In a county where there are more than 1,320 lakes that require protection and only 3 staff persons\r\nemployed in the Conservation Department, we sought a tool similar to Lakes Classification that\r\nwould help us to focus where our lake and watershed protection work efforts would be most\r\nbeneficial. The county Land and Water Resource Management Plan (LWRMP) is one tool that\r\ncurrently exists to help us define and focus priority goals. Although that plan is useful for annual\r\nplanning purposes, we needed to delve deeper to further define our future lakes and watersheds\r\nproject workload. A second (and very notable) purpose of our Lakes & Watersheds project here\r\nwas to identify location and types of ecological threats that exist around the county. This will help\r\nus when we begin selecting targeted areas for watershed management projects.

Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Dept is sponsoring a lake protection grant to study lakes and watersheds in Vilas County. The project will focus on updating the County Lake Classification program and implementing work plan goals 2&4 of the 2015-2024 Land and Water Plan. Project activities include: 1) Rank the health status of HUC 12 watersheds; 2) Rank the health status of Vilas County Lakes; 3) Assist regional DNR in accomplishing work plan objectives; 4) Increase wetland focus within County; 5) Prioritize future lake group work efforts; 6) Support and attend activities of the WI Lakes Partnership; 7) Provide technical assistance and educational activities (presentations, press releases, handouts); 8) Hired Lakes Specialist; 9) Develop final report. Project deliverables include: 1) Ranked watersheds and lakes; 2) Prioritized list of future lake efforts; 3) Lakes Specialist; 4) Final report.

Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Dept is sponsoring a lake protection grant to study lakes and watersheds in Vilas County. The project will focus on updating the County Lake Classification program and implementing work plan goals 2&4 of the 2015-2024 Land and Water Plan.