‘What’s your lake’s report card?’ Northwoods Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting set for July 17

Oneida County’s new Lake Classification Project will showcase just one of the ways riparian owners can score their lake at the 2026 Northwoods Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting, set for Friday, July 17, at James Williams Middle School, 915 Acacia Lane in Rhinelander.

Lake classification considers a lake’s sensitivity to outside stressors by assessing its natural physical features and current overall health, including health of the lands surrounding it. Meeting attendees will be able to discover where their lakes rank in the county’s classification system and what it means for lake management. The program will also include presentations on:

• The enhanced wake issue and other Wisconsin water policy matters.

• A Lake Steward program to recognize good shoreline management practices.

• Wild rice (manoomin) and how it relates to lake health.

• A Northwoods and Wisconsin fisheries report card.

• Light pollution and its effects on the beings in and around our lakes and streams.

The meeting, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will include ample time for questions, answers and discussion. There will be exhibits from educational and nonprofit organizations and excellent opportunities for networking. All are welcome; there is no charge and no need to register. More details and a full agenda will be announced as the meeting date approaches.

Attendees are expected from Oneida, Vilas, Forest, Iron, Langlade, and Lincoln counties. The event is jointly sponsored by the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association (www.oclra.org) and the Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association (www.vclra.org). For more information, contact Ted Rulseh at 920-242-8671 ([email protected]) or Tom Ewing at 630-985-8472 ([email protected]).