To be sure, the North Woods is experiencing another late spring which affects the variables that determine how we implement our Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) control strategies for the summer. For me, the late spring is frustrating because it delays the startup of so many of the initiatives that the Tomahawk Lake Association (TLA) is involved in. Patience is most often rewarded however, and April showers (of the snow shower variety) always bring May flowers, even in Northern Wisconsin.

This summer promises to be full of both old and new activities for TLA. We will continue the fight against our old nemesis Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) while at the same time developing our control programs against the spread of Purple Loosestrife on our shorelines. We will continue to monitor our watershed for both old and new aquatic invasive species through our Sentinels program and our Citizens Lake Monitoring Network, and we will enhance our efforts to bring our lake community together by introducing a couple of fun and informative events aimed at every shoreline family, from the smallest kids to those of us who are maturing gracefully.

Throughout this newsletter you will find the details of our many events and initiatives. Please read all of these articles to not only get to know what is happening on the lake this summer, but also to imagine to yourself what you might do to become part of the activities. Whether you decide to simply enjoy one or two of the different events we are offering, or if you would like to get involved in a program that enhances our lake for the future, there are many opportunities to participate in TLA activities this summer.

Near the end of the newsletter you will find a listing of TLA members who head up the various programs that we are involved with. Along with their names you will find their phone numbers. PLEASE!  You are invited to call any of these people to find out about what these programs are about, and to volunteer to play a role in them if you would like to. Unlike the Marines who are always looking for a “Few Good Men”, we are looking for many “Good Men, Good Women & Good Children” to help in protecting our lake.

Finally, I want to let you in on our success in being awarded a new Aquatic Invasive Species Control Grant for the summers of 2013 and 2014. The State of Wisconsin, through the Department of Natural Resources, has again partnered with TLA to combat the spread of AIS in the Tomahawk Lake Watershed. The total two year control program will expend close to a quarter of a million dollars, with the state picking up roughly $180,000 of the cost. TLA will be responsible for the remainder, with both substantial cash funding requirements and volunteer contributions.

The award of this grant represents an ongoing “vote of confidence” for the Tomahawk Lake Association in its efforts to protect and enhance our watershed.  Every TLA member should feel a sense of pride in this accomplishment. Whether through contributing through our “Fair Share” funding program, or by volunteering for duty in one of our many programs, you all are to be commended for taking a share of the responsibility for the wellbeing of our lake.

There are four generations of Greedy’s who have – and continue to – reap rewards from the efforts of past members who stepped up to the challenges of good lake stewardship. In years to come, the children of the future will look back on TLA’s efforts of today and say “They paved the way for us”! Thank you TLA members for all you do.

Ned

Autumn is also a time to reflect on how well the summer went. As I assess progress against TLA goals, I am pleased by our many successes. However, this year’s EWM treatment wasn’t as productive as we planned. 

Our Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) effort to educate TLA members and lake visitors was a huge success again in 2011. While fewer boats visited our public boat ramps this summer – no doubt due to the tough economic environment – our CBCW volunteers and staff did an awesome job.  Our ramp attendants went to great efforts to make sure that each and every boat was met with a welcoming smile and great information about maintaining the health and wellness of Tomahawk Lake. 

This year we installed a CBCW Attendant’s booth at the Lake Tomahawk Town Ramps, which greatly helped bring our message of good lake stewardship to the forefront. The Town of Lake Tomahawk Board of Supervisors was very helpful in making this happen.

Next year, we need a volunteer coordinator to help recruit and schedule CBCW attendants. Our volunteer numbers have dwindled over the past few years – we need to bulk up in this area! If you would like to volunteer for either job, Coordinator or ramp attendant, please call or e-mail me at your first opportunity.

TLA’s Annual Town Hall & Lake Fair was held on July 23^rd and featured a host of activities and presenters. But without a doubt, the major storm that struck during our Town Hall Meeting was a memory we won’t forget! Our President, Paul Shain gave an informative presentation about the TLA’s initiatives, while the tent sides rattled with heavy wind gusts and copious amounts of rain.  Roughly 75 gutsy members enjoyed the excellent picnic lunch prepared by the Indian Shores Owners Association. As the lunch ended, the clouds parted and the sun came out, along with a large number of additional fair goers. While the inclement weather no doubt had an effect on attendance, we still had an estimated 250 kids, parents, and grand parents come to the fair. Many thanks go out to all of our volunteers, and to the presenters that gave out a huge amount of valuable and fun information. We couldn’t have done it without you!

TLA Educational Presentations were given to four township board of supervisor meetings and at lake gatherings including the Pottowattomie Colony annual “Powwow”, Bloom’s annual picnic, Kemp Woods Picnic, and the Lakeside Condo Association annual meeting. These presentations educate stakeholders on the TLA’s efforts to protect and enhance the Tomahawk Lake Watershed.  In addition, this year we gave a keynote addresses at a strategic lake planning workshop held by the Oneida County Extension. Representatives from many counties and lake groups attended this workshop.

TLA Research projects. The TLA has remained an active participant in an ongoing Army Corps of Engineers research project to study the rate of chemical herbicide dissipation in different aquatic environments. Our participation involved collecting water samples for two weeks during and following our chemical treatment applications in the spring. Samples were taken each day, hourly, at six locations on the lake. The analysis provides data that shows the effects of localized environmental conditions on treatment success. This is the third year we have participated and the results should be forthcoming from the Army Corps.

Starting next year, we have asked to be included in a multiple year study regarding the use of weevils for EWM control.  In late December, we will find out if we will be included in the study. We are hopeful that our participation will give us yet another weapon to use in the fight against EWM.

TLA Sentinels Surveys are a major tool in our battle with EWM. Twice each summer, 17 groups of volunteers survey specific areas of the Tomahawk Lake watershed to record the location and details of EWM infestations. This data is indispensible for two reasons. First it is used to schedule harvest sites for our Hydraulic Conveyor System (HCS). Second, it provides our scientific surveyor a great deal of data to evaluate infestation sites for chemical treatments. Each survey requires approximately 40 volunteers for 6 hours. The quality of data is outstanding. Many thanks go out to these men & women who are committed to the health of our lake.

TLA’s Hydraulic Conveyor System continues to operate at a highly efficient and consistent level. Our harvesting records for the summer are very similar to last years results, with about 20,000 pounds of drained EWM removed from 90+ sites within the lake. These numbers are impressive when one considers that, due to an extremely late spring, the growing season for EWM didn’t heat up until the latter half of June. Once the water temperatures finally warmed up in late June, and continued through the rest of the summer, EWM infestations grew like weeds.

This year’s dive team comprised of two Limnology students: Ben Brown from UW – Stevens Point and Justin Forest from the University of Minnesota – Brainard.  Both men have extensive diving experience and are committed to pursuing water science careers.

2011 EWM Chemical Treatment Results

This year we learned that EWM chemical treatments are greatly affected by the cold water temperatures that result from a late spring.

Our Chemical Treatment Program utilizes a broadleaf aquatic herbicide. To be effective, the herbicide must contact EWM’s leaves. The plant takes the herbicide in through its leaves and transports it to its root system which kills the plant.

This year, water temperatures remained very cold until the second week in June – which delayed plant growth in the lake. To compensate for the delayed growth, our partners at the WDNR allowed us to push back our treatment eight days after the official application cutoff date. But even with the treatment delay, the EWM was not developed enough to take in sufficient chemicals to effectively kill many of the plants.

Dr. Susan Knight of the UW Extension Trout Lake Station examined EWM plants in Kemp Bay in mid July, and found that EWM plants exhibited chemical burning in their lower extremities, but normal new plant growth in the tops of the plants. It appears that the cold water didn’t allow for sufficient plant chemical absorption to take place.

 What does this mean for our plans for next spring? It means that we will be re-treating most of the areas targeted this year. In addition, we will be treating substantial new areas of dense EWM which have been discovered in the lake – many of them are adjacent to 2011 sites. In all, we will be chemically treating approximately 113 acres of dense EWM in 2012 compared to 52 acres in 2011.

This is a big hit to our program and budget. However, if we don’t make these treatments, we will see additional spread of EWM in 2013. For no other reason, we must remain diligent in our efforts!

In addition, we continue to research every possible means to combat EWM in our watershed.  Initiatives include:

• Investigating chemical treatments which show better results when lake water is cold.
• Working with UW/ extension to gain inclusion in their weevil study in selected areas of our lake.
• Participating in EWM research studies.
• Mapping and observing all of the areas of EWM in our lake through two Sentinels and three scientific surveys.

We will continue to look for new and innovative ways to wage war against EWM. The key to success is remaining diligent, consistent and committed to keep this invasive weed in check.

I have gazed out across the weed free waters of Tomahawk every summer for the past 49 years. I’m not ready or willing to give her up! I hope that you’re not either. If we all work together, we can and will regain the upper hand against EWM! 

                Ned Greedy 

Executive Director
Tomahawk Lake Association, Inc.

 The path forward can sometimes be hard to see when there are a lot of unanswered questions.

When the Tomahawk Lake Association (TLA) Board of Directors met in January, there were a host of unanswered questions that needed to be resolved before we could have a clear view of our short term future. As we left that meeting, we were unsure we’d be able to address the work plan we had established for the upcoming summer season because the funding paths were uncertain. But over the past 90 days many questions have been answered, and the way forward has become clearer.

TLA’s efforts have always required that three partners come together to financially support the association’s plans to protect and enhance Tomahawk Lake. As we looked forward at the end of September 2010, two of the three were in serious doubt.

Partner 1: Local Government
We fully anticipated that our support from our four Town Government partners would substantially drop, as every town budget was under extreme pressure. With the on-going economic recession, town revenues have taken a beating and serious discussions about spending priorities were taking place in every town hall across the northwoods. The TLA made presentations to each board of supervisors, laying out plans and explaining the need. One by one, as budgets were agreed to, our four towns “stood up” and allocated 2011 funds for TLA. What’s more, their allocations either met or exceeded the prior year’s funding. Believe me when I say that a huge sigh of relief was heard emanating from TLA’s palatial board room (which doubles as Margo’s kitchen).

Partner 2: State Government
Then came the elections of 2010 and Wisconsin’s state government had a huge convulsion. As seats changed from one party to the other uncertainty increased for the TLA. We had to wonder ‘What would the anticipated austerity program mean for the DNR?’ and ‘Will the state continue funding the fight against Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in our lakes and streams?’ 

In early January, I put the final touches on a grant application that would support TLA’s programs to control AIS, educate our watershed’s stakeholders and put into place the next steps of our five year Comprehensive Lake Management Plan (CLMP). I submitted the application with the sinking feeling that our chances of receiving state funding were very thin.

As the CLMP implementation timeline has progressed, our entry into new areas of effort has driven our expenses higher. In the end, even with trimming our plan to the bare bones, our grant request exceeded that of the last two-year cycle. With the state way over budget and the governor and legislature talking about slashing the cost of state government, what could our chances possibly be?

The announcement date for AIS Control Grants was April 1^st, and TLA, along with many other deserving lake associations waited nervously for the outcome. When it came, the answer was positive for TLA – our grant request was rated the highest among all submissions and we received all of the requested funding for the next two year period.

Our two year grant program represents $309,000 worth of projects ranging from control of Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM), to boat ramp education through Clean Boats Clean Waters, to new initiatives for the control of Purple Loosestrife and monitoring our lake for its chemical health. The state will support us by contributing $174,000. This includes a $25,000 increase in funding by the WDNR and shows that the partnership we have – and the regard in which we are held – is very strong.

So there you have it. Two of the three groups have now “stood up” despite overwhelming pressure to reduce expenditures.

But what of the third group – the group that has the most to gain from keeping Tomahawk Lake beautiful?

Partner 3: Lake Property Owners and Enthusiasts
Late last fall, the TLA introduced the Fair Share Membership drive to all of the watershed’s shoreline owners. Over the past several years, a small group of lake property owners (4% of the total) have funded the majority of TLA activities. The Fair Share program aims to engage all lake enthusiasts in keeping our lake healthy.

After anticipated grant money and town revenue donations, we have a shortfall of approximately $75,500 to meet our expenses. To make up that shortfall, we are asking all lake property owners contribute a minimum of $270. To arrive at that number, we have taken our shortfall and divided it by 80% of lake property owners (280).

In January, letters were sent out and to date many property owners have sent in their Fair Share and some have included an additional donation above and beyond $270. We have also received “Friend of the Lake” donations from children and grandchildren (of all ages) of lake property owners.

If you haven’t taken part in our Fair Share Membership drive, please make it a priority. Your contribution is evidence of your personal commitment to ensure that Tomahawk Lake continues to be the “Jewel of the North” for generations to come.

Our two other partners have both “stood up” in a big way – now it’s our turn.

Thank you for being a part of our cause,
Ned Greedy
Executive Director

Indian Summer has finally arrived in the North Woods, and although the nights are frosty, the days have been heating up into the mid 50’s (or higher) for several days in a row. Coupled with a good deal of sunshine, and what were perhaps the countries very best fall color display, this October was one of the best on record –  if enjoying the great northern outdoors is the goal. And it definitely is the goal of yours truly.

Early in the morning I get up, plod to the kitchen to start the coffee, and then light the fire that I set the night before. Within twenty minutes, the cabin is warm, and I can just look out the picture window at the sunrise without having to accomplish any more “waking up” tasks. This is the best time of the day for me because it allows me to quietly sit and reflect on how really blessed I am to be able to enjoy this place every day of the year. I know some of you are saying “I’ll bet he doesn’t sing this tune in mid-February”, but you would be wrong. There is great beauty in the earliest rays of light as they stream across a snow drift, and even when it’s 30 below outside, inside it is warm and toasty, and the light coming through that same picture window is warm on my face.

These early morning moments have also allowed me to think about where we are at as a Lake Association, and to evaluate our successful progress on the many initiatives we’ve set for the organization.

Our efforts to control Eurasian Water Milfoil

Lately, I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around all of the data that I collected in doing the fall Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) survey. This survey is used to determine the number, size and shape of the “polygons” where EWM will be chemically treated next spring. As I’ve started to analyze all of the data collected, I’ve begun to understand just how subjective the final survey results can be. Our chemical treatments from last spring were very successful in removing EWM from the polygons that had been identified in the fall of 2009. But when I’ve added in the locations of new infestations that the Sentinels (Tomahawk Lake Association’s lake volunteer lake monitoring organization) have found, and the areas of new infestation that I found in my fall survey, I’ve realized that we are fighting an incredibly tenacious foe. The good news is that while there are quite a few new locations to treat next summer, we are better prepared to fight the battle than ever before.

This past summer season we treated 82 acres with one form or another of 2, 4D aquatic herbicide. We will chemically treat less acreage in the upcoming spring as, in some of the areas that we treated, EWM has completely gone away and not returned. Also, in most areas where we treated, the size of the infested area and just as importantly the EWM plant density level has been reduced as well. The final verdict is that we did reasonably well with our chemical treatment.

Our unique and innovative Hydraulic Conveyor System (HCS) underwent some substantial changes this past spring, with the upgrading of our work barge’s undercarriage. This commitment to our HCS program, and to aggressively go after the new stands of EWM in our lake system, have paid real dividends: we increased the number of sites where EWM was removed by 31 percent.  This technology continues to allow us to remove EWM in its earliest stages, before it mushrooms into large and dense beds that require chemical removal. With the upgrading of our system, and the continued dedication of our team, HCS results will only get better over time.

We also had significant success with our Angel Donation fundraising campaign and membership drive this year. Be sure to read more about the results in this newsletter.

Without funds from our donors and members we wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of these great results. We are all truly thankful for your contributions of time and money.

Our efforts to educate our members and friends

The Tomahawk Lake Association is committed to educate all those who use our watershed – shoreline owners and visitors alike – on the absolute need to be good stewards of our lake. We are always looking for new and better ways to communicate our message that every person who enjoys the lake has the responsibility to do all that they can to protect this valuable resource.

In past years, we have participated in the UW Extension “Clean Boats Clean Waters” (CBCW) program, to bring that responsibility to the attention of lake users. By connecting with lake users at our boat ramps, ramp attendants educate them on two fronts: with information on the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) that can potentially enter our lake by riding on or in boats using the ramp; and by giving free boat and trailer inspections, looking for plants and other aquatic critters that could be coming into or leaving the lake. The Clean Boats Clean Waters effort is the most direct means of education we have found to date, to get the attention of the public about the need to be good stewards.

In 2010, the TLA committed to hiring two ramp attendants to provide full coverage on weekends at two of our three ramps. They met and educated over 4,000 boats and 10,000 people over the course of the summer. In addition, one of our attendants stopped a Zebra Mussel from entering our lake while on duty. They worked at the thoroughfare landing and at the Lake Tomahawk landing from Memorial Day through the Labor Day, Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. This ensured that boaters using the lake during all of our peak times were inspected and made aware of their responsibility to protect our watershed. Our commitment to this program has and will continue to be our most effective means of passing good stewardship information to those who use our lake. And to stop aquatic hitchhikers from entering our watershed.

The First Annual Tomahawk Lake Fair was another major effort to educate the public about the enjoyment and responsibilities of the lake. Held in the town of Lake Tomahawk in early August, 60 plus volunteers and a host of presenters and exhibitors introduced hundreds of fair goers to fun ways to enjoy a day at the lake. Speakers included noted naturalist John Bates, and WDNR fisheries biologist John Kubisiak, who gave their take on the state of the Lakeland Region’s natural health. Folks had great opportunities to “see and do” many activities, from paddling a Kayak around town bay to riding on the Oneida County Fire and Rescue Teams air boat. Their was plenty of time spent trying to “stump Susan Knight”, the renowned aquatic scientist from the UW Research Station at Trout Lake, and many a young fair goer had their face painted by local artists, while also learning about native plants and animals. All in all, the Tomahawk Lake Fair did more than acquaint lake area kids with what good stewardship is all about. It also provided them and their families with a day of fun and sun with a few memories thrown in along the way.

People always want to know what’s going on around them, and because of this, the Board of Directors of TLA held a Town Hall Meeting in the end of June at Indian Shores. While the number in attendance wasn’t overwhelming, the questions and resulting discussions that took place were outstanding. The folks in attendance came away with a better understanding of what we have done, and why we have done them. The board learned first hand about the concerns of our members and friends, and all who were at the “Town Hall Meeting” came away better informed and feeling good about the future direction of our organization.

And of course, everyone loves the July 4^th Parade. Again this year, the TLA had a presence at the parades in Minocqua and Lake Tomahawk. Volunteers distributed frozen treats (the hit of the parade) and information about the Lake Fair.

As I’m sitting here writing this note to you, my “morning time” is quickly coming to an end. I have however one other thing to pass along to you. Our organization is blessed with many people who work to ensure the good health of the Tomahawk Lake Watershed. From the many volunteers at our Lake Fair, to the 17 teams of Sentinels who monitor our lake for EWM, to the volunteers and staff who meet the public on the boat ramps, and the 15 or so volunteer Board Members who work tirelessly year around, I would like to say, from The Tomahawk Lake Association, and from my own heart, THANK YOU!   You are the reason that this summer was a great summer on Tomahawk Lake!

Ned Greedy
Executive Director
Tomahawk Lake Association, Inc.

The weather was fickle this year – May and June were record cold months, and the really fine summer weather didn’t show up until August and September.

The Tomahawk Lake Association had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type summer as well. As the spring of 2009 rolled in, our hopes were high that the 2008 successes in controlling Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) had helped us turn a corner. We were optimistic we would be able to duplicate our success for a second straight year.

In reality, we lost some ground to EWM. Our chemical treatment in the spring proved largely ineffective due to a variety of factors, and as the summer passed, new areas of infestation popped up across the lake. (See article What happened with EWM treatment this year?)

Indeed, we took a hit from our leafy adversary. As we approach the spring of next year, we will treat an increased number of EWM infested acres. Some might say it was a down year, and if you only use acreage as a measure, you would be right. But the Tomahawk Lake Association won some decisive battles this year of which we should be proud:

• This year, our membership increased from 138 members in 2008 to 216 in 2009 – a 64 percent increase and a record number of members.
• Our educational outreach made great strides. During the Minocqua 4^th of July Parade, thousands of cheering onlookers learned about EWM as “Norm, the nasty plant” was vanquished by our diver April Londo (along with several young helpers) in a fun skit that was sure to capture attention. Also in July, Channel 12 aired a story about our organization and our Hydraulic Conveyor. The story ran on their morning, noon and night news programs over a three day period, and went a long way to create awareness for Tomahawk Lake Association in the North. In September, Milwaukee Public Radio did an extended segment on our Hydraulic Conveyor for their weekly radio show “Lake Effect.” Airing in the Milwaukee market, the story introduced south east Wisconsin to both the Tomahawk Lake Association and our efforts to make a difference in what is a state wide problem. Of course, our Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteers did an admirable job educating boaters at our three public boat ramps. They not only spoke with people about aquatic invasive species, but they protected our lake by inspecting boats as they used the ramps. (We are always looking for Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, email me at edgreedy@gmail.com.)
• Some of our most dedicated volunteers work with our Sentinel Program. The Sentinels survey the locations of EWM infestations in Tomahawk Lake to provide detailed information to our science consultant, Northern Environmental Inc. The data base they assembled was an important factor in the successful year-end survey that Northern Environmental completed in September. I participated in that survey, and I can tell you that it was the Sentinel’s input that led us to many new locations for mapping. Without their efforts, many locations would have gone unnoticed and unaffected by our treatments.

The leadership of the Sentinels has been in the hands of one man, Jim Michels, since its inception. This fall Jim informed the board that he was retiring from his post. As is typical of Jim, he already had a replacement ready to take up where he left off, and Roger Cote is now the new Sentinel leader. All of our membership and indeed all people who love this lake owe Jim their gratitude for his years of service in the cause of Tomahawk Lake’s health.

• Finally, the Hydraulic Conveyor System (HCS) – our system to manually remove EWM plants – was a success this year. Last year was our inaugural year of HCS operation and our harvesting efforts yielded 3,800+/- lbs of drained EWM. This summer we turned the HCS loose to remove new areas of infestation. We processed roughly 90 new EWM sites resulting in the removal of more than 18,500 lbs of drained EWM – a significant increase. More importantly, the harvested sites represented areas that could have become established and grown into major areas of infestation requiring chemical treatment down the road. Instead, these small areas of EWM were totally removed from our lake which will pay huge dividends in subsequent years. Our one-two punch of HCS and chemical treatment has the potential of consistently reducing the levels of EWM infestation in Tomahawk Lake over time. The important thing is to keep after it!

I have no doubt that the Tomahawk Lake Association had other positive effects on the health and well being of our lake this year. Whether it was in education, in treatment, or in outreach, TLA was working constantly to make progress in the protection of our watershed.

If there is one message that this year has demonstrated, it is that we must continue using every tool we have to fight EWM in our lake. While from time to time we may face adversity, as we did this past summer, if we are consistent, continue to think outside the box for solutions and maximize our effectiveness, we will be successful.

As always, our biggest and best asset will always be our concerned and committed members. It is our members that provide the volunteers, funding, and effort to make all of these things work in harmony. This summer, as in past summers, our members have moved us forward. 

In some ways, this may have been our best year ever….to date.

Enjoy the holidays and I’ll see you at the lake,

Ned

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

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

One of my first priorities for this summer is to learn more about the ecology of our lake, and even though I’ve been coming here for nearly fifty years, I am constantly reminded of how little I actually know about the little things that make the lake “tick”. Yesterday I took our two divers from the Hydraulic Conveyor, April Londo and Nick Strupp, to a one-day UW Extension workshop on identifying and cataloging aquatic plants. As I drove home at the end of the day, I thought about the nine hours that I had just spent in the classroom and in the boats, trying to absorb the Latin names, and the physical characteristics of fifty or so different aquatic plants that we had pulled up just from Kemp Station Bay! I was struck by a couple of different but connected thoughts.

I was amazed at the number and diversity of the plants that inhabit the shoreline of Tomahawk Lake, and each one has its own little niche in the whole design. Each plant takes from the lake the things that allow it to live. Moisture, nutrients, various gases, light. All of these things the plant receives in one form or another from the lake environment.

But each one of the plant samples that we looked at also gives back. Each has a job to do in the lake system. Some provide food for other organisms, such as ducks, fish, and even other plants, while others provide stability to the lake bottom, or put oxygen back into the lake. It was the interaction and dependence upon each other that gave the plant community its stability and continuity. The truth is that I couldn’t help but make a comparison with the folks that enjoy life on Tomahawk Lake.

Each of us that enjoy the Tomahawk Lake experience is part of a bigger whole. Just like the individual plant at the bottom of the lake, we all take from the lake something that makes our life better. Perhaps it’s a sense of peace and tranquility in our life, or maybe it’s the drawing together of family and friends that we don’t get anywhere else. What ever it is, each one of us receives something from the lake when we are here.

Just like the plants however, we all contribute to the lake community, as well. The cliché that “no one is an island” is after all, true on Tomahawk Lake. We all have responsibilities to make our lake a better place. Every one of us needs to take to heart a spirit of stewardship on our lake, and to work together to ensure that we enhance its beauty and its healthy condition. We are just like the shoreline aquatic plants that inhabit our lake. Each one takes, and each one gives back.

So it is with the Tomahawk Lake Association. I think of our organization as the framework that will play the role in maintaining this balance between taking enjoyment from the lake, and giving back to ensure its continuity. As you enjoy the many wonderful things that make up the Tomahawk Lake experience, won’t you also consider what you personally can offer back to her? You would be surprised at just how important you are to the whole Tomahawk Lake community. If you have not become a member of The Tomahawk Lake Association, won’t you please consider joining us? We can help you make a difference on Tomahawk Lake!