Projects and Activities

AERATOR SYSTEM

A cascading aerator system has been available for use since shortly after the fish winter-kill of 1995-96. It is placed at the Ballard landing, usually in January or February, when the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels drop to a certain level at the culvert (below 4 ppm) near the outlet of Irving Lake. The DO levels are performed by Wisconsin DNR Fisheries personnel and the levels are reported to the BIWBLA president. When indicated, the Plum Lake town maintenance crew is notified that the aerator system needs to be placed. The aerator system has gone through some major repairs over the past few years with the expertise of BIWBLA member Jim Truesdell. Funds for the maintenance and repairs are through BIWBLA and the Town of Plum Lake.

WISCONSIN CITIZEN LAKE MONITORING NETWORK (CLMN)

Water clarity evaluation is also performed using a Secchi disc on Ballard, Irving, and White Birch Lakes. This is performed throughout the open water season. 

Water chemistries are performed four times per year, those being within 2 weeks of ice out and the last two weeks of June, July, and August, on both Ballard and Irving Lakes. This includes analysis of Phosphorus and Chlorophyll-a. At the time of the sampling, water clarity testing and water temperatures (at 3’ increments) are performed with the data entered through the Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) database.

LOON PLATFORM 

A loon platform has been placed on Ballard in the northeast bay (in the area where there had previously been a small island) since 2015. It is the responsibility of BIWBLA to place the platform within approximately 2 weeks of ice out and removed sometime late summer, after any possibility of repeat nesting. Removal and inspection of the platform allows for any necessary repairs. The platform has been very successful with hatching of loon chicks almost every year.

TOWN OF PLUM LAKE LAKES COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION

The Town of Plum Lake Lakes Committee was formed in 2005 under the direction of Frank Splitt, founding president of BIWBLA. It was one of the first town Lakes Committees formed in the State of Wisconsin. Currently, BIWBLA president Joe Heitz and BIWBLA member Bob Marsh are members of the committee, with Joe acting as Vice-chair. In 2023, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers awarded the Town of Plum Lake and the Lakes Committee a Certificate of Commendation “for its ongoing dedication and stewardship to Wisconsin’s beautiful lakes and for its remarkable impact on the state.” The committee is funded by the Town of Plum Lake and grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Several recent grants include those used for a Lake Management Comprehensive Plan (including the major lakes with the Plum Lake Township), Clean Boats/Clean Waters, Fish Sticks projects, Little Star Lake Eurasian Watermilfoil remediation, and boat landing video surveillance units.

CLEAN BOATS, CLEAN WATERS

Arranged through the Town of Plum Lake Lakes Committee, students from UW-Oshkosh and local residents monitor the Ballard and Irving boat landings throughout the summer and fall, with the primary goal of educating and informing those launching boats on the importance of minimizing the risk of introducing aquatic invasive species.

BLIMS (BOAT LANDING INVASIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS)

Also arranged through the Lakes Committee, these internet connected video surveillance units have been placed on the 6 majors lake in the Township of Plum Lake, including units at the Ballard and Irving boat landings, since 2018. The other units are placed on Star, Plum, Laura, and Razorback Lakes. The units provide audio educational information at the time of the boat launch and boat removal, along with the capture of short video clips that are eventually reviewed. Any suspected violations are submitted to the head DNR warden.