This Wilderness Waters Adaptive Management Plan began with a large-scale project funded by a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Aquatic Invasive Species Control Grant that was awarded in 2010. The project was sponsored by the Presque Isle Town Lakes Committee (PITLC). White Water Associates, Inc., an independent ecological consulting firm, was a consultant to the PITLC. This plan was updated and this 2019 version is its most recent update. As the name in implies, this plan is intended to be “adapted” as new information becomes available or new actions are identified.

The Presque Isle Wilderness Waters Program results from the efforts of the Presque Isle Town Lakes Committee, an organization that has been active since 2005. The Lakes Committee views stewardship of the lakes as an ongoing endeavor that is integrated, coordinated, and administered by the Lakes Committee. This perspective reflects the appropriate range of geographic scales from which to approach lake stewardship: a “lake specific” focus that goes hand-in-hand with waterscape-wide awareness. Although this aquatic plant management plan (APMP) addresses Mabel Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin, it maintains the waterscape perspective crucial to effective lake stewardship. This is especially important when it comes to addressing aquatic invasive species (AIS). The closely related Wilderness Waters Adaptive Management Plan (Stine et al., 2019) provides additional waterscape level examination that allows greater opportunity and efficiency in water resource management and education.

The Town of Presque Isle is sponsoring a large scale lake planning grant to study Mabel Lake, in Vilas County. The project will focus on developing a Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Mabel Lake. Project activities include: 1) Gather and assess existing lake info; 2) PI aquatic plant survey, community and substrate mapping and analysis; 3) Shoreland assessment; 4) Professional and volunteer AIS monitoring; 5) Educational program \2013 meetings and \201Cfloating\201D workshop; 6) Watercraft inspections; 7) Develop LMP. Project deliverables include: 1) PI, AIS and shoreland habitat data; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) Aquatic plant vouchers; 4) Education materials; 5) Entered inspection data; 6) LMP.