Conservation Specialist, Zach Wilson, to speak on the health of Iron County waters at ICLRA program, July 23rd.

With its 494 Lakes, 222 named streams totaling 633 linear miles, and 84 classified trout streams, the health of our water is pretty important to Iron County residents and visitors. Join Conservation Specialist, Zach Wilson, for an update on the status of the health of Your lake or river.  Join us at the annual Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance meeting, Saturday, July 23^rd at 9:00 AM at the Mercer Community Center for an update on the status of our water and how to get involved in monitoring water quality in Iron County. Zach Wilson from the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department will discuss how our waters fare regarding invasive species, shoreline restorations, water quality monitoring, and how we can improve our lakes and streams.

Since early childhood, Zach Wilson has spent much of his time “in the woods and waters of Iron County”. A hunter, trapper, fisherman, wilderness adventurer, graduate of Northland College, Zach now works for the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department. Previously he worked in over 15 countries, was the senior naturalist for the North Lakeland Discovery Center for 15 years, the Director for the Mercer Environmental Tourism Charter School for 3 years, and a private business owner of Northwood’s Learning Adventures and Ecological Consulting.  Zach serves as the coordinator for the Woods & Waters project in which high school students from Iron County study the ecology of the American marten and common loon. He is a licensed bird bander, coordinates multiple citizen science monitoring projects and has experience coordinating aquatic and terrestrial invasive species education programs.  In addition to his vast naturalist background he has also worked as a forest ecologist for the Board of Commissioners of Public lands. Zach’s philosophy?  Act locally; think globally.

Following Zach’s presentation, ICLRA will hold their annual business meeting. Iron County Lakes Alliance was formed in 2001 and became the Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance in 2012. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to protect county waters through education and communication and to advocate for riparian owners and lake and river associations in county and state government. Membership is open to lake and river associations and to individuals. Programs are free and open to the public. For more information or to make your voice heard by joining ICLRA, email ironcountylakesandrivers@gmail.com or call 715-476-2881.

 On a very sad note, Mitch Koski, former mayor of Montreal Wisconsin, Iron County Board member and first responder died while trying to save boats at Iron County’s Saxon Harbor Marina.  He and his wife were acting as hosts at the campground and marina.  The county sheriff came and warned them a of wall of water coming off of the Penokee’s.  Mitch’s wife left but he stayed trying to save as many boats as possible.  As he was leaving, the flood from the creek swept his truck into the lake.  The newly constructed marina is said to be a total loss.  The U.S. Weather Service rated the storm as the second 200 year storm in four years.  Many roads are closed in Northern Iron and Ashland counties due to washed out bridges.

ICLRA presents Senator Janet Bewley and Bob Martini, DNR retired, on new shoreland zoning regulations, June 29

As the number and size of waterfront houses increased, shoreland zoning regulations became necessary to protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and property values. In 2015 the Wisconsin legislature has relaxed that protection and prohibited local control of shoreland zoning.

On Wednesday June 29^th Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance will sponsor a program on the changes in shoreland zoning enacted by the legislature.  Join us at the Pines Beer Garden in Mercer, at 6:00PM, when Wisconsin state senator Janet Bewley will discuss the loss of local control over our waters. Bob Martini, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, retired, will explain how the new laws affect shoreline protection.

Janet Bewley represents Wisconsin’s 25th Senate District, which covers 7,500 square miles in northwestern Wisconsin along both the Minnesota and Michigan borders and the shore of Lake Superior.  She was elected to the Senate in the fall of 2014 after serving two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly.  Janet’s 30-year professional career in northern Wisconsin includes serving as Senior Community Development Officer at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Dean of Students at Northland College and Executive Director of the Mary H. Rice Foundation.  Janet’s work for WHEDA included travel to every corner of northern Wisconsin. 

Bob Martini served 32 years at DNR leading the Wisconsin River cleanup, acid rain research, Central Sands groundwater work, and dam licensing/removal work statewide. He won the DNR's Brogan award in 1983 and was given the North American River Management Society Career Achievement award in 2014. In retirement he has served on about a dozen boards related to environmental protection and higher education.

It is important for citizens to understand how the recent legislation influences not only protection of water and wildlife and fish habitat, but also the value of real estate. Previously counties and municipalities could make rules more restrictive than state laws to protect the shores of the lakes and rivers within those jurisdictions. Rules such as waterfront lot size, dock size, and filling of wetlands must now comply with state law.  Come to the Pines at 6:00 PM, June 29^th to learn the significance of these changes.

Iron County Lakes Alliance was formed in 2001 and became the Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance in 2012. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to protect county waters through education and communication and to advocate for riparian owners and lake and river associations in county and state government. Membership is open to lake and river associations and to individuals. Programs are free and open to the public. For more information or to make your voice heard by joining ICLRA, email ironcountylakesandrivers@gmail.com or call 715-476-2881.