LAKES CLASSIFICATION MEETING, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12 2007, 5 P.M. LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER

Present: Bob Lorkowski, Gary Gaier, Dale Wozniak, Kathleen Seilheimer, John Styczinski Jr., Bob Wiltrout, Arian Knops, Fred Cook, John Stencil, Al Lechleitner, Phil Schneider, Wayne Pawlak, Bob Nelson, Paula Carow, Jason Gillis, Jim Engelhardt, Steve Zajec, Tom Metnik, Shane Sanderson, and Ken Parejko.

The meeting was called to order by Chair Wiltrout at 5 PM.

Motion by John Styczinski, Second by /Fred Cook to accept the minutes from the October meeting. Motion carried.

Ken’s report on water quality

 Ken has been in contact with Waste Management.  The environmental coordinator (Trevor) will take Ken and any interested committee member on a tour of the Waste Management site.

Ken sampled lakes at 1 ft depth, and there was no correlation between lake temperature and chlorophyll.  Phosphorus has more effect on growth of algae.

Differences in copper and zinc elevations above and below the mine were shared with us.  The differences are interesting, but not significant.

Up and down stream of Ladysmith differences are also not significant.

Volume of lakes is more important than feet of shoreline as to chlorophyll and phosphorus concentrations in relation to number of dwellings.

Ken explained the vulnerability factor data sheet.  Two systems were used and the exact same results were achieved with both methods.

Discussion followed about all these results and their meaning.

The word “structure” was changed to dwelling on handout #7 on a motion/second by F. Knops and W. Pawlak.  Carried

There was a question on how to count campsites.

Ken tried to explain handout #8, the vulnerability vs. sensitivity matrix.  On a show of hands, we will use vulnerability rather than sensitivity – just to be consistent.

We reviewed the lakes Classification grant application to determine what we have done and what is yet to do.

Everyone needs to review the Vilas County information by our next meeting.

We also need to decide what to do about Class I, II, and III meanings.  Wilderness Lakes is a term some counties use.

There are 3 factors that impact lakes: actual development, structures themselves, and use of structures.

Ice fishing can impact the lake, also.  We looked at size of watershed and soil type in our consideration of criteria.

In addition to our Lakes Classification work we should give the county board some additional recommendations about our lakes and rivers to consider.

Enforcement of existing regulations is one.  Identification of violations is another. 

Motion by G. Gaier seconded by B. Nelson to form a subcommittee to write a resolution for approval of this committee to present to county board asking them to set aside a portion of the power line money to be used for recommendations coming from the Lakes Classification Committee.  Carried.

We reviewed the instructions about how to use the SWIMS website.

Stream classification will be discussed at next months meeting.

Next meeting is December 10, 2007.

We adjourned at 7:15 p.m.