Public Comment sought for Yahara Lakes Advisory Group Recommendations

Public Comments are now being sought on the recommendations drafted by the Yahara Lakes Advisory Group II – or YLAG2.   Appointed by County Executive Parisi, I joined other city, village, town, county and regional planning representatives, user groups, lake associations' representatives and University of Wisconsin educators in carrying out our charge to examine the operation, physical constraints, and changing hydrology of the Yahara chain of lakes and make water level recommendations that balance public and private interests. Public interests include navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and natural scenic beauty. Private and cultural interests include historic values, riparian and business access and economic development. 

We spent 12 months learning from experts about various topics affecting lake level management – from hazard mitigation to cultural heritage to wetlands and wildlife habitats to hydraulics – to help us carry out our charge.   In the end, we agreed on 41 different recommendations in categories that include water levels, watershed management, in-lake management, analyses and information/education. 

A public meeting was held in late March to start the public input process, and the recommendations are now available for public comment on the web at http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/ylag.aspx.  Comments will be accepted between April 12 – April 26th.    All public input will be considered by the group and final recommendations will be forwarded to the WI DNR – the agency charged with establishing lake levels for the Yahara chain of lakes.   

I have asked the County to also include on their web page information about lake levels and management strategies so that we can understand what actions they are taking to best manage lake levels.   That information is posted at: http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/lakelevelpg.aspx.

I always encourage constituents to contact Kevin directly at 224-3731 if they have concerns about the lakes  and of course, they are always welcome to contact me as well at 221-0514.