January Education Seminar: “Update on Nearshore Fishery Survey on Lake Wisconsin”

The Lake Wisconsin Alliance (LWA) will host its first educational meeting for 2016 at the Lodi Town Hall, W10919 County Road V, on Thursday, January 7^th from 6:00-8:00pm.  LWA received a Prairie du Sac Dam Aquatic Resources Enhancement Fund grant from Alliant Energy to conduct nearshore fishery surveys on Lake Wisconsin in 2015 and 2016. Dave Marshall and Tim Larson have been contracted by LWA to conduct the surveys and will present the results from the first year.

Nearshore fish populations have been described as “canaries in the coal mine” but are not routinely surveyed since they offer no perceived or direct economic benefit associated with sport fish populations.  These sensitive fish populations provide important ecological linkages that may reveal lake-ecosystem stresses even before traditional trophic state index (TSI) parameters reveal water quality problems.  Nearshore fish populations are represented by a diversity of species, including Threatened, Special Concern and other environmentally intolerant groups.  The presence and absence of these often overlooked fish populations can also reveal important information on nearshore habitat conditions and can be used to assess habitat restoration projects.

The Lake Wisconsin Alliance (LWA) is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization that endeavors to balance the diverse interests of the Lake Wisconsin community while improving water quality, recreational opportunities, and sustaining a healthy ecosystem within the Lake Wisconsin watershed.

If you have questions about this event, feel free to contact Melissa Keenan at 608-355-4838, or [email protected].