SAWM board members and volunteers work year-round to fulfill our vision and mission.  Our efforts are performed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Lakes association, UW Extension, College of Natural Resources Stevens Point, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Waterways Association of Shawano and Menomonee Counties, and various other State and Federal agencies. We also contract with Onterra, LLC, lake management planners and aquatic environmental specialists, for guidance on planning and strategies for maintaining the ecological integrity of Shawano Lake, the Wolf River, and channel connecting them.

 

Below is a summary of activities we perform to maintain the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of Shawano Waterways enabling property owners to enjoy all that our waters have to offer.

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Monitoring activities

SAWM constantly monitors water quality through a variety of activities throughout the year, including the following:

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• With our partner Onterra, conduct Aquatic Invasive Species lake studies, monitoring the growth of invasive plants.

• Collect samples from streams that flow into Shawano Lake and ship to the Lab of Hygiene in Madison, WI for analysis of sediment and nutrients, including phosphorous.

• Measure water clarity through SECCI disk readings and measure dissolved oxygen levels at various water depths with equipment purchased and maintained by SAWM.

• Take regular samples of water in areas where chemical treatments have been applied to measure effectiveness.

• Coordinate the Clean Boats Clean Water program, including the training and staffing of volunteers at specific boat landings throughout the summer months utilizing Shawano High School students.

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Grant activities

SAWM has been successful in writing and obtaining grants totaling over $500,000 in recent years from the Wisconsin DNR to subsidize the cost of activities necessary to maintain the integrity of the Shawano Waterways, including the following:

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• Phase I Trial Treatment/Phase II Large Scale Treatment to control EWM invasive plant – 2014/2015/2016/2018

• Aquatic Plant Management Plan – 2014

• Comprehensive Lake Management Plan – 2019-2021

• Aquatic Invasive Species lake studies – 2022-2023

• Healthy Lakes Program – 2020 through current

• Weed Harvester equipment upgrades – 2019

• New weed Harvester and Barge – 2024

• Clean Boats Clean Water – 2014 through current

• Buoy and Navigational Lights Upkeep and Replacement – annually as needed

 

Native Aquatic Plant Control

SAWM undertakes several activities annually to control native aquatic plants to ensure lake activities can be enjoyed by boaters, swimmers and fishermen, including the following:

 

• Implement the Comprehensive Lake Management Plan, including oversight of targeted treatment of invasive plants as necessary.

• Acquire and maintain equipment for aquatic plant harvesting activities for municipal partners and members. 

• Hire, train and pay staff to operate harvesting equipment during the summer months.

• Skim and remove floating weed beds from the lake to reduce the amount of weeds that would otherwise float to shore or interfere with boat navigation.  This also removes a harmful source of nutrients that would otherwise facilitate additional undesirable aquatic plant growth.

• Provide private weed cutting services to SAWM members at cost and public weed cutting services to municipal partners.

• Chemically treat buoy lanes throughout the lake to facilitate boat navigation.  A SAWM member voluntarily maintains the necessary licensing credentials.  SAWM acquires and pays for the required DNR permits.

 

Partnerships

In addition to the partnerships listed HERE,

SAWM maintains partnerships with various other stakeholders, including the following:

 

• Local communities, including the Shawano County Board, City of Shawano, Town of Wescott, Village of Cecil, and Town of Washington and the Town of Richmond.  SAWM board members provide regular updates to these municipalities on the health of Shawano Lake and our efforts to maintain it.

• Local business organizations, including the Shawano Chamber of Commerce and local Rotary Club.  The lake has a significant impact on the Shawano economy and local businesses, who have a vested interest in maintaining the Shawano waterways as an attractive community asset.

• Other local entities, including local media (radio and print), Shawano Ski Sharks, local fish clubs, and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

• Shawano Community High School.  SAWM has partnered with the school to involve students in monitoring activities, particularly the Clean Boats Clean Waters program, where students perform 200 hours of inspections annually.

 

Member Services

SAWM is dependent on the support of its membership, municipal partners, donations, and golf outing to fund the activities necessary to maintain the health of the Shawano Waterways.  Services provided to members and activities undertaken to ensure best practices are followed include the following:

 

• Annual membership drive and communications to the approximately 1,200 waterfront property owners on Shawano Lake, the Wolf River, and the channel connecting them.

• Annual meeting to update membership on current and planned activities.

• Weekly email newsletter to regularly provide information on SAWM activities, inform members of local community events, and support our business partners.

• Monitor legislative activities that impact the waterways and communicate them to the members.  We are your eyes and ears to issues that can directly impact you as a waterfront property owner.

• Fund continuing education opportunities that directly impact the waterways for board members and volunteers, including training for stream monitoring, attendance at the annual Wisconsin Lakes Conference, participation in the Wisconsin Lake Leaders program, participation in Wisconsin DNR conferences and training opportunities, as well as other seminars, workshops and conventions.

• Meet monthly in open board meetings to discuss current issues and concerns and develop strategies to address them.  The time and place of the board meetings is listed in our email newsletter, on our website, and on our Facebook page.

• Clean Boats Clean Waters.

• Perform monitoring and treatment activities.

• Maintain a website and Facebook page that is accessible to members and non-members.