DNR Grant for County Lake Efforts: In 2003, the Adams County Land and Water Conservation Department (ALWCD) received a DNR grant to provide local county-level expertise and support for lake management. Peppermill Lake District and other lake organizations participated in applying for this grant with the understanding that we would be assisted by the Adams County personnel in developing aLake Management Plan and in other lake management efforts. .

A Reality of State Budget Cuts: Moving some of the work from the DNR Eau Claire office to the county level was due in part to the fact that the Wisconsin DNR Lakes Program budget was under stress and it was increasingly difficult to provide assistance and expertise to all the lakes requesting it.

A Local Lake Expert. Reesa Evans, with an advanced degree in water resources, was hired by the county to work with the lakes and carry out some of the work specified in that grant. As noted elsewhere, one of the goals of the DNR grant to Adams County was to get all lakes in the county on a regular water quality and aquatic plant monitoring program, as well as develop individual management plans. Much of the work being carried out by county personnel on Peppermill is part of this effort, usually with little to no cost to the district. Currently, county efforts are funded by the DNR grant. In the future we may be asked along with other county lake organizations to share in the cost of these valuable services.

The County Owns Peppermill Dam: A more active county role is important particularly for Peppermill and seven other lakes in the county, because Adams County owns, operates and maintains their dams. These dams are inspected periodically and maintained to insure public safety, proper dam function and stable lake levels.

Progress: The Peppermill Lake District Board views these change in the role of the county as a very positive development, reflecting a new awareness that lakes are important, economically, in the life of county citizens and with respect to tourism. We have seen many benefits to lake coordination at the county level, including an increased sharing of knowledge and resources among lake citizens and boards of other lake districts. One recent benefit was identifying a source for barley straw as a way to reduce algae. In the past, it was not possible to find barley straw in a form that could be conveniently used and at a reasonable cost.