Polluted runoff remains the number one threat to Wisconsin's lakes. Invasive species such as zebra mussels get a lot of attention, but Wisconsin Association of Lakes executive director Peter Murray says they've actually impacted a relative handful of the state's 15,000 lakes. Runoff, on the other hand, is much more widespread, whether it's manure runoff from agriculture or phosphorous from suburban lawns. Implementing practices to control runoff costs money, but Murray says a new administrative rule will give the DNR more ability to regulate runoff from the state's 150 largest livestock feedlot operations.
Murray says there are just over 800 lake associations and lake districts in the state, and increase of about 150 from just four years ago. "People are realizing that a lake association or a lake district can be a very valuable tool to help them maintain the high quality of their lakes," he says. The lakes association held it's annual meeting over the weekend in Green Bay.
