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"Dock on Spirit Lake" was taken by Joe Pyzyk on North Spirit Lake in Taylor County
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Funding Available for Lake and River Projects
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Key deadlines:
Sept. 15, 2026: Pre-applications due (11:59 PM)
Nov. 16, 2026: Final applications due (deadline extended because Nov. 15 falls on a Sunday)
Within the past season, the DNR has hired a new Surface Water Grant program manager, a new Lake and River program coordinator and has reassigned environmental grant specialist duties for some areas of the state. Please be sure to note the new contact information linked from the Surface Water Grants webpage and these downloadable statewide maps.
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Celebrating Wisconsin Lake Stewards
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2026 Lake Stewardship Award winners (L to R): James Brancel, Larry Bresina, Steve Johnson, Tom VanDenBogart, and Tim Asplund
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The 2026 Wisconsin Lake Stewardship Awards were presented this past spring at the annual Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention in Stevens Point. These prestigious awards honor the extraordinary volunteer and professional efforts made to protect and improve lakes in Wisconsin. These awards represent our best collective effort to recognize and celebrate all the incredible work that goes into ensuring the future of our state’s legacy of lakes.
For over three decades, we’ve been celebrating Wisconsin’s outstanding lake stewards. In 2021, we updated the categories to reflect the important organizational work and projects of lake organizations and individuals. We want to recognize volunteers who are strengthening their community capacity with the goal of protecting and improving lake health. In addition, we include a category which allows us to recognize professionals who go above and beyond to increase organizational capacity for lake associations, districts, and lake communities in general.
This year's categories and winners are:
Programmatic Excellence for Lake Health
James Brancel, Spider Lake Association, Iron County
Excellence in Building Partnerships*
Steve Johnson, Fish Lake Property Owners Association, Burnett County
Excellence in Public Engagement*
Tom VanDenBogart, Protect Lake Beulah, Walworth County
Excellence in Professional Service
Tim Asplund, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Lifetime Achievement
Larry Bresina, Lakekit
* The winners of the starred awards are nominated to the North American Lake Management Society’s corresponding award for national recognition.
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Do you have local awards that honor groups or individuals making a difference for our lakes? Consider forwarding their nomination to the state level for the Lake Stewardship Awards!
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Join the 2026 Statewide Search for AIS
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Join the statewide search for aquatic invasive species!
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Snapshot Day - August 8, 2026
Snapshot Day is a statewide, one-day event connecting volunteers, water lovers, and local conservation groups in a search for aquatic invasive species (AIS). You can help protect Wisconsin’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands from these invasive plants and animals that may negatively impact habitat, wildlife, recreation and health. This event is coordinated in partnership with UW-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local partners, and YOU!
What You'll Do
You will meet at a local training site of your choosing, hosted by one of our local partners. After a short training on how to identify target aquatic invasive species and how to follow search protocols, volunteers will look for invasive species at critical monitoring sites, and potential invasive species will be verified and cataloged with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to guide species control and conservation management plans. This is a free event and no experience or special equipment is required.
This event is recommended for ages 8 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult.
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Phenology Fun Fact
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Click the image above to view an underwater video of bryozoans in the Wisconsin River near Stevens Point. Video by Paul Skawinski
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Dinosaur Eggs? Aliens? Nope, just Bryozoans!
In mid-summer, many people start to notice large, jelly-like masses attached to branches, dock legs, or vegetation in the water. These are no cause for concern - they're colonies of small animals called bryozoans. The most common type seen in Wisconsin is Pectinatella magnifica, also called the magnificent bryozoan due to its impressive size. The "jelly balls" are mostly composed of a watery gel, with tiny, filter-feeding animals attached around the outside of the ball. Each ball can grow as big as a basketball, but each individual, called a zooid, is only a fraction of an inch! The zooids reach out with a tiny comb-like structure to grab plankton traveling with the current. Bryozoan colonies look strange, but pose no threat to humans, pets, or lakes.
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Healthy Lakes & Rivers - Native Shoreline Plantings
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Take a Shoreline Stroll: Nature Has Some Tips
What do you see when you walk along your shoreline? This summer, take a stroll and picture the possibilities! Imagine a haven for butterflies, songbirds, and frogs - a swath of hard-working native plants that add beauty and privacy, and help protect your lake or river from polluted runoff.
The Healthy Lakes & Rivers 350 ft² Shoreline Native Plantings best practice is a simple way to improve wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and privacy, while decreasing runoff. Native plantings include grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. There are six ready-made planting templates to best fit your property's sun exposure, soil type, and goals: from a vibrant bird/butterfly option to a shade loving woodland design. You can also have some fun and design your own native planting!
There is even grant funding to help cover the cost of installing a Healthy Lakes & Rivers native planting project. Find out more about grants on the Healthy Lakes & Rivers website, then invite your neighbors to join you.
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Let’s make Healthy Lakes & Rivers together!
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Get inspired with resources from our bookstore.
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Shoreline Living Magazine
(Issue 1)
There’s something magical about spending time at a lake, whether you’re swimming, boating, fishing, or just sitting and listening to the lapping waves. There are simple steps property owners can take to keep their lakes clean and healthy for generations to come. Shoreline Living shares the examples of five property owners who have taken steps in their own way to do their part to care for the lake. From small steps on a relatively manicured property to an almost fully forested and natural landscape, the articles within feature the efforts of people just like you.
(Issue 2)
Seeing is believing! Help your neighbors see what their waterfront property can look like with beautiful shoreline plantings, raingardens, and more! Some folks may think planting native gardens will look like a bunch of weeds and make their property look unkempt, but sharing publications like the Shoreline Living magazine is one step we can take to easily present images and stories of how folks are taking action to make their waterfront properties more eye-appealing and a benefit to the lake and all its inhabitants. Order now >>
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Upcoming Events
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Shoreland Workshop for Landowners
July 23, 2026 | Boulder Junction
Designed primarily for landowners, this free workshop will look at best practices and restoration options, resources for new property owners and lake associations, and land protection options including conservation easements.
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Annual Open House - Center for Limnology Trout Lake Station
July 31, 2026 | UW-Trout Lake Station, Boulder Junction
Get a first-hand look at what research is going on at the station this summer, as well as meet the scientists and students conducting it.
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Hearing for Invasive Species Rule (NR 40)
August 5, 2026 | Virtual
Wisconsin’s invasive species rule, Wis. Admin. Code NR 40, makes it illegal to possess, transport, transfer or introduce certain invasive species in Wisconsin without a permit. This rule is being updated and you have an opportunity to provide comments through August 7, 2026. There will be a hearing on August 5 at 5:00 PM. For more details go to the DNR Invasive Species Rule - NR 40 webpage.
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AIS Snapshot Day
August 8, 2026 | Statewide
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Surface Water Grant Pre-application Deadline
September 15, 2026 | Statewide
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SAVE THE DATE - Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention
April 14-16, 2027 | Stevens Point
Save the date for next year's Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention. The 2027 theme is "Water Connects Us All."
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