DNR seeking public comment on Spur Lake Management Plan

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment from now through March 28 on a draft Lake Management Plan for Spur Lake in Oneida County.

The proposed management plan provides important background information, historical context and past and current management objectives and timelines for Spur Lake in one document in a concise format, DNR officials said in a press release. If approved, the finalized Lake Management Plan would make this site eligible to receive DNR Surface Water Grant funding to support management projects on the property.

The primary goal of the draft management plan is to maintain Spur Lake, part of the Spur Lake State Natural Area, as a high-quality, shallow, muck-bottomed lake for wildlife, with a special emphasis on re-establishing wild rice (manoomin) on the lake, the release states.

“This draft Lake Management Plan considers the Spur Lake watershed, shoreland and in-water environment, assesses waterbody condition and identifies viable options to protect this special area, with a specific focus on restoring the wild rice that was once prominent in Spur Lake,” said Carly Lapin, DNR Conservation Biologist. 

“The plan provides the groundwork for partners to collaboratively work toward these goals now and in the future. If successful, the restoration efforts implemented at Spur Lake have the potential to inform other wild rice restoration projects in the Upper Midwest,” Lapin added.

The management initiatives recommended by the plan include:

• Replacing culverts to restore hydrology around the lake.

• Implementing a wild rice pilot study.

• Monitoring wild rice recovery on the lake.

• Removing beavers in the area via trapping to stabilize water levels.

Public comments will be considered and incorporated into the final plan as appropriate. 

The finalized Spur Lake Management Plan will be completed by early April and posted on the Spur Lake State Natural Area webpage. The public can view the draft Lake Management Plan for Spur Lake online. 

Please submit questions or comments on the draft Lake Management Plan by March 28, 2024 to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:

C/O Carly Lapin, DNR Conservation Biologist 

107 Sutliff Ave. 

Rhinelander, WI 54501 

[email protected] or 715-493-0991.