Save the lake, save the community

WEYAUWEGA – After decades of watching the lake deteriorate, board members of Weyauwega Lake Restoration (WLR) are considering forming a lake district, which could give them the funding and authority to restore the lake.

Members said at a March 12 meeting that a lake district would allow the group to levy modest taxes to fund weed removal and basic maintenance, provide leverage to win state and federal grants, and ultimately help revive a community they describe as “dying” without a healthy lake at its center.

WLR is a voluntary lake association, which has no power over lake community residents. A lake district; however, has legal authority under Wisconsin law to levy taxes or special assessments on property within its boundaries to fund lake management activities such as water quality protection, habitat restoration and recreational improvements.

Lake district boundaries can include all or part of a lake, or multiple lakes, and typically include all riparian or waterfront properties. Boundaries may also extend to off-lake parcels that benefit from or impact the lake’s watershed, according to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Extension Lakes program. Cities and villages must give approval to be included in a lake district.

WLR Vice President Jim Tolfa said earlier estimates suggested a lake district would raise local property taxes by about $2 to $3 for every $100,000 of a home’s value. Current projections put the increase at about $5 per $100,000, he said, meaning a resident with a home valued at $200,000 could see a $10 increase in their property tax bill annually if a lake district were to form.

Members said that investing now in weed removal and regular lake maintenance would pay off in the long run by boosting tourism, property values and local businesses.

“If we don’t bring that lake back, we will not survive, and the lake is the key to the survival of the City of Weyauwega,” WLR Secretary Holly Martin said.

In earlier decades, Weyauwega supported multiple gas stations, taverns, hotels, restaurants and small shops, but as WLR President Bob Van Epps recalled, “We gradually lost all of that because as the lake deteriorated, so did the downtown.”

Members pointed to nearby Waupaca, where the Chain O’ Lakes and restored Shadow Lake now draw visitors and tourism dollars.

An economic study conducted by UW-Stevens Point in 2010 found that restoring the lake as a recreational destination could provide a significant boost to the local economy. Researchers estimated that Weyauwega could see more than $1.3 million in additional taxable revenue annually, while Waupaca County could gain nearly $580,000 annually.

Public access to Weyauwega Lake includes a beach near North Mill Street, a boat launch and fishing pier at Peterson Park just to the south, a boat launch and pier on North Lake Street, and a kayak launch on Old Mill Street by the dam.

Concerns about the lake conditions include weeds and muck driving ecological decline.

“We know exactly what we need to do,” Tolfa said. “We know that we have to pull the weeds, not cut them. We have to pull them out to get that muck into the water column.”

Tolfa said there are also issues with loud airboats, bright lights and nighttime activity. Members said that a lake district would be able to set local rules on noise and use.

Of the four WLR board members, three live on the lake and one lives across the street from it. They said Weyauwega Lake is home to a diverse array of wildlife. Among the notable birds seen at the lake is the black tern, which is an endangered species in Wisconsin.

The lake also supports turtles, snakes, frogs and small mammals. Fish species include carp, bluegill, perch, crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike. However, Tolfa said heavy weed growth has pushed many anglers to ice fishing in winter.

Part of Lake Weyauwega lies within the city and part in the town. Tolfa said lake advocates have been trying for about 30 years to improve the lake and they have run into “brick walls.”

He said the group has struggled to get support from the city for weed cleanup and other lake projects, noting that even relatively small funding requests were turned down. He said WLR lacks the resources to deal with the problems on its own, with little money left and limited ability to raise funds.

Members said the COVID-19 pandemic also halted momentum for lake projects and meetings, setting back efforts that had been building for years. After decades of trying to improve the lake, they say forming a lake district may be the only way to move restoration efforts forward.

“Everything goes better if we get this lake where it belongs,” Martin said. “We’re here to not only save the lake, which we’d like to do, but to save the town and the township.”

Members said the next step is to take their proposal to a town meeting. If town support can be secured, they plan to bring a formal lake-district plan to the Waupaca County Board for approval.