OCONTO COUNTY SNOWMOBILE TRAILS CLOSE OCONTO COUNTY SNOWMOBILE TRAILS CLOSE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021. Please be advised that the Oconto County Snowmobile trails will close effective Friday, February 26, 2021 at 8am. This closure includes the Nicolet State Trail System. If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact the Forest & Parks Department at 920-834-6995.
DNR on the Walleye Plan I participated in a virtual public meeting held by the DNR on the Walleye Plan update for Florence, Forest, Marinette and Oconto counties. The plan was last updated in 1998. Lake organizations, including OCLAWA participated in the meeting. Further steps to gather information will take place this year including online/mail surveys and a public input form will be be sent out . Things we can change are stocking policies, fish management policies and do research and information gathering. Things we can’t change are tribal harvests, the size of budgets and legislation. Some of the goals being looked at are protecting quality habitat, surveying population and keeping fisheries healthy. Also looking at research done on walleye recruitment declines. Juvenile walleye disappear midsummer after eggs are laid, fertilized and hatch successfully.The walleye plan should be completed by the end of this year or early next year. I will keep you posted on further updates. Amy
Town of Doty will be Turning 100 Years Old in 2022
In 2022, the Town of Doty will be turning 100 years old. In 1922, the Township of Armstrong (originally encompassing the towns of Wheeler (Townsend and Lakewood), Riverview, Doty and Mountain) was split as the population had grown large enough to require separate governmental divisions. From an initial census in 1930 of 66 people to our current 265, the town has changed, but yet stayed true to its logging roots. The town has weathered war, depression, recession, severe storms and a pandemic.
Checkout this postcard from the early 50's of downtown Townsend. This was taken on RT32 looking North, you will notice the turn off on the right side, that is where you go to the post office now. Right across from there is a small gas station, that's now the Longbranch. I like the synergy they were both places you got tanked up. The sign on the extreme right shows where to turn for the Whippoorwill Lodge. Kurt
So if you think traffic is bad now in Lakewood in the summertime , take a look at what it was like in the mid 50's. Note Connors lumber yard on the left hand side of 32 and the Red Owl and Adams IGA on the right. Kurt 
Boot Lake Water Data for 2019 (updated 8/25/20)
Final lake water measurements for 2020. At the surface down to 15 feet the lake temps have dropped one degree compared to July. Kurt click here to see 2018 - 2019 -2020water data readings
click here for the latest issue Zebra Mussel Update 8/18/20
Click here to read Zebra Mussel Boating Info CLICK HERE TO READ INFORMATION ON ZEBRA MUSSELS I’m following up on my e-mail from this past spring regarding possible zebra mussels in Boot Lake (Oconto County). You’ll recall that a singly adult zebra mussel was found attached to a stick, but no others were found after numerous lake residents scoured the shoreline and nearshore habitat throughout the summer. Additionally, the 2019 veliger tow sample was negative. The WDNR conducted an Early Detection Survey in early August 2020, but found no sign of zebra mussels. However, just recently Amy Klebe (CLMN Volunteer and lake resident) forwarded me photos of another single adult mussel that she found and also confirmation that her neighbor found a handful more. I will move forward with documenting this population as verified in our database albeit in low density. In terms of actions that the Boot Lake Association members and other lake users can do about the zebra mussels is somewhat limited. I’ve had citizens ask if they should smash them in an effort to get rid of them or reduce their numbers, but in all honesty that likely will not put a dent in the population because they reproduce to rapidly and in great quantity. But citizens are welcome to try! At this point in time, there are no tried and true control methods beyond prevention. The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Research Center is currently experimenting with pesticide treatments in a few Minnesota lakes, but the research is in the very early stages and for select situations. Geneticists are working to evaluate the zebra mussel genome with the hopes of identifying a “weak spot,” but again that is only research and in very early stages. In the meantime, the Association can work to ensure that all lake residents are aware of the presence of zebra mussels in the lake and that individuals know the best practices that they can take in terms of preventing the spread to other waterbodies as well as protecting their personal property. I’m attaching a brochure that helps to explain some of these practices. It’s in black and white and was published in 2004, but it’s full of great applicable information for lake users. It’s geared towards boaters, but some of the concepts can be applicable to paddlers, swimmers, etc. I think that another important point to note is that not all inland lakes with zebra mussels experience high densities. Some populations really take off, whereas others seem to stay at bay. In any case, it’s good to manage expectations while encouraging lake users to take prevention seriously and build it into their lifestyle. Please share this information with others as you see fit and let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Amanda We are committed to service excellence. Cell Phone: 920-883-5041 Thanks to All Who Helped with Boot Lake Cleanup 2020
Thank you Dan Platkowski, Dick Kelm, Ben Ariss, Craig Vorpahl, Joe, Ben & Addy Koss, Patty & Bill Bero, Ryan, Jennifer, Derek & Trent Gibbons and Sidney Rusch for your participation with the annual Boot Lake Clean-up efforts. We had a big crew this year which enabled us to cover over 50% of the shore line. The amount of garbage we pull out of the lake gets less as each year passes. We can all be proud of our efforts.
The effects and causes of low levels of dissolved oxygen in lake water
At the annual June meeting of the association the membership approved the purchase of a dissolved oxygen (DO) meter for the purpose of providing a key missing piece of information needed to provide our on-going monitoring of our lake. Along with sampling for chlorophyll, phosphorus, temperatures, and water clarity testing, coupled with boat launch duties and invasive species monitoring, these along with this new instrument will help give us a complete picture of the health of the lake, and most importantly a heads up if something’s were to change. I have put together a question and answer sheet on why doing dissolved oxygen is so important, I hope you find it useful and informative. Please feel free to pass this message onto any of your neighbors who are not members of the association so they know what's going on. Kurt read the question and answer document
THANKS FOR ATTENDING Boot Lake Improvement Association Annual Meeting Saturday June 9, 2020, Doty Town Hall click here for annual meeting minutes
Bathymetric Contour Scan Map of the Boot Lake completed last year by the WDNR, all part of our lake management plan. It's a nice representation of the various water depths around the lake.
Oconto County Lakes Project Boot Lake Study Report 2019 Overall Project: All 60 lakes with in Oconto County with public access will be studied and each lake will have an individual Lake Management Plan developed and the County will have an Operational Strategy and Plan completed and adopted to help County staff members in achieving an overall goal of "Having the Healthiest Waters in Wisconsin" Boot Lake was included in the first round of studies
click here to read the Boot Lake DRAFT Management Plan REVISED 10/15/19 If anyone has comments, they can email them to Amy Klebe (amywolves14@gmail.com) and she will forward the comments to Ryan Haney, Water Resource Scientist, Center for Watershed Science and Education UW-Stevens Point
Aquatic Invasive Species Identification contact Amy Klebe if interested in identifying invasive aquatic species on Boot Lake click here to visit the Wiscosnin Lakes website
2016 Boot Lake Creel Survey Report click here to see the 2016 Boot Lake Creel Survey Report
Update on Condition and Health of Boot Lake click here to read the report from Amy Klebe
Boot Lake Fish Stocking Information
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Aquatic Invasive Species Identification contact Amy Klebe if interested in identifying invasive aquatic species on Boot Lake click here to visit the Wiscosnin Lakes website ------------------------------------------
click here to see lake map, wake hours and recommended boating, skiing, tubing directions
email photos, questions, comments, etc. to: rkelm000@centurytel.net |
