4/29/08  In the fall of 2007, Tim Hoyman's crew found about a dozen Eurasian Water Milfoil plants in the south dock area. All were carefully pulled out and they will be checking carefully this spring for others that may have been missed. Samples of water, sediment, and plant life have been taken again this spring in order to gain a complete scientific profile of the lake and the fish habitat. One hundred resident surveys were sent out and the responses are nearly all tabulated. That information will be included in the final report which will be completed later this year. The presence of Eurasian Water Milfoil is in addition to another invasive species, Curly-leaf Pond Weed which is dispersed throughout the lake. Curly-leaf Pond Weed is most active just after the ice goes out in the spring, but the reproductive turions (short spiral-shaped cones) continue to be active throughout the summer and fall. Further updates will appear here as they become available.

4/11/07  A general membership meeting with Tim Hoyman, Aquatic Ecologist with Onterra Lake Management, is scheduled for 9 AM at the Sloan Center on June 2, 2007. A complete explanation of the process and opportunities for participation will be presented. See highlights on main web page entitled, "Lake Study Kick-off Preview".

9/30/06  Our lake management application has been funded by the DNR. Work will begin when the ice goes out in spring, 2007.

8/1/2006   The revised lake management grant application was submitted to the DNR for consideration. We expect to be notified by mid to the end of September whether or not we were successful. Watch for updates.

4/18/2006  The lake management grant proposal submitted on Feb. 1, 2006 was not funded as we had hoped. Despite the careful writing and comprehensive nature of the paper, one factor seemed to matter more than anything else. This year the amount of funding was about 50% what it had been in previous years. All proposals undergo a great deal of scrutiny and many aspects are ranked numerically. Then, the total points for each proposal are added up to arrive at a final ranking of proposals. All proposals ahead of ours was granted; ours would have been the next one.  All is not lost, however. In August, we will resubmit our proposal, with some tweaking. At that time the DNR makes an equal amount of money available as was allotted in March. Tim Hoyman will be working closely with DNR officials in Rhinelander prior to our resubmission to help ensure acceptance. An added advantage of applying in August is that fewer applications usually come in at that time. While we cannot be certain, we are very hopeful that our proposal will pass so we can begin the study when the ice goes out in 2007.

More updates will follow when we know more. Stay tuned :)

2/16/2006    On Feb. 1, 2006, our lake management study grant was submitted to the DNR for consideration.  We have been told the state budget is very tight and fewer grants will be awarded this year, however, we have a copy of the comprehensive proposal and it is excellent in every way. Keep your fingers crossed :)  According to Tim Hoyman, the limnologist we're working with from Onterra Lake Management, we should find out in March whether or not our grant request will be awarded.

Background

    Following an exhaustive study of several qualified lake study companies by Kris Batchelet and Diane Lane, the Board of Commissioners approved contracting with Onterra Lake Management of DePere, WI to conduct the study that will lead to our long-range improvement strategy for the lake. Tim Hoyman, limnologist with Onterra, will prepare our proposal for the DNR and submit it by the deadline of Feb. 1, 2006. The Wisconsin DNR has monetary grants available on a yearly basis and Tim is an expert in getting these grants - he has a 100% success rate in securing these funds for lake clients.

        Despite the fact that Tim will be spending many hours preparing the paperwork for the grant, the District has no financial obligation if the grant is not awarded. Tim has assured the District that he will not only be doing the scientific work necessary to pinpoint problem areas, but he will communicate often with our grant committee and hold meetings with District members to help them understand what is happening during the study. He will research lake qualities and investigate the entire watershed around Horsehead Lake to uncover problems needed to be addressed.

        DNR grants require lake districts to contribute to any ensuing projects, but it is on a 75% state, 25% local district basis.  We will be aiming for a $20,000 grant to fund our lake study and resulting long-range recommendations for improving the health of our lake. It should be noted that lake "districts", as opposed to lake "associations", are given preferred standing when grants are considered - all things being equal.

        It should also be noted that all four commissioners present at the Nov. 7, 2005 meeting voted in favor of Onterra Lake Management because of its' excellent references and work record in lake improvement, much of it in our area. Onterra Lake Management has worked on the following lake projects: Big St. Germain, Little St. Germain, North & South Twin Lakes, Yellow Birch Lake, and Lake Metonga.