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Lakes Convention Focused On Farmers, Loons and Water Topics

Wisconsin DNR

Preserving Wisconsin's surface watershed was the focus of the annual Wisconsin Lakes Partnership Convention and Water Action Volunteers Symposium last week in Stevens Point.

Eric Olson Director of the UW-Extension Lakes Program based in Stevens Point.

More than 500 people attend who are interested in protecting and restoring lakes, rivers and water quality in the state. Olson says a key concern was working with farmers to protect water quality. He says lakes groups and farmers are partnering to promote healthy soil practices. He says if farmers can keep their soils on farm fields, the runoff and nutrients won't go downstream to surface waters.

He says lakes organizers were meeting to figure how to get those conversations started. Another key topic was water quality and loons, specifically mercury in the water and anglers using lead lures while fishing...

 "....loons eat a lot of fish. They don't eat big fish, but they do eat a lot of smaller fish. They bio-accumulate mercury so that can impact their health. Everything from mercury to fishing tackle. When anglers lose their fishing lures, or cut their line, it can be monofilament line, it can leave lead tackle in the lake. It it gets into the loon, it's not good for their health...."

Olson says about 20 percent of loon deaths are caused by a lead problem resulting from them eating lead fishing tackle. Olson says one of the key reasons people come to the convention is to learn how to make their lake organization work better.

More information is at the website Wisconsin akes. org or by Googling UW-Extension Lakes

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