Caring for Shawano Area Waterways Now and for Generations
FAQ's
Wisconsin Boating Laws
Do I (or my child) need a license to operate a motorized boat? Anyone born after January 1, 1989 is required to take a boater’s safety course to legally operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC) in the state of Wisconsin. Anyone is eligible to take a boater safety class and receive a safety education completion certificate. The certificate is not valid for a child until he or she is 12 years old.
How to Navigate Buoys
Shawano Lake Water Levels
What determines the level of the lake? Now that the dam has been approved to maintain the historic target water level of 802.9 year-round, residents have asked if the lake will still experience fluctuations in levels. The short answer is, absolutely. Here’s the rational… First, it’s important to understand the role of the Little Rapids dam in downtown Shawano operated by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy. Under their license, Eagle Creek is required to maintain a water level at the dam reservoir between 802.1 and 803.17 MSL (Mean Sea level) with a target of 802.9. Eagle Creek has no discretion to hold back water or to release water. They operate as a “run of river” dam which means the flow of water in the river downstream of the dam is the same as the flow of water upstream. The natural fluctuations in water levels are impacted mainly be rain events or the lack there of. Second, as it relates to the lake. Having a higher target level at the dam will help the lake maintain a water level that supports safe navigation; however, precipitation will continue to have a dramatic impact. The level of the lake is mainly impacted by rain. Rain events like we have experienced this spring and early summer will help maintain higher water levels on the lake. Good or bad, the lake does receive a fair share of flow from surrounding creeks as well as water that flows from Loon Lake to Washington Lake into Shawano and eventually out thru the West channel and into the Wolf River. It is yet to be seen how much of an impact the new HHH bridge will have on our water levels. The old HHH bridge served as a bottle neck and slowed the flow of water out of the lake back into the river. As the span has effectively been doubled in size, one would anticipate this “bottle neck” effect will be diminished. Bottomline, getting back to our normal target level at the dam (802.9) will certainly be advantageous for the vast majority of the year. Precipitation will continue to be crucial. Very dry, hot summer weeks will still result in evaporation and lower resulting levels. Heavy precipitation will certainly cause the opposite. Anyone born after January 1, 1989 is required to take a boater’s safety course to legally operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC) in the state of Wisconsin. Anyone is eligible to take a boater safety class and receive a safety education completion certificate. The certificate is not valid for a child until he or she is 12 years old.
Aquatic Vegetation Growth & Treatment
Why does the amount of vegetation in the waterways vary from year to year? In some summers, many Wisconsin lakes have experienced an increase in aquatic vegetation growth. While there isn’t a quick or easy answer, water resource professional theorize that increases in aquatic vegetation are the result of a variety of occurrences: Early and very warm springs boost the development of new plants. Record breaking temperatures in the spring and summer with above average growing degree days. More frequent and intense rain events increase nutrient loads to Shawano waterways and contribute to increased vegetation growth. Periods of calm winds, hot weather and an ample supply of nutrients throughout the summer can fuel the growth of algae and duckweed. Zebra mussels in large numbers have the ability to make the water clearer because an adult zebra mussel can filter a liter of water per day, siphoning out all the small particles they encounter. Increased water clarity allows for more light penetration which aids the growth of aquatic plants. In sum, clear water, nutrients, periods of calm weather, low currents, warm water and other factors all can affect vegetation growth in Shawano waterways.
Where is chemical weed treatment applied? Each year SAWM does limited chemical treatment of nuisance weeds to enhance lake navigation and recreation. By DNR permit we are restricted to treating only the following areas: The buoy lines on the north and south shores The bay between the channel to the river and Webers Point Cecil Bay area Swan Acres A section of the lake along Highway 22 A section of the lake more towards the middle of the lake SAWM must apply for, pay for and receive DNR approval for the permit each year. The permit is based on the size of the area treated. The above areas are all specifically targeted because of high lake traffic and specific problems in those areas. All chemicals used are safe, biodegradable, DNR approved, and do no harm to fish or swimmers. The channel and river are not sprayed primarily because the chemicals would be washed away by the current before they could become effective. In addition our DNR permit does not allow spraying in these areas. SAWM is fortunate to have its own volunteer chemical applicator. Bart DeFere takes several courses on his own time and must pass a challenging testing program to be certified to make the chemical applications. We could not afford to do these treatments if we had to hire an outside company to do them. One of the SAWM barges has specifically been outfitted to do the spraying, including a special setup that includes tanks for chemical distribution.
What causes algae? Algae blooms are an unusually dense growth of aquatic single celled plants. Excessive amounts of nutrients that enter our lakes leads to eutrophication (accelerated plant growth). Sometimes plant growth may be in the form of nuisance algae that “bloom,” turning the water pea green and sometimes even causing fish kills. They occur, frequently to the point where they discolor the water, when ideal factors combine to promote growth – generally light, temperature, salinity and nutrients. Algae blooms are a natural phenomenon but their frequency, duration, extent and density are all increased in waters where human activities on land increase nutrient runoff. If your algae looks like fluffy clouds or cotton candy, there’s a good chance its filamentous algae, sometimes called “moss” or “pond scum.” Cladophora feels “cottony,” which spirogyra is bright green and very slimy to the touch, and pithophora (or “horse hair”) has a very coarse texture like horse hair or steel wool. As algae grow, it produces oxygen that gets trapped in the entangled strands of algae. This entrapped oxygen makes the algae buoyant and causes it to rise to the surface. Algae are necessary for a healthy lake ecosystem, but there can be too much algae. When this happens, the grazers who eat the algae can’t keep up. As the uneaten algae die off, they sink to the lake bottom and decay. The process of decay requires bacteria, which in turn require oxygen. If there is an abundance of dead algae, bacteria use up too much oxygen, and there isn’t enough left over for all of the animals, like insects and fish. Too much algae can also give lakes an unpleasant green color or a surface scum. Unlike toxic blue-green algae, which is blue-green in color (but can be brown or purple) and appears cloudy or like thick pea soup, Cladophora, pithophora and spirogyra are from the green algae family. Green algae don’t produce toxins but it is still important to think about practicing good hygiene, such as washing off, if you come in contact with it. Short term, the best method for homeowners to remove filamentous algae is to rake out the floating clumps and compost these piles or use them in your garden as mulch. Chemical control requires a permit from the DNR. Long term, waterfront property owners and farmers can limit the amount of water and nutrients reaching the water. Reducing fertilizer use, keeping animal waste out of waterways and storm drains, preventing soil erosion on farms and construction sites, planting buffers along waterways, and keeping leaves and grass clippings out of the streets are just a few of the ways that we can all reduce phosphorous runoff over the long run to help keep the problems from getting worse.
Shoreline weeds: Where do they come from? You hurry up at the end of your week to get to the cottage. You arrive to find floating plants at your shoreline. You know how you will spend your Saturday morning. So where do these weeds come from? Here at SAWM we hear lots of comments that our weed cutting produces these floating weed masses which blow onto your shore. Well, that is not the case. We’ll explain. SAWM picks up the weeds we cut. Cut weeds are conveyored onto a barge and offloaded and hauled to a landfill. Shawano Lake if full of wild celery. This plant uproots extremely easily during the summer. It floats to the top and gets blown ashore. This is a significant source of shoreline weeds. But the good news is birds that occupy our lake, and migrate through, like wild celery. This makes Shawano a preferred location for birds to live and migrate through, enhancing our lake experience. Boat propellers chop up the salad of our lake weeds and it all blows to shore. Natural death and decomposition of lake-based plant material contributes to shoreline weeds as well. There may be additional reasons why weeds end up on your shore but we tried to identify the most significant. So, we share the lake with our shoreline weeds. But at least they can’t haul US to the dump!
Aquatic Plant Monitoring Reports
Weed Cutting Status?
What is Swimmer's Itch?
Swimmer’s itch is a skin rash that affects some people that swim in bodies of water, including Shawano Lake. Following is information that was provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Swimmer’s itch is a skin rash caused by a parasite which ordinarily infects birds, semi-aquatic mammals, and snails. As part of their developmental life-cycle, these parasites are released from infected snails, migrate through the water, and are capable of penetrating the skin of people. After penetration, these parasites remain in the skin and die but can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The parasite in people does not mature, reproduce or cause any permanent infection. Only about one-third of the people who come in contact with the parasite develop swimmer’s itch. People who swim or wade in infested water may experience this itchy rash. All age groups and both sexes can be involved, but children are most often infected due to their habits of swimming or wading in shallow water and playing on the beach as the water evaporates form their skin. Swimmer’s itch may be prevalent among bathers in lakes in many parts of the world. An individual may get the infection by swimming or wading in infested water and then allowing water to evaporate off the skin rather than drying the skin with a towel. Person-to-person spread does not occur. Whenever infested water is allowed to evaporate off the skin, an initial tingling sensation may be felt associated with the penetration of the parasite into the skin. The irritated spot reaches its maximum size after about 24 hours; the itching may continue for several days. The symptoms should disappear within a week. A person’s first exposure to infested water may not result in the itchy rash. Repeated exposure increases a person’s allergic sensitivity to the parasite and increases the likelihood of rash development. Symptoms may appear within one to two hours of exposure. There is no treatment necessary for swimmer’s itch. Some people may get relief from the itching by applying skin lotions or creams to the infected site. The first outbreaks usually occur in late May or early June. The outbreaks in Wisconsin may last from two weeks in the northern lakes to a month in the southern lakes. In some lakes it may last the entire summer. To reduce the chances of getting swimmer’s itch: Towel off immediately after swimming or wading in infested water to prevent rash development. Swim in water away from the shore. Avoid swimming in areas where snails have accumulated. Don’t encourage birds to stay near swimming areas by feeding them. Other tips from Shawano Lake veterans: apply Vaseline or soap before entering the lake and towel off as soon as you leave the water. Wash off with Phels Naptha soap immediately.
What is a Shoreline Buffer?
Development causes increases in water runoff from the land into wetlands, ponds, and streams. This runoff transports water, sediments, nutrients and other pollutants into our waterways that can lead to a number of problems, including unsightly and/or toxic algae blooms; excessive aquatic plant growth; increased turbidity; damage to our fisheries; and loss of habitat. Shoreline buffers are one of the most effective tools available for defending our waterways. Shoreline buffers can be best thought of as forming a living, self-sustainable protective shield. Combined with storm water management, environmentally friendly yard care, effective wastewater treatment, conservation farming methods, and appropriate use of fertilizers, shoreline buffers complete the set of actions we can take to minimize impact to our waterways. Although neatly trimmed grass lawns along shorelines are popular, these offer limited benefits as shoreline buffers. A single lawn alongside a body of water may not seem like much but the cumulative effects of many lawns can negatively impact our lakes and rivers. Shoreline buffers can take many forms, which require a balancing act between lake viewing, access, and scenic beauty. Shoreline buffers can be integrated into a landscaping design that complements both the structural development and a lakeside lifestyle using attractive native plants. Installing a shoreline buffer on even a small section of your shoreline has a positive impact by forming your own “protective shield” while also creating a natural habitat for native species such as frogs, butterflies, etc., and limiting shoreline erosion. If you are interested in learning more about shoreline buffers, email us at shawanolakewi@gmail.com. There are a lot of options, including rain gardens and rain barrels, and inexpensive do-it-yourself landscaping.
What Causes Ice Shoves?
There are several factors that contribute to shoreline ice shove. On Shawano Lake, a majority of our shoreline damage typically occurs in the coldest part of winter when the ice is cracking, the joints fill with water and refreeze – thus expanding. Some years we do not get a deep frost as is typical for WI winters. As a result, instead of the ice riding up the frozen ground, it was able to plow into the shoreline more easily. In addition, the land temperature causes the water near shore to freeze last and thaw first causing a huge, very heavy, floating ice sheet on the lake. The bigger the lake, the more force the wind can apply to push this heavy mass of ice toward the shore.
What is the "Clean Boats, Clean Waters" program and Why We Participate?
In 2003, a group of young students from northern Wisconsin researched the impact tourism had on their town, Minocqua, and the devastating impacts aquatic invasive species (AIS) might have on the surrounding lakes. As young student activists, they proposed an action plan to prevent the spread of an aquatic invasive plant, Eurasian watermilfoil. The outcome was the Milfoil Masters project, which produced and delivered 150 tool kits to twenty-five counties across Wisconsin. This successful project created an awareness of not only AIS, but also the prevention steps each boater needs to take when they leave a waterbody. The Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program grew out of the successful Milfoil Masters project. The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership (DNR, UW-Extension Lakes Program and Wisconsin Lakes) assisted by conducting a series of statewide workshops to deliver CBCW materials. These workshops were strategically placed in lake intensive areas of the state where invading aquatic species were most likely to take a foothold. Since 2004 when the CBCW program was initiated, hundreds of workshops have been held and thousands of folks in over fifty counties have been trained as watercraft inspectors. The inspectors have attended workshops to learn how AIS threaten Wisconsin waters. They also received instructions on how to organize a watercraft inspection program, how to approach boaters, perform boat/trailer checks, record pertinent data and report suspect specimens. The trained inspectors are the frontline defense against AIS. On weekends and busy holidays, teams of watercraft inspectors across the state educate boaters on how and where AIS are most likely to hitch a ride and how to perform a watercraft inspection. During watercraft inspections, inspectors engage boaters in conversation about the AIS prevention steps and keep a record of how many people they talk with. They report this information to a statewide database that tabulates both paid and volunteer watercraft inspector data. The CBCW program has been active on Shawano Lake since 2007. SAWM has been involved in the program since 2014. With a grant from the DNR each year, we have been able to hire interested high school and college students to man one or two of our busier boat launches each summer. The program is coordinated by Pam Anhalt, a chemistry and physical sciences teacher at Shawano Community High School. The student work weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with some extending longer. So why do we do it? Shawano Lake is home to many of the invasive species that other lakes are trying to avoid. By being a good neighbor, we can reduce the chances of invasive species present in our lake spreading into surrounding lakes. In addition, there are other AIS that are not yet present in Shawano Lake. Just this past month quagga mussels were found in Lake Geneva for the first time. This is the first recorded instance of this mussel being found in an inland Wisconsin Lake. From all reports from the great lakes, the quagga mussel is much more problematic than the zebra mussel, which we are all familiar with. So the bottom line is: Clean Boats, Clean Waters is one more tool that we use to keep Shawano and other Wisconsin lakes healthy and enjoyable for all of us.