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

Agenda March 12, 2026

Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers and Clean Drain Dry are branded slogans that many of us have heard before. New research shows that boaters who know these brands are more likely to take appropriate action to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Is your lake organization updating signage? Consider using one of these slogans...these words do work for you!

SeaGrant Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers

Relationship between brand awareness and action...

Check out the webinars from Midwest Glacial Lakes coming up! One looks at the impacts of climate change on fish size (March 17); another explores underwater photography for telling the story of fish conservation (March 31); and the last spring webinar looks at how hotter water & lower oxygen change fisheries and how anglers respond (April 7).

Lake Conservation Webinar Lineup

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 is now open.

Learn about Conservation Camp

Apply for a scholarship

The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission publishes a quarterly chronicle on natural resources. Of interest in this edition:

• PFAS and mercury contamination
• New Phragmites strain
• Deer harvest
• Pickled ginoozhe (pike) recipe

Mazina'igan Ziigwan 2026

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

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. Their last event for the year is:

• March 11: Permanently Protecting Shorelines with Land Trusts

WAV Events Webpage

Are you looking to add plants to disturbed land; create some wildlife habitat on your shoreline; or even do a larger scale restoration? Find a native plant sale near you! Remember to check if your project needs permits with Vilas County Zoning (and the Lac du Flambeau Tribe if you live within their boundaries) before you start any landscaping or restoration projects located within 300 ft of lakes or streams.

Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters:

• flyer
• order form

Trees for Tomorrow Tree Seedling Fundraiser in Eagle River:

• flyer
• webpage

Vilas County Land & Water in Eagle River:

• details coming next month

It's still pretty early in the year, but we've got our Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) training schedule mostly 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 2026 CBCW trainings in Vilas County

Online on-demand training: Available at the Vilas County Land & Water CBCW volunteer webpage by May 8.

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

DNR has released a draft list of 2026 lakes and streams that meet and do not meet standards in WisCALM, which is how WI implements the Clean Water Act. The good news is that 544 lakes were listed as meeting these standards. Newly listed Vilas County waters that do not meet standards included only 1 lake: Lost Lake. There are 34 other lakes in Vilas County not meeting these standards. Observed effects from pollutants related to these standards can include excess algae growth; eutrophication; degraded aquatic vegetation; and mercury contaminated fish tissue.

DNR Water Condition Lists webpage

Draft list of lakes not attaining standards in Vilas County

Registration closes April 3 for the WI Lakes & Rivers Convention in Stevens Point. This event draws hundreds of lake professionals and enthusiasts every year!

Agenda

Registration

Check out VCLRA's winter newsletter. Of interest in this edition:

• Caring for lakes in a warmer and wetter WI
• Connecting healthy soil to clean water with youth
• Reaching new shoreline owners
• Green Fire Lakes Toolbox workshops

VCLRA Winter 2026 Newsletter

The North American Lake Management Society makes lake science a bit more digestible in their LakeLine publication. Of interest in the Winter 2025 issue:

• EPA's 2022 National Lakes Assessment: about half of the nation's lakes have too much phosphorus; about half have too much nitrogen; about half have too much algae; and just over a quarter are in poor biological condition.
• Modelling to characterize harmful algae blooms
• Using benthic macroinvertebrates to indicate lake health
• Lake sediment contamination
• Aquatic plants in shallow lakes associated with clearer water

LakeLine Winter 2025

North American Lake Management Society