Lake Protection

Preserving the Tomahawk Lake System’s health, beauty, and recreational use, requires careful stewardship. This effort is the association’s primary goal.

The Tomahawk Lake System is varied: it includes Tomahawk, Little Tomahawk, Mud, and Inkwell Lakes, Paddle Pond, and the Tomahawk Thoroughfare to the Thoroughfare Road Bridge.

Tomahawk Lake and Little Tomahawk Lake are designated as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). To receive the ORW designation a lake must meet three criteria: provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support a valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, and have good water quality. Fewer than 1 percent of all Wisconsin lakes, rivers, and streams have received this designation. For further information on the ORW designation go to the Wisconsin DNR's Surface Water page. 

Our project and volunteer focus are to:

1. Manage existing aquatic invasive species to maintain and preserve native aquatic plant communities and recreational access and use of the lake.
2. Prevent the introduction of new aquatic species.
3. Promote good shoreland management practices by encouraging shoreland owners to maintain and improve critical shoreland habitats and minimize runoff from entering the Tomahawk Lake System.

This work is important, but TLA also recognizes the need to be vigilant to identify and take action to protect the Tomahawk Lake System from currently unknown threats.