Program Notes from September 20, 2004 Meeting of LKWA
The LKWA met September 20 at 6:00 pm at the Busseyville Town Hall.
Penny Shackelford and Susan Yates reported on their work with the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative to nominate the Greater Lake Koshkonong Area as an Important Bird Area (IBA). This will designate the area as an important haven for migrating or nesting birds. Our members will be called on next spring to help with surveys of migrating and nesting birds in our wetlands.
Our study of tree growth in the lowland forest north of the lake is underway with funding from the grant we received this summer.
We learned that we have received two additional grants, each for $10,000. These were awarded through a DNR Lake Planning Grants Program. One grant will fund a botanic survey of the wetlands of Lake Koshkonong. The other is to study the impact of water levels and other environmental conditions on two populations of endangered plants in our wetlands.
A program was presented by Suzanne Wade, the Rock River Basin educator (of the UW extension). Suzanne works with the Rock River Coalition (RRC) to facilitate a broad program to protect and improve the economic, environmental, cultural and recreational resources of the Rock River Basin in Wisconsin. Teams work to address issues of water quality, storm water management, shore line restoration and protection, rural development, ground water protection, and recreation. LKWA is a member of the Rock River Coalition. Suzanne gave us many ideas of how we could use the resources of the RRC and also how we might provide volunteers for their projects. One area of special interest was their program called "Clean Boats, Clean Water Volunteer Watercraft Inspection Program". Adults and youth are trained how to organize and conduct a boater education program in their community. Volunteers are stationed at landings and educate boaters on how and where invasive species are most likely to hitch a ride into water bodies.
Respectfully submitted,
Penny Shackelford
Secretary / Treasurer