Hear the story at NPR-WUWM TLA Story 09.30.09

And see corresponding pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuwm/sets/72157622363235345/

A limited inventory of sweatshirts, t-shirts and hats are available:

• Sweatshirts: embroidered association logo on black or white hooded sweatshirt, $45.
• T-shirts: printed association logo on gray or red short sleeve t-shirt, $12.
• Hats: outline of Tomahawk Lake with Tomahawk Lake Association on front, Fighting AIS Togerther on the back, available in orange, yellow, light green and navy, $15.

Email Ned Greedy at edgreedy@gmail.com to confirm your selection and order today.

The following information comes from Wisconsin Lakes Associaiton (WAL)

Wisconsin’s shoreland zoning rule (NR 115) contains statewide minimum standards for shoreland development in unincorporated areas. The proposed rule revision that has been referred to the state legislature includes the first changes to shoreland standards since 1968.

This revised rule includes important new provisions to prevent over-development of shorelines in order to minimize impacts on water quality, habitat, and natural scenic beauty, while protecting the legitimate interests of people who own cottages and other structures built before Wisconsin first undertook to regulate shorelands 40 years ago.

Beyond NR 115

Telling folks that my immediate answer is to pray over my worms just doesn’t cut it, so I thought I should probably find out what I could about where Tomahawk Lake’s fishing is going. One of my neighbors really helped me out by giving me a “preliminary report” of an ongoing study of fish populations in Tomahawk Lake, which came out in June of this year. The report only covers the first part of the12 month, three part study, but if the second and third part expose the same number of nerves from anglers that the first part did, it will be a really warm spring around here next year.

In early August, I called the two DNR Fisheries Biologists which are running the study, and on two separate occasions I sat down for a one on one meeting with these two scientists. They went out of their way to answer all of my questions, and to give me a better understanding of the dynamics in play under the surface of our lake. Even if I struggled to get my arms around all of the information that they gave me, I had no problem understanding that the two of them are totally committed to the long term health of the Tomahawk Lake Fishery.

The first part of the study deals with populations of adult fish only. Adult fish are defined as fish that are old enough to reproduce. The report paints a kind of a good news / bad news picture.

Based upon netting samples taken this past spring, the numbers of Small Mouth and  Large Mouth Bass are growing nicely. The size distribution of these fish indicate a greater population of small to medium sized fish than large fish which to me seems to make sense.  So I would say:  “Small Mouth and Largemouth Bass – Good News”

Based on the netting samples taken this past spring, the numbers of Walleye and Musky however are not growing, and may be decreasing!  Size distribution indicates that we have fewer small to medium sized adults, and more fish that would look dandy on a wall. While it’s great to catch a really big fish, I think that all would say it’s probably better to see lots of small to medium sized fish following those lunkers around the lake.  At first Blush:  “Walleyes and Musky – Bad News”

Things really start to get confusing when you start to look at “fish per acre” and “pounds per acre”.  These two measures have often been used to compare populations over time.

An example might be “Lake X had an increase of 3 bass per acre between 2003 and 2006” One might think that this is a healthy trend.  But what if the number of pounds per acre of bass went down over same period of time? That could mean that the larger bass in the lake are dieing off and are being replaced by small fish. Is it better to have fewer large fish and more small fish, or the other way around. Some anglers want eating size Walleyes while others want the chance at a really huge Walleye. Some want both.

Typically we come to some sort of an evaluation on the health of the fishery by looking at the dynamics of fish populations over time.  The more history we have, the better our perspective will be. In Tomahawk Lake the DNR has been running periodic population studies since the early 1990’s, and there seems to be no getting around the numbers for this year. The adult fish per acre study for both Walleyes and Musky are down for the year, and are below the expected levels for a lake with natural reproduction. But, and it’s a huge “But”, there are many variables which make it hard to come to a definitive conclusion about what it all means.

Every year that the sample is taken is a “snap shot” in time. That “snap shot” doesn’t take into consideration what the weather has been like, when the ice went out, what the water temperature was, had the fish started spawning, had the fish already completed spawning

had the weeds come up,  Blah Blah  Blah.  Every year that the population studies are taken have different answers to these questions and many more. The truth is that we are never comparing apples to apples, year to year. The only thing that can be said is that “this is what we saw this year”.  Over an extended period of time, and with greater numbers of population samples taken, the accuracy of the trend lines will get better.

Remember too that the preliminary report only talks about adult fish. This fall the DNR will be taking a population sample of “Young of the Year” fish, which are those fish that are too young to reproduce.  In February of 2010, the DNR will complete the Year long “Anglers Creel Census” which is the third part of the study. All three of these parts will contribute to the 2009 Comprehensive Fishery Survey for Tomahawk Lake. Based upon the survey results, in it’s entirety, the DNR will make adjustments to it’s fishery management plan for our lake.

Most people don’t know it, but The DNR has been stocking Tomahawk Lake with Walleyes and Musky’s every two or three years. In general the number of fish stocked per year has been going down.  From my conversations with the biologists, I would expect that the 2010 stocking would be of larger sized fingerlings than in recent years. As the winter months play out, The Tomahawk Lake Association will be monitoring the future management plans that the DNR will be developing, and we hope to have significant input into the final plan.  The DNR mandated Comprehensive Lake Management Plan (CLMP) that we developed over the past two years speaks to the goals that our lake community has indicated that they were most concerned about. We will be working with the DNR to ensure that your interests are represented.

As time goes on, and the various parts of the survey become available, I will report to you what the survey is revealing. The DNR team that is in place is committed to reversing the trend of small numbers of small to medium sized Walleyes and Musky’s, and I know that will be the greatest priority in their management plan (“Trust but verify”  Ronald Reagan)

Now isn’t this all clear as mud? In this edition of the Executive Directors Blog I’ve only touched upon a few of the issues involved in this crazy matrix of variables that determine fish species populations. How about preditors and prey fish? What about water levels? Here’s a big one… “How does catch and release effect fish populations?

I’m here to tell you,  the more that I know, the more confused I get!

Ned

The Tomahawk Lake Association (TLA) is committed to keeping members aware of news that impacts Tomahawk Lake. Below is a round up of recent state news pertinent to lakes statewide. While the TLA is not taking a stance on these items, we encourage you to learn more about what these laws mean for you.

Statewide slow no wake zone signed into law

On Friday, July 10, Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill (SB 12) that establishes a statewide slow no wake zone for motorboats within 100 feet of a lake’s shoreline. The new law will take effect seven months after official publication.

The new law establishes a statewide slow-no-wake speed zone extending 100 feet from the shoreline, while balancing different local recreational uses with natural resource needs by enabling extension or reduction of slow no wake zones through local boating ordinances.

Wisconsin’s shoreland zoning rules to be updated
On Wednesday, June 24, the state Natural Resources Board approved several amendments to Wisconsin’s shoreland zoning rule (NR 115). The forty-year-old shoreland development standards for unincorporated areas – those areas outside city and village boundaries – are being updated with the intention of improving lake and river protection, providing more flexibility for property owners, and streamlining permitting.

The next step is for DNR to submit the rules to the Legislature’s standing committees and the committees may hold hearings or take some other actions. The revised shoreland development standards are expected to go into effect by the end of 2009, and counties will have two years to update their ordinances to reflect the new standards.

For more information on government activities, visit www.wisconsinlakes.org or www.dnr.wi.gov

For no wake zone information: http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/policy_shorelands.htm#slow 

 For NR 115 Information: http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/policy_shorelands.htm#nr115 or http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/news.htm

 Why is this important? Besides protecting our lake, the hours volunteers spend can contribute on a “same as cash” basis to match DNR Aquatic Invasive Species grants made to the TLA. Volunteer hours accrue at a rate of $12 per hour. In 2008, Volunteers generated a cash value of nearly $4,000.

 It’s easy and flexible.

• There is no minimum time commitment needed per day. Volunteers are asked to make a minimum of a 4 hour commitment over the summer. For example, a minimum commitment could be fulfilled 1 hour over 4 days, or 4 hours in one day.
• Once you are trained, you can “show up” at a landing on any day or time, put in some hours and report back to Pat or Richard Shaffer.

 We ask all lake residents commit to the following:

• Please call Pat or Richard Shaffer at 715-277-2928 or Ned Greedy at 715-892-0480 to volunteer.
• Please encourage your neighbors and family members to volunteer.

Areas highlighted in red are areas of known Eurasian Water Milfoil infestation as we entered the summer months of 2009. Most of these areas have been treated in one of several ways; larger stands via chemical application in the spring and Hydualic Conveyor in the summer months for smaller stands and severe outbreaks within traffic areas. Please, when at all possible, refrain from driving through these areas in boats or personal watercraft, as Eurasian Water Milfoil is propagated by fragments that drift in the waves when cut from the main body of the plant by boat propellers. New infestations will likely be found that are not noted on this map. Please keep a lookout for Eurasian Water Milfoil beds as you are out and about the lake, and avoid them when at all possible. Report new stands or severe issues to Ned Greedy via e-mail.

Milfoil Infestations on Lake Tomahawk

No one can say with certainty just when Eurasian Water Milfoil entered Tomahawk Lake, or where exactly it was introduced, but we do know exactly how it was done. It rode in on a pleasure boat, and was “planted” in our beautiful lake by an unsuspecting boater who had no idea that he had just introduced  a “cancer” into the waters of “the Jewel of the North”. In the years since that boater backed down that ramp, this lake association has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, and countless thousands of volunteer hours trying to take that instant back.  Sadly of coarse, it can’t be taken back.

In the year 2009, there are easily a dozen more plant and animal non-native invasive species that are slowly but surely traveling to Tomahawk Lake boat ramps from various great lakes locations. Many of them are within 50 miles of my and your docks, and if left undetected will be here within the next few years. I’m hoping that each of you are asking the question “what can I do to stop them? The truth is that there is only one point in their journey to Tomahawk Lake where their invasion can be stopped and their onslaught eliminated.  That first and last line of defense is in the last 100 feet before a boat trailer backs into our waters.

Most of us have heard about the “Clean Boats, Clean Waters” program on our lake. The Tomahawk Lake Association continually places it foursquare in the faces of our membership. We use our newsletters, our picnic, now our website, and word of mouth to make it known that we are in desperate need of volunteers to share the load of inspecting boats at our boat ramps. And yet, we are basically uncovered at our launches for all but a few week ends during the summer. We, and we alone have the power to stop these invasive monsters in their tracks if we will just make a commitment to do it, and expend the effort.

Being a “Clean Boats, Clean Waters” volunteer is not a heavy burden. We are looking for people who will man a ramp for as little as 4 hours a summer. We will provide for your training (just a few hours), and place you with an experienced partner at the ramp of your choice. Even if you only have a week or two of vacation time here at the lake, you can be a great asset to our crew.

In a few short months, I will be sixty years of age, and I will have, in one way or another lived on the shores of Tomahawk Lake for 45 of those sixty years. On the day I turn sixty, I will have four grown children, and one grand child. These days I worry about the lake that I will leave my children, but I really worry about the lake that they will leave my grand children. In the next forty five years, will my kids be able to hold the line on the invasive species that are looming just over the horizon? Will my precious grandson and his brothers and sisters see the same beautiful clear lake that I see when I look out over the scene from my cottages deck?  If it’s to be so, each and every one of us, today, is going to have to accept the call to serve in some way. If we don’t accept that call, than we will all have to accept the fact that we let our kids and grand kids down!

In case anyone has missed it, I am issuing a challenge to every member of the Tomahawk Lake Association to step up and volunteer! Right now we need your help with our “Clean Boats, Clean Waters” program.  Please, Please, Please! Call Rich and Pat Shaffer at  (715) 277-2928, or me, Ned Greedy at (715) 358-7896. Your grandchildren will thank you for it!

Ned

The overall plan is truly comprehensive at 105 pages plus and will be our guide to mutual understanding of lake issues specific to Tomahawk Lake.   Most importantly it guides our strategy and execution as an organization. The goals and objectives listed are a direct result of open forum sessions and surveys from you the users of and property owners surrounding Tomahawk Lake.

Tomahawk Lake Association plans to hold an open forum discussion annually, with the first session planned for June 2010 at Indian Shores. Details will follow as the date nears.  The purpose of the forum will be centered on one of our core guiding principles of our organization; Inclusiveness and Transparency.  The CLMP and attachedsummary below was based upon your input.  Each year you will have to opportunity to make sure that our primary objectives, tasks and timelines are on target to our vision as an organization.

I want to thank you, our membership, for being engaged in the health of our lake. I also want to thank the CLMP steering committee for incorporating community opinions in a guiding document that allowed Tomahawk Lake Association to receive the necessary DNR grant funds in order for us to continue our work at an effective level:

Radley Watkins –Environmental Scientist, Northern Environmental

James Kavemeier – Chair of CLMP Committee

John Rybski – Chair of Aquatic Invasive Species Committee

As well as the rest of the dedicated CLMP Committee: Judith Bloom, Roger Cote, Jim Ferguson and Jim Nicholson.

 Todd Kavemeier, President, Tomahawk Lake Association, Inc.

p.s. If you are  a member and want more detail on the CLMP’s established tasks and deadlines, simply e-mail me at tkavemeier@tribune.com and I will send you a PDF.

1.1 Vision Statement, Goals, and Objects

Vision: Through purposeful leadership and cooperation between private citizens and public officials insure that the Tomahawk Lake System is a place where water quality, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, recreational opportunities, peace and tranquility are maintained and improved for present and future generations to enjoy.

The goals and objectives used to implement the Vision of the Tomahawk Lake System have been organized under the following programs:

1. Aquatic Plant & Other Invasive Species Management
2. Water Quality (Lake Stewardship)
3. Recreation & Tourism
4. Watershed & Land Use (Watershed Stewardship)
5. Education
6. Communication and Networking

Aquatic Plant and Other Invasive Species Management Program

Goal:     To reduce the acreage, abundance, and frequency of occurrence of Eurasian watermilfoil infestation, restore native plant communities and prevent other aquatic invasive species infestation.

Objective: Reduce EWM infestation by 80% over the next five years.

Objective: Utilize the Tomahawk Lake System Sentinel Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring program to identify the location and extent of invasive infestations.

Objective: Develop and implement a fishing tournament AIS management and monitoring program.

Objective: Develop and implement the WDNR Clean Boats, Clean Waters program.

Water Quality Program (Lake Stewardship)

Goal: Maintain the quality of Tomahawk Lake System waters.

Objective: To continue and expand the Tomahawk Lake System comprehensive water quality monitoring program through the WDNR Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. The program would include Water Clarity Monitoring and Water Chemistry Monitoring.      

Objective: To encourage the incorporation of water quality protection measures in the design, construction and maintenance of all lake access sites on the Tomahawk Lake System. (e.g. storm water control, site drainage control, appropriate plant matter disposal, and watercraft wash down facilities).

Recreation & Tourism Program

Goal: For the benefit of residents and visitors, maintain a high quality, safe and diverse environment for fishing, watercraft activities, swimming and other lake-based recreation in which natural habitats and biotic communities are protected and enhanced, natural beauty sustained and the recreational use of the Tomahawk Lake System occurs in harmony with each other and nature.

Objective: TLA, working in concert with the WDNR staff and representatives of fishing related businesses, should evaluate the Tomahawk Lake System fish management goals, objectives and management practices in order to maintain and enhance a quality family sport fishery.

Objective: TLA, working in concert with the WDNR staff and representatives of fishing related businesses, should evaluate the Tomahawk Lake System fish tournaments goals, objectives and procedures in order to assess the impact of fishing tournaments on the quality of the family sport fishery.

Objective: Promote safe boating and minimize recreational conflicts through education, the creation of slow-no-wake zones, and the enforcement of boating laws and ordinances.

Watershed & Land Use Program (Watershed Stewardship)

Goal: Monitor and support watershed and land-use practices which maintain or improve water quality. Of particular importance are land-use practices that limit nutrient and soil runoff from the watershed into the Tomahawk Lake System.

Objective: To support the identification and preservation of critical species and critical habitat lands, primary and secondary environmental corridors, and wetlands within the watershed. (These are areas with rare vegetation, important habitat for wildlife, or important spawning and nursery areas for fish. Preservation of these lands has a direct impact on the water quality of the lake.)

Education Program

Goal: Develop an education program(s) to encourage property owners, visitors, and others to become good stewards of the lake and watershed by promoting awareness about the impact of their activities on water quality.

Objective: Provide visitors with education and information concerning the impact their activities on the Tomahawk Lake System can have on the spread of EWM and other aquatic invasive species, native wildlife and their habitats, and the quality of the water in the lake.

Objective: Provide education and information to shoreline property owners regarding native aquatic plant protection and how shoreline management can slow the spread of EWM, improve the lake fishery, improve wildlife habitat and impact the quality of the water in the lake.

Communication & Networking Program

Goal: To encourage and support the other lakes in the watershed through collaboration on matters of mutual benefit including education, advocacy and other stewardship opportunities.

Objective: To meet on a regular basis with representatives of lakes located within the watershed and local government agencies to inform and discuss current programs and issues and to find solutions to the issues discussed.

Objective: To provide the local newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, and other local media with information regarding current TLA education and lake management programs.

Join us at Kemps Woods Natural Resource Station for tons of fun! Simply print, fill out the form below, and mail it back to us today!