The state Natural Resources Board this week heard an update on a lake management plan for the Powell Marsh's Dead Pike Lake in the town of Manitowish Waters, Vilas county.
The plan focuses on the reduction of iron and phosphorus by stopping the loading of those components into the lake. Dead Pike Lake water quality has been damaged by iron floc, draining off an area where a failed experiment to bring in a goose population took place in the 1950's.
This week, folks involved in restoring the water quality updated the Natural Resources Board.
Town of Manitowish Waters Chair John Hanson says about $250,000 has been spent studying the problem. But he says a quieter issue emerges with property values...
"..One of the impacts we haven't talked about very much as we've gone through this process is the impacts on property values on the lake. There are 22 private property owners on the lake, the balance is owned by the state, and our assessor has decreased the value of these properties based on the impairment designation of the water by about 25 percent. Which is very significant if you have a $500,000 property, or even a $100,000 piece of property on the lake..."
He says one property on the lake sold for 30 percent under market value this past year. Eventually a private third party firm, Applied Ecological Services was brought in to analyze the problem and make recommendations.
But Hanson told the board the plan is working and liked the public-private cooperation...
"..."This has been a private-public process that has gotten us to the point where we are now. I think it's a template that can be used throughout the state because I'm amazed to see that there are 300 impaired waters in the state. That number amazed me..."
Among some of the actions recommended is was keeping the lake level up, reducing groundwater seepage that includes phosphorus and iron, the application of lime, and several other actions. These steps will take up to three years.
The DNR's James Yach says they are looking at federal and state funds along with a private charitable foundation to pay for the project.
