Lake Steward Questionnaire | Chain O'Lakes Assoc

Name (First, Last)

Lake Address (Fire # + Street)

email

phone

Do you use broadcast fertilizer or pesticides such as lawn chemicals, weed killers or mosquito abatement foggers?

Yes

No

Tip: We highly recommend no broadcast spraying of pesticides or insecticides. Please be kind to pollinators.

Is stormwater runoff getting to the lake from your driveway, roof, pathways, patios or other hard surfaces?

Yes

No

Tip: If you go outside during a heavy rain, you will be able to see where the stormwater pools. Rain gardens, usually placed near a source of runoff such as a roof downspout, can collect water during heavy rains so that the runoff can infiltrate the ground.

Do you leave pet waste, ashes from a fire pit or piles of leaves on your lakeshore where they may wash into the lake, thus contributing to algae blooms?

Yes

No

Tip: If you have a fire pit, please remove it from the shoreline buffer zone (within 50 ft of the lake) and take care that the ashes cannot enter the lake.

Do you allow wooden structures such as dead trees to remain in the lake where they have fallen?

Yes

No

Tip: Fallen wooden structures like trees and tree branches provide habitat structures for wildlife.

If you store boats, docks, lifts or other equipment on shore, do you minimize the amount of space they take up by stacking or elevating on blocks?

Yes

No

I don't store equipment on shore

Presence of Riprap - (stones assembled on a lakeshore in an attempt to prevent erosion) Do you have riprap along your shoreline?

Yes

No

If YES to the previous question - do you allow plants to grow in and around the riprap?

Yes

No

Tip: Native plants growing in riprap, because of their deep roots, protect the lake from runoff and provide habitat, but they also protect a lakeshore owner’s property against wave action caused by boats or by wind.

Do you remove aquatic plants by pulling, smothering with barriers, mechanical devices or chemicals? (Aquatic Zone - water's edge to deep end of weed bed)

Yes

No

Tip: As with plants in riprap, aquatic plants protect your shoreline, as well as provide habitat. It is acceptable for Lake Stewards to remove the least amount of plants that will allow you to enjoy your lakeshore for

swimming or boating.

What percentage of the shoreline buffer zone is un-mowed and/or includes native grasses, plants, trees, or shrubs?

1-25%

26-50%

51-75%

76-100%

Tip: A lush Shoreline Buffer Zone of native plants prevents harmful runoff of silt and nutrients from entering the lake. The deeper and more extensive the buffer zone, the better it protects lake water quality. If you have an especially deep or diverse buffer zone, thank you! And if not, you can easily build a protective buffer zone by starting small....just stop mowing.

What percentage of the Upland Zone includes trees, shrubs, and natural ground cover?

1-25%

26-50%

51-75%

76-100%

Tip: The Upland Zone, especially because it tends to be larger in area than the buffer zone, can be very protective of the lake while also creating biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

Have you seen or taken the Wisconsin Healthy Lakes “Score your Shore” evaluation? (not a requirement for this questionnaire) https://extensionlakes.org/wi/

Yes

No

I would like to learn more

Are you familiar with the Wisconsin Healthy Lakes GRANT programs?

Yes

No

I would like to learn more

Waupaca Chain O'Lakes Lake Steward

Waupaca Chain O'Lakes
Lake Steward