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Found Lake - Lakeshore Restoration

• Mike Meyer – WDNR Research Scientist, Rhinelander
• Carolyn Scholl – Vilas County Conservationist, Eagle River
• Stacy Dehne – DATCP Engineer, Phillips

Background Information:

Found Lake

Recent studies have documented dramatic alteration of riparian land and water habitat on many lakes in northern Wisconsin. Primarily due to shoreland housing development, this has resulted in negative changes in native plant, fish, amphibian, and bird populations. Land owners are cooperating with State and local government to restore their lake shoreland buffers for the ultimate goal of protecting our water resources. The research and management project is measuring the value of fish and wildlife habitat restoration on Northern Wisconsin Lakes. It will implement shoreland habitat restoration on a sample of lakes in northcentral Wisconsin. The project has developed site-specific management recommendations for 14 lakeshore property owners on Found Lake in Vilas County and completed habitat restoration projects.

Key Points:

• Restoration Effort Identification
• Efforts take place on a sample of four lakes in Vilas County where habitat impacts are significant.
• Moon Lake in Vilas County is the next lake, work is scheduled to begin in 2009.
• Fourteen private landowners on a significant portion of the shoreline agreed to participate in restoration efforts on Found Lake. Projects were initiated in 2007 and completed in 2008.
• Project Activities

• Conservation and restoration of native vegetation in the shoreland buffer.
• Engineering efforts to reduce shore and bank erosion.
• Removal of exotic and invasive species.
• Placement of structure such as downed trees and coarse woody debris.
• Other proven management techniques to enhance fish and wildlife diversity and abundance.
• Control Sample Included in the Study
• A control sample is made up of a stretch of shoreline on the lake with significant habitat alteration that does not receive restoration efforts.
• Biotic Surveys Used for Measurements
• Include measures of relative abundance and diversity of native vegetation, herptiles, breeding birds, small mammals, and furbearers.
• Baseline surveys were conducted before restoration commenced.
• Surveys will be repeated periodically for 10 years as restoration projects progress.
• Results will be compared between the control and restoration lake shores.
• Partners Working on the Project
• Department of Natural Resources
• DATCP
• Michigan Technical University
• University of Wisconsin – Extension
• Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department
• Found Lake Association