The survey addressed the five following topics:  1) physical condition of the lake; 2) recent lake management practices; 3) lake organization/association general information; 4) organization’s activities and views; and 5) educational needs or opportunities.

Survey Highlights:

 1) Physical condition of the lake

·        All together, 55 lakes are represented.  The mean lake size is 737 acres, ranging from 15 to 5,426 acres.   

2) Recent lake management practices

• 68% are aware of plans that direct lake management activities for the lake.
• 51% are aware of plans that reduce nutrients in the lakes.
• 57% work with the local municipality regarding land development and protection policies under Wisconsin’s new Smart Growth Initiative.

 3) Lake organization/association general information

• The average size of the lake organization/association membership is 416 members, ranging from 0 to 3,000 members.

• 72% believe the primary purpose of their lake organization/association is lake management.

4) Organization’s activities and views

• Encourage their members and/or lake front property owners to:

§        84% Limit dumping of pollutants  (oil, gas, etc.) into water

§        82% Limit use of chemical lawn care products

§        58% Limit mowing, raking, brush cutting etc. adjacent to the shoreline

§        55% Direct stormwater runoff to basins before entering the lake

§        50% Maintain a minimum 35-foot vegetative buffer along the shoreline

§        48% Support land or easement acquisition

l         Respondents agree there is a need to:

§        89% Promote education concerning the use of lawn/garden pesticides

§        70% Stock fish

§        70% Enforce current zoning ordinances

§        65% Develop stronger zoning controls for lake development

§        59% Survey the people around the lake to document concerns

§        59% Develop better boat and swimming safety programs

§        58% Develop an aquatic weed program

§        57% Use regulations to control boat wake and motor size

§        51% Use ordinances to regulate lake access

§        51% Conduct a study of land uses in the watershed

 ·       77% are not aware of the local Basin Partner Team (DNR GMU Team) associated with their watershed.

 5) Educational needs or opportunities

• The majority (96%) receive environmental information from the Wisconsin DNR.
• 92% agree that the agencies delivering environmental information have been responsive to their needs.
• 73% receive most of their technical information from educational pamphlets/brochures, whereas 0% receive information from the radio and/or television.
• 84% agree that members would be interested in newsletters, whereas only 2% agree that members would be interested in radio programming.
• The majority (69%) believe that members would be interested in attending training for Planning Lake management activities.
• 92% are interested in attending an annual Southeastern Wisconsin annual lakes convention and 63% indicated the most convenient meeting time to be on the weekends.