERENCE (HELD JOINTLY AS PART OF "WISCONSIN WATER WEEK"), THE NORTHWEST WISCONSIN LAKES CONFERENCE, AND THE SIX-COUNTY NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN LAKES CONFERENCE.

GENERAL ADVOCACY:THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES WORKS WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MOVE FORWARD PROACTIVE POLICY INITIATIVES, INCREASE FUNDING FOR LAKE RELATED PROGRAMS, AND ENSURE LAKE INTERESTS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY OUR REPRESENTATIVES. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO WORKS WITH STATE AGENCIES TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED PROTECTIONS FOR LAKES IN ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND HELPS ITS MEMBERS UNDERSTAND STATEWIDE LAKE ISSUES AND PARTICIPATE IN THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS. VERY LITTLE LEGISLATION WAS CONSIDERED IN 2021 BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE DURING THE PANDEMIC. OUR CHIEF ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA WAS PARTICIPATION IN AN EFFORT BY THE WI DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO REVISE AND UPDATE THE AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT RULES IN THE STATE.