Lake Owen Association Strategic Plan
Vision for Lake Owen
A pristine refuge sustained by an engaged community
Mission of the Lake Owen Association
Preserve and Protect Lake Owen
Critical Objectives
- Preserve water quality and enhance natural habitat.
- Prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive species.
- Inspire active stakeholder involvement.
- Retain best in class lake management.
- Establish sustainable financial resources.
Tactics
Preserve water quality and enhance natural habitat.
Continue water quality study by monitoring groundwater, conducting winter sampling, conducting ongoing monitoring, and installing thermistor string for long-term temperature profile monitoring.
Establish three shoreland native planting restoration sites in 2021.
Design and install projects to mitigate nutrients and sediment carried in runoff from densely developed properties.
Identify important habitat on Lake Owen and explore ways to protect it: map habitat areas and share with Lake Owen Community.
Work with WDNR and other experts to better understand the Lake Owen fishery.
Prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive species.
Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspectors remind boaters to clean, drain, and dry boats and equipment at two main landings.
Boats are inspected and decontaminated if necessary prior to entering Lake Owen.
Complete 200 decontaminations at the North Outlet Landing in 2021.
Include description of AIS threat and prevention methods on the website and social media.
Establish sanitizing station at the Two Lakes Campground.
Otter Bay guests use the sanitization station at the south end or travel to the North Outlet for AIS decontamination.
Investigate methods to increase use of the sanitization station (inspectors, financial incentives with accountability, automated systems, improved education).
No new invasive species become established and spread in Lake Owen (current AIS include yellow iris, aquatic forget-me-not, phragmites, Chinese mystery snail).
Implement a rapid response plan.
Yellow iris is removed from Lake Owen.
Continue monitoring and control measures.
Conduct aquatic invasive species meandering survey monthly June to September.
Inspire active stakeholder involvement.
Increase membership by 5% per year over the next 2 years.
Define membership and establish baseline number.
Add personal phone calls as follow-up after 1) initial mailing with annual report and 2) member appeal and follow up letter for non-responders.
Direct members to website for electronic payment.
Publish list of members on website.
Increase attendance at annual meetings.
Identify, invite, and promote speakers of interest.
Increase effectiveness of the web site and social media as communication tools.
Record baseline number of website and social media hits, track on a monthly and annual basis.
List LOA website address on all LOA publications and communications.
Increase quality and amount of content.
Update website regularly.
Provide web version of lake manager report content.
Add stories from the Lake Owen book.
Provide annual reports and hold meetings with key stakeholders.
Key stakeholders include Towns of Drummond and Cable, WDNR, US Forest Service, Bayfield County, Tribes (Bad River and Red Cliff), and Bayfield County Lakes Forum .
Steering Committee meetings for Lake Protection Grant will serve this purpose
Evaluate and provide input to local and state land use, zoning, and AIS policies.
Host/attend meetings on special issues
Increase attendance at social events.
Host events aimed at a younger audience and/or multi-generational attendance.
Identify most effective events and continue those with good attendance such as the annual picnic.
Retain best in class lake management.
Complete annual review/self-evaluation for lake managers.
Identify model programs and organizations to learn from their activities.
Establish relationships with lakes outside of the region.
Attend state and national conferences (lake managers and board).
Seek outside expertise when needs are identified.
Establish sustainable financial resources.
Carry out endowment fund campaign to raise $2.5 million.
Gain support for LOA activities.
Communicate need for LOA funding
Increase efficiency and effectiveness of operations
Explain rationale for programming
Connect with people on an emotional level – share love of the lake
Tell stories
Communicate accomplishments, lessons learned, and future plans (with timeline)
Demonstrate success, share results
Complete a survey of lake owners to identify their concerns and priorities.
Maintain eligibility and apply for grant dollars.
Update strategic plan tables annually.
Seek WNDR grant support where eligible.
Accomplishments 2019 -2021
Water Quality
Completed water quality study and reports: full report and executive summary available on the website
Provided water quality site evaluations for 7 Lake Owen property owners
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention
Completed whole lake aquatic plant survey
Received approval to site aquatic invasive species decontamination station at the US Forest Service North Outlet Landing and Two Lakes Campground and improved inspection procedures
Encouraged Bayfield County to amend their aquatic invasive species ordinance to require decontamination when available at a public access (Bayfield County acknowledged LOA influence at a state conference).
Completed aquatic invasive species rapid response plan
Installed sampling devices to monitor for potential zebra mussel establishment
Aquatic Invasive Species Control
Inventoried the lake for yellow iris and other aquatic invasive species. Control measures were completed in 2019, and yellow iris was reduced on the lake.
Outreach
Developed new LOA brochure for distribution at landings which included an attractive lake map. Topics included prevention of aquatic invasive species, no-wake requirements.
Improved and updated information on the LOA website
Used email campaigns to distribute relevant information to property owners.
Organization
Successfully completed grant deliverables, received approval for modified grant activities, and extended grant deadline through the end of 2021.
LOA Board held regular meetings to guide and support these activities.