Project & Partnership Updates

Community-wide Garlic Mustard Pull:

Garlic Mustard is a terrestrial invasive species and our nemesis. Although edible by people, it is very toxic to our native plants and young seedling trees. Thus, it creates havoc on our forest floor. If left untreated it will choke out all native plant life and disrupt the natural forest succession. That is why Butternut Franklin Lakes Association (BFLA) has been battling it for decades and the Forest Service has been spraying since 2005. Actually, our Community-Wide Garlic Mustard Pull began in the late 1980’s with six property owners pulling this invasive weed. This year we had thirty-one pullers in June, not including the Forest Service group that came out and sprayed the Nicolet North Trails the day before our pull. And WRISC will be back this fall to spray again. As was true last year, the quantity we are pulling is significantly less than years before – proof that our hard work makes a difference.

Forest County Association of Lakes (FCAL):

Check out their new website full of helpful resources and news: www.fcal-wis.org. As riparian landowners, you should be receiving FCAL’s 2025 newsletter. If you are not a member, you can join online. Please consider joining – your $25 membership fee goes a long way for the work FCAL does. Here are some upcoming events:

July 26 – Kentuck Day: come and check out FCAL’s educational booth on the green in front of the courthouse in Crandon. Along the way, stop at the Crandon Area Historical Society and learn about how Kentucks were early settlers in Forest County.
August 15 - Fall Forum: you are invited to join with other lake leaders and interested parties to learn about issues facing Forest County Lakes. Meet at Lake Lucerne Advancement Association’s Pavilion (Cty. Road W). The Forum begins at 9:30am and lasts approximately 2 hours. When the final list of speakers is available, that information will be emailed out.
October 18 – Annual Meeting & Banquet: Meeting at the Wolf River Rendezvous outside of Crandon. Details will be available and sent out in the fall.

Forest County Land & Water Conservation Department:

Director Kayla Littleton and her department just finished their native plant sale and earned enough money to send two middle school students to conservation camp. Keep on the lookout for next year’s sale. Also, if you know anyone interested in applying for a shoreline restoration grant, Kayla is the person to contact. In addition to grant information, she has info on shoreline restoration, etc. She and Jeannie Fannin, Forest County Zoning Dept., often work together. Kayla’s email is lcctech@co.forest.wi.us

Forest County Warden:

Having been without one for a few years, Forest County finally has a new warden. His name is Austin Babich. He can be reached at (608) 896-5217 or austin.babich@wisconsin.gov

Six-County Lakes Association Meeting:

Quakes to our Lakes: What’s Shakin’? Come join experts, enthusiasts, and community members to discuss the conservation and preservation of our precious water resources. The 2025 Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting will be held on Friday, July 11th from 8:30am-12:30pm at Nicolet College Theatre in the Lakeside Center (5364 College Drive / Rhinelander). The theme this year will be Quakes to our Lakes - What's Shakin'? Come to learn about the threats shaking up our surface water health and the tools to use to fight those impacts. The Six County Conference is targeted at Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas Counties - but all water lovers are welcome! This event, organized by the Oneida County Lakes & Rivers Association (OCLRA) is free, but tickets are required to make sure they don’t go over the fire code limit. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-six-county-lakes-and-rivers-meeting-tickets-1143421808409?aff=oddtdtcreator

Trees for Tomorrow Seedlings:

Trees for Tomorrow has seedlings available in packs of 10 ($20/pack). They have sold out of their Red Pines & Northern White Cedar, but are still selling White Pine and White Spruce Hybrids. Go to https://www.treesfortomorrow.com/Tree-Seedlings/ if you would like to purchase any of these seedlings.

Shoreline Protection & Restoration:

This seems to be a hot topic around the state and on our two lakes, especially as many of our neighbors had serious shoreline loss/damage after the ice went out this spring. If you are interested in learning about what you can do to protect your own shoreline, here are two contacts for you:

Forest County Land & Water Conservation Department – check out their website at www.forestcountylandandwater.org and especially look at the Cost Share Information. Kayla Littleton is your contact person at (715) 478-1387.
Healthy Lakes & Rivers – a DNR supported organization that offers great resources and grants. If you go to their website (www.healthylakeswi.com), you can take a “Score My Shore” survey to see how ecologically sound your shoreline is.

Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition (WRISC):

WRISC’s Annual Partners Meeting took place on June 5th at the Iron Mountain City Park discussing a lot about native plants and invasive species as well as about the phenomenal work WRISC does across two states and five counties. Some invasives to be on the lookout for include:

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid – this insect decimates Hemlock trees and has been found in lower Michigan but has not yet crossed the bridge into the U.P.
Himalayan Balsam – this is now in Michigan and heading toward Wisconsin – it has crossed over from Canada through Sault Ste. Marie, but has not yet moved much beyond that area.
Wild Parsnip – this is very close to us and has been nearby for some time – the USFS and WRISC are working diligently to keep it north of Hwy 139. As a plant, it is very toxic – it can cause third degree burns if you are not careful around it, so beware!

For more information, visit the WRISC website at www.wrisc.org

Wisconsin Green Fire:

Their mission is “to advance science-informed analysis and policy solutions that address Wisconsin’s greatest conservation challenges.” Their vision is to help “Wisconsin citizens enjoy the benefits of clean water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems achieved through scientific and thoughtful management of natural resources”. Interested? Check them out at www.wigreenfire.org

USFS 4-Mile Creek Logging Project:

We knew back in April 2024 that our Forest Service was being asked to consider stopping the Fourmile Logging Project after new laws went into effect regarding old growth forests. The Forest Service declined at the time, but it looks like it is now being revisited. Kathy Babcock will check in with Chad Kirschbaum when he is back in Eagle River to see if he can comment. The following link from an October 3rd WJFW, Newswatch Channel 12 article has some new information:

Organizations call for review of Fourmile project in Chequamegon-Nicolet National ForestSeveral dozen groups are petitioning the U.S. Forest Service to suspend a north-eastern Wisconsin logging project.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse