Regional Comprehensive Plan Update

Since the completion of the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission Regional Comprehensive Plan in 2005, many changes have taken place across northeast Wisconsin. In our ongoing efforts to provide proper guidance to the counties and communities in northeast Wisconsin, the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission (BLRPC) is beginning the process of updating the Regional Comprehensive Plan. The Regional Plan covers the eight-county Bay-Lake Region in northeast Wisconsin. It serves as an advisory policy document to guide where future conservation, growth, and development should occur within the region, while keeping with BLRPC's planning principles.

A recent grant award through the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program will assist with updates to the Natural Resources; Housing; Land Use; and Implementation elements of the existing Regional Plan. The BLRPC's Regional Transportation Work Program, as well as Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding, will help to update the remaining elements of the Regional Plan. In order to ensure that the Regional Plan update addresses the variety of issues found in each of BLRPC's eight counties, the BLRPC has established a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of representatives for each of the counties, in addition to a variety of organizations and agencies.

Refer to the BLRPC website and future e-news articles for upcoming public meetings and to follow the progress of the Regional Plan update. For additional information on the BLRPC Regional Comprehensive Plan update, please contact Brandon Robinson at the Commission.

Oconto County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Working with the BLRPC, Oconto County has completed an update to its hazard mitigation plan. The plan is one of the first in Wisconsin to integrate climate change impacts. The plan steering committee recognized the strength of a plan where decisions are based on current hazard trends over the reliance on data of past hazard events.

The steering committee worked with the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission and the Sea Grant Institute using a community assessment tool to evaluate climate impacts for the county. As a result, the climate change assessment became part of the County's hazard mitigation plan. The plan is currently being reviewed by FEMA. Click here to read more about the community assessment process used in Oconto County or contact Angela Pierce at the Commission.

BLRPC Seeking a Phragmites Project Coordinator

We are seeking a Phragmites Project Coordinator to assist the Natural Resources Planner with a project to work collaboratively with land managers and public and private landowners to inventory and treat Phragmites along the shoreline of Green Bay and the Fox River over the next two years. This will be a temporary, grant-funded position focused on conducting invasive species management activities including education, landowner, outreach, mapping, project management work. The position application period will close July 13, 2015. More information is available here.

Pavement Rating Assistance

Wisconsin State Statute 86.302(2) requires each municipality and county to submit surface condition ratings for all local roads under their jurisdiction to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) every two years. The next submissions to WisDOT are due by December of this year.

Just as was done in 2013, Commission staff will be providing assistance to communities to meet the pavement rating requirement. A majority of these services will be free of charge to Commission members, while non-member communities will be charged time and materials. If your community would like the use the services of the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission for pavement rating assistance, please contact Brandon Robinson.

Lake Michigan Day, August 14^th

Lake Michigan Day is a time set aside to consider our connection to Lake Michigan's water. Lake Michigan Day was started in 2014 to highlight the importance of this great water body to the basin's environment and economy. The Lake Michigan Stakeholders promotes this basin-wide event to highlight the special connections people have to this unique world treasure.

To show appreciation for the lake, individuals, communities, businesses, tribes, First Nations, churches and other groups celebrate Lake Michigan Day each year on the second Friday in August. Each Lake Michigan Day, all residents who live, work, play, and worship around the lake can organize events in their communities or take action in their homes, at their places of employment or in community groups to help protect the treasure that is Lake Michigan.

myBeachCast Mobile App Now Available

Beach hazard alerts will include statements when high winds and waves, and strong and dangerous currents are present or forecasted. The app also connects to health department databases to alert users of contamination advisories.