Shoreland Zoning Rule Repeal Update

Yesterday we received the following update on the effort being made to repeal the recent changes to shoreland zoning and local control at the state level.  John Richter and the Plum Lake Association of Vilas County are spearheading this effort.  Also on record as being opposed to the legislation are the Wisconsin Counties Association and the boards of all Wisconsin counties.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

TO:  ALL WSI LAKE ASSOCIATIONS 

FROM:  JOHN RICHTER

We have reached $50,000 of contributions for our legal and legislative effort.  We seem to be averaging 3 to 6 letters a day bringing contributions and I am adding the names of the lakes to the footer below as they come in.  Our expenses to date consist of the retainers for the law firm and the lobbyist of $12,500 total and  fees to the state for registering the organization and principal of another $500 total.  I would like to use this letter format as a form of stationery for our future letters and hope to get the bugs out of the process soon - this is not exactly my strong suit, but I will keep at it.  As you can see, we have 41 organizations on board now and a few more still out there who have contacted us.  Our goal is to spread our reach south and our people are talking to interested groups on Pewaukee Lake, Big Green Lake and Geneva Lake.  If there is a neighboring lake association that is not on the list below - please pass on our email and whatever info you have and ask them to join us.

Individual contributions have been coming in regularly and we are planning to begin our individual campaign through our lake associations and other sources this coming week.  As we develop our capabilities, we will develop of listing of individuals like the list below.  Our letters to assist you in this effort are drafted for your use and we will be sending them out next week.  This effort is awaiting the update on our progress on both fronts, which I now believe will happen next week.  At that time I will be able to get more specific on what we have been working on and how the legislation is coming together.  I appreciate your patience but I know you are aware of the situation.  Our Initiative is growing and our progress has been very good.  The response from Republican legislators has also been excellent.

My most sincere thanks for your dedication to our lakes and for stepping up and joining us in this effort.  We obviously could not do this alone and it was both reassuring and heart warming to get such wonderful response so quickly.  Please send this on to your members and other lake associations.

John

WISCONSIN SHORELAND INITIATIVE

THE LAKE AND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS OF:  PLUM LAKE    BLACK OAK LAKE    BIG PORTAGE LAKE   THREE LAKES CHAIN   FOUND LAKE   BIG SAND LAKE   BALLARD/IRVING/WHITE BIRCH LAKES   NELSON LAKE    BOULDER LAKE    TWO SISTERS LAKE    PELICAN LAKE    BIG HORSEHEAD LAKE    EAU CLAIRE LAKES                   IKE WALTON LAKE    BAYFIELD COUNTY LAKES FORUM    NORTHWEST WISCONSIN WATERS CONSORTIUM    CRAB LAKE   LONG LAKE     BIG BASS LAKE    LAKE KATHERINE    FINGER LAKE    EAGLE RIVER CHAIN    LAKE OWEN    UPPER ST. CROIX LAKES    LAC COURTE OREILLES    NORTH AND SOUTH TWIN LAKES    CARPENTER LAKE    WHITE SAND LAKE    INDIAN LAKE    MANITOWISH CHAIN    YELLOW BIRCH LAKE    HEWITT LAKE    OSPREY LAKE    WHITEFISH LAKE

 VILAS, ONEIDA, POLK, DOUGLAS, IRON, WASHBURN AND WATERSMEET LAKES AND RIVERS ASSOCIATIONS

AND…DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION

 SUPPORT THE DEFENSE OF OUR LAKES. 

JOIN US

Kit Bogenschneider's Tribute to the Waters of Iron County and Beyond

"I was quite surprised that these early morning paddles
often stirred my sense of smell, and I could pick up the aromas of
pine trees, sewaweed, wood fires, bacon frying at the campground."
Kit

At the ICLRA fall meeting on Saturday September 12th Kit Bogenschneider of Mercer Wisconsin's own Loony Paddlers, ladies kayaking group, presented an inspiring tribute to the waters of Iron County and beyond.  We have long maintained that we Iron County residents and visitors are privileged to exist in one of the last unspoiled parts of the great North Woods.  Kit's narrative and pictures captured the treasure that is Iron County.

"Then I would turn around and if I were especially lucky,
 the moon would light my path home.  Oh, how
I wanted to share my experiences with my friends."
Kit

 Thanks Kit, for all you do for Mercer!

You can enjoy Kit's entire presentation here.

Wisconsin State Assemblyman Floats Legislation Rescinding Onerous Ferrous Mining Rules

Representative Hebl of  Sun Prarie

Representative Gary Hebl of the 46th Assembly District has proposed legislation rolling back the most environmentally damaging components of the 2013 Ferrous mining statue, Chapter 295.  Also addressed were components of the law which stripped local control.

Read the full story here.

Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance presents Loony Paddler, Kit Bogenschneider

“Having grown up on the shore of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, my soul is nourished whenever I get on water. I feel blessed to be living in an area that is a maze of lakes and river channels, and I delight in every opportunity to explore those water highways and byways.” Kit Bogenschneider.

ICLRA posts its shoreland zoning recommendations

Improving Iron County’s Shoreland Protection Ordinance

After comparing Iron County’s current Shoreland Protection Ordinance (SPO) to that of other counties in the Northwoods and the statewide minimum standards as outlined in NR115, Iron County Lakes and Rivers Association (ICLRA) is recommending specific improvements to the county’s SPO that will best reflect the needs of the local citizens and aquatic resources.  If all adopted, these changes will work in concert to protect the beauty and character of our shorelines, improve the clarity of our waters, protect property values on our shores, and improve the fishing. The following recommendations fall within nine areas and are based upon successful practices being implemented in other counties in the north.