The Vilas County Land & Water Conservation Committee will meet on Thurs February 12, 2026 at 9:00 am in Room B.

Agenda February 12, 2026

Thanks to the DNR Surface Water Grant program there are many projects being funded in Vilas County this year! DNR recently announced its Surface Water Grant Awards, including to groups working in Vilas County:

• 23 CBCW projects
• 12 AIS planning projects
• 1 AIS education project
• 2 AIS prevention projects (decontamination)
• 1 AIS research and demonstration project (EWM impacts)
• 2 AIS large-scale AIS population control projects
• 1 lake education project (shoreline owner brochure)
• 1 county lakes project (wild rice)
• 11 lake planning grants

2026 Surface Water Grants Funding List

Each year, students throughout the nation participate in the conservation poster contest! Wisconsin also has a speaking contest. Congratulations to those students where were recognized from Vilas County! Vilas County also hosted the 2026 Area Contest, allowing 9 county's winners compete to get to state. The poster image here was created by Delany Darton of Eagle River. It is on its way to compete at the state level. Way to go Delaney!

Vilas County Poster & Speaking Winners

North Central Area Poster & Speaking Winners

More info on WI's Youth Conservation Poster & Speaking Contests

Students entering 6th -12th grade during the 2026-2027 school year attending or residing in a Vilas or Oneida County school district can apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of Conservation Camp. Middle School Conservation Camp will be June 28-July 1 at Camp Lakota in Wautoma; and the High School Conservation Camp will be June 15-18 at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters. Scholarship applications are due March 31, 2026. Registration for both camps opens soon!

Learn about Conservation Camp

Apply for a scholarship

Winter can be a good excuse for some "indoor work". Water Action Volunteers (WAV), Wisconsin's volunteer stream monitoring organization, is offering some free learning webinars this winter. Topics include:

• Feb 11: Bald Eagles as Indicators of Emerging Contaminants and Ecosystem Health in WI
• March 11: Permanently Protecting Shorelines with Land Trusts

WAV Events Webpage

It's still pretty early in the year, but we've got our Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) training schedule about half-way scheduled for 2026. For those that want to be ready for fishing opener, we have virtual trainings in April this year!

Virtual CBWC trainings: April 20 & 27, 2026

In-person CBCW trainings: TBD in May & June 2026. Schedule will be posted next month.

Online on-demand training: Available at the Vilas County Land & Water CBCW volunteer webpage after May 1.

Friday April 24, 2026: The North Lakeland Woods & Waters Conference showcases science and stewardship of the Northwoods. Registration opens February 1.

Save the Date Flyer

2026 North Lakeland Woods & Waters Conference

Registration is now open for the WI Lakes & Rivers Convention April 15-17, 2026 in Stevens Point. This event draws hundreds of lake professionals and enthusiasts every year! Register by Feb 1 for early bird pricing.

Agenda

Registration

Enjoy a delightful publication of Marinette County about the Northwoods! Of interest in this edition:

• Peshtigo River Streambank Protection & Enhancement
• Backyard Bird Count
• Snowy owls
• Conservation Camps
• Groundhogs
• Federal wetland protection rollbacks
• Modernizing Access to Public Waters Act

Northwoods Journal - February 2026

At the January 28, 2026 Natural Resources Board meeting Michelle Nault, DNR Lakes & Rivers Section Manager, gave an overview of wakeboat research. Dept. Secretary Steven Little responded to a petition on regulation of wakeboats.

NRB Jan 28, 2026 Meeting Recording