      
2008 Beach Coliform Bacteria Counts The primary tool used at present to evaluate beach water quality is the measurement of "indicator" organisms that estimate the level of fecal contamination of the water. The indicator organisms most commonly used are fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and enterococci. These coliform bacteria are microorganisms that usually occur in the intestinal tract of animals, including humans. High levels of these organisms in recreational water are indicative of fecal contamination and the possible presence of intestinal-disease-causing organisms (http://www.great-lakes.net/humanhealth/other/bacteria.html). Federal and State recreational water quality guidelines recommend bacterial levels below which the risk of human illness is considered to be minimal. For public beaches, the regional Health Departments generally monitor beach water quality. [The Green Lake Sanitary District monitors local Green Lake beach waters.] When contaminant indicator levels in the bathing beach water reach levels that are considered to pose a risk to health, public beaches may be posted with a sign warning bathers of these potential health risks (http://www.great-lakes.net/humanhealth/other/bacteria.html). The Wisconsin Beach Monitoring Program was developed in accordance with EPA performance criteria. Therefore, this document sets forth performance criteria for the following (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/wqs/beaches/BeachMonitoringRequirements.pdf): 1) Sampling and monitoring, 2) promptly notifying the public of exceedances of the water quality standard for E. coli, and 3) reporting.
The GLSD is currently in the process of applying for two lake protection grants in 2009 which will pay for 75% of the $200,000 purchase costs for the ABA East and ABA West Properties. These two spectacular properties are located on the ABA grounds and encompass over 30+ acres of land with over 2,500+ feet of lake frontage. Trails are being planned for both of these conservancy properties and both should be open to the public by the Fall of 2009. The GLSD currently sewers the residential equivalent of just over 1,000 homes. With the addition of the 250+ homes located along Tuleta Hills and Spring Grove Roads in 2002, the GLSD sewers just over two-thirds of the homes in the GLSD. The remaining unsewered homes (approx 500) are served by private on-site wastewater treatment systems. At present, there are 500+ vacant lots in the GLSD. Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems As mentioned above, approximately 500 of the GLSD’s 1,400 homes are served by private on-site wastewater treatment systems. These systems are comprised of conventional septic systems, mound systems and holding tanks. The GLSD has a State approved management plan for pumping and inspecting all District private on-site wastewater treatment systems. In general, septic systems need to be pumped and inspected at least once every 3 years and holding tanks require pumping and inspection every two years. There is also funding available for replacement of on-site systems within the GLSD, interested parties should contact the GLSD office. In the Spring of 2002, the Wisconsin DNR implemented a number of new rules with respect to mechanical plant harvesting. In summary, the new rules allow our cutter to harvest a 30 foot wide area for each riparian owner. The 30 foot wide strip cannot be exceeded without a special permit issued by the DNR. In addition, to respect the rights of all property owners (i.e. some folks fish a lot and like a lot of plants and others swim a lot and don’t want to see plants) our aqweed program will not cut a property owner’s riparian area without a call from them to the GLSD office at (920) 295-4488.
The GLSD spends most of its exotics time focusing on four particular invaders. The four invaders are: Zebra Mussel (ZM), Carp, Purple Loosestrife (PL) and Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM). We believe we have been successful with three of these invaders and the fourth invader (ZM) remains to be tamed by virtually anyone or anything. A new carp barrier at the County K bridge in 2009 joins the relatively new bubble air carp barrier at the County A bridge. We believe these barriers have greatly reduced the spawning success of carp and the reduced spawning will control the carp numbers in Big Green Lake. The GLSD continues to run its PL nursery at the GLSD headquarters on County Road TT. The continued success of the nursery seems to be keeping the control and spread of PL in check, our plans are to continue to run the nursery indefinitely. The GLSD is currently working with other lake
organizations and State officials to prepare for the “next steps”
(more monitoring, education and information) that may be coming shortly,
we will continue to provide property owners information as it becomes
available. The EWM issue is kept in check by the Aqweed Program and our mechanical harvesters. In 2008, we purchased a smaller cutter to assist our cutting efforts in really tight spaces on the Lake and in the Estuaries. EWM seems to be pretty unpredictable in where it decides to show up every year; however, the mobility of our Aqweed Crew really keeps this exotic in check. ZM were first discovered in our Lake in 2005 by GLSD staff through ZM samplers located at various locations all around our Lake. ZM has continued to multiply at an alarming rate over the past few years and there really isn’t a solution for containing or eliminating them other than the use of protective aqua socks for recreational activities. The GLSD purchased the County Fish Rearing Facility in 2006 and the last few years have seen tremendous Brown and Lake Trout Rearing and Stocking. Even though the Fish Rearing Facility (FRF) is run primarily by the GLSD staff, the fishing partnership for Big Green Lake really supports the financial operations and improvements to the FRF. The fishing partners for the FRF include: Green Lake County, City of Green Lake, Green Lake Association, Walleyes for Tomorrow, Wisconsin DNR and Local Fishing Guides. The fishing partnership has made it possible for the FRF to not only continue its operations to successfully raise fish, but to also make over $20,000 worth of capital improvements to the FRF which will keep it viable for many decades into the future. In addition to the cold water stocking outlined above at the FRF, the FRF also houses the Walleye Wagon. WFT ran a successful rearing during the Spring of 2009 for the first time in the past few years. The VHS virus had prohibited walleye raising activities for a number of years, but procedures to deal with VHS seem to be worked out and walleye raising activities are back. For most information on the removal and control of carp, refer to the “exotics” section above. In addition to the carp barriers, professional fisherman have continued to remove carp from our Lake and its estuaries. Revitalizing of Shoreland Vegetation The GLSD and GLA are continuing the sponsorship of RSVP with funds available to lake property owners interested in restoring their shoreline properties. Changes in 2003 include allowing property owners to obtain funding for design work as well as project installations. Prior to 2003, RSVP had a specialist available for free consultation; however, the GLSD and GLA believe that enough area businesses have now been certified (educated on required shoreland restoration practices) to eliminate the need for a subsidized specialist. For questions and/or help, please contact the GLSD office. The conservancy partnership held its first tour of the Mitchell Glen conservancy property on Saturday, October 1, 2005. The first tour was sponsored by the Green Lake Sanitary District and the Green Lake Conservancy Foundation. Over 60 people attended the first tour which was broken down into 2 groups. The first group of 30 plus people rode a bus from Sunset County Park to Mitchell Glen and enjoyed a tour and presentation from 8am until 10am. The second group of over 30 people were bused and toured the Glen from 10:15am until noon. An extended tour of additional conservancy properties was given during the afternoon of 10/1/05. We believe that the semiannual tours will give conservancy donors and the public the opportunity to see the properties that their donations made possible. It was a great day for our conservancy partnership and we are sure that the tour’s first participants will always remember. Our conservancy group (GLSD and Green Lake Conservancy Foundation) cannot emphasize enough the importance of ongoing fund raising for these land acquisition projects. In almost all cases, State grant funding only covers a portion of the land costs. We need donations from property owners who have an agenda to acquire lands that will provide “green space” around our lake as well as provide protection to our lake. As most of you can see, our time for acquiring conservancy lands in and around the lake is running out. If you are interested in contributing to these valuable conservancy efforts, please feel free to contact our office (920)-295-4488
for more information. The Green Lake, Markesan, Princeton and Ripon Public Schools continue an active roll in the health and protection of Big Green Lake and its Watershed. Green Lake is active in lake and watershed water quality monitoring, shoreland restoration, purple loosestrife, zebra mussel monitoring and studies relating to native plants. Markesan is active in lake and watershed water quality monitoring and purple loosestrife projects. Ripon is active in lake and watershed water quality monitoring, lake habitat monitoring and shoreland restoration. Princeton is active in lake watershed water quality monitoring. The Green Lake Sanitary
District is currently working with Green Lake County to implement a
phosphorus ban for all residential lawn fertilizers used in Green Lake
County. One pound of phosphorus can produce up to 500 pounds of
weeds upon entering the lake. We expect this effort to take some time and your support is helpful. Big Green Lake needs to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake each year. Phosphorus binds naturally with the soil and is one of the lake’s biggest enemies. As this effort unfolds, we will provide more information; however, in the short term, please do not use fertilizers on your lawn that contain any phosphorus. |
