The First Step: In 2001 Peppermill Lake Property Owners Association and Peppermill Lake Sportsman’s Club were awarded a DNR Lake Planning Grant, which funded a comprehensive study of the lake. This study, carried out with the assistance of UW Stevens Point, included (1) lake-wide sampling of aquatic plants, (2) multiple measures of water chemistry over a one-year period, (3) location and volume of springs supplying the lake, (4) size and extent of the watershed, (5) a fish survey and (6) a survey of the lake property owners regarding their use and experience with the lake. As noted in the introduction to the report from that study, Peppermill Lake has never been studied with respect to these important factors, and without such information, lake management was simply not possible. This study provided the first objective information for decisions on lake management for plants, for water quality and for fisheries. The DNR provides these study grants so individual lakes can obtain the necessary information to take the next step, to develop a Lake Management Plan.

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

Management Plan, A Requirement: ALWCD followed a Wisconsin DNR directive to establish a Lake Management Plan for every lake in the county. As it turns out, a Lake Management Plan currently is required to receive lake grants from the DNR or the Waterways Commission and to get DNR permits to treat or harvest aquatic plants. In addition, once a Peppermill Lake Management Plan is developed and approved, we are eligible to get additional grants for lake improvement projects such as shoreland restoration.

Value of Lake Management Plan: A lake management plan is a very good idea for Peppermill Lake. Developing a Lake Management Plan requires that the lake community take a careful look at their lake and consider: (1) information on the lake’s condition, (2) possible threats, (3) how they want it to be in 10 or 20 years (4) what can be done to protect and preserve it and (5) a timeline and a series of specific objectives toward lake protection and preservation. Having a lake management plan is in direct contrast to what has been happening for the first 30 years of Peppermill Lake, where there were no long term goals, no scientific information on the true condition of the lake, with most actions being short-term reactions to immediate problems. Many of the problems faced by Peppermill Lake today might have been avoided if we had had a Lake Management Plan in 1980 or 1990.

Lake Citizens Invited to Participate: In fall of 2004, the Peppermill Lake District Board and the ALWCD sought lake community participation for development of the Lake Management Plan, including membership in a Lake Advisory Group for any lake users or lake community members who wished to belong. The current Lake Advisory Group consists of the following individuals (1) Russ Stearns, Jim Abbs and Barbara Anderson (representing lake residents), (2) Bill Pegler (representing Peppermill Lake District), (3) Scot Ironside (DNR Fisheries Biologist), (4) Buzz Sorge (DNR Lake Specialist), (5) Debra Konkel (DNR Aquatic plant specialist), (6) Reesa Evens (Adams County Land and Water Conservation Department), (7) Al Sebastiani (Representing Adams County), and (8) George Benish (Representing Jackson Township).

Survey: As a first step, a Peppermill Property Owner survey was developed and sent to everyone in the Lake District. About 59% responded, providing an excellent sample. After the survey was analyzed, a list of actions to improve, protect and preserve the lake were identified and organized over a 5 year timeline. This tentative plan was presented to the Peppermill Lake District with respect to various action items at district board meetings held in October, 2004 and January, 2005.

Public Hearing/Special Meeting on Plan: In February, 2005 a copy of the proposed plan was made available at the Oxford and Adams public libraries, with the District Secretary, at the Adams County Land Conservation office, and in electronic form on the Peppermill Lake website. Lake District members were mailed a notice of the plan and a special meeting for citizen input. On February 19, 2005, a special meeting was held for the sole purpose of getting lake citizen and public input on the plan. While attendance was moderate, all aspects of the plan were presented and comments, questions and suggestions were encouraged. We also indicated that comments by mail or e-mail were also welcomed. Nine (9) minor comments were received and the plan was altered to accommodate those comments or information was provided as where in the existing plan such issues were addressed. After a short discussion, the plan was approved by the Peppermill Lake District Board and submitted to the Wisconsin DNR Office in Eau Claire for final approval. You can see the Peppermill Lake Management Plan in detail by clicking here.

Action Items and Focus: The Lake Management Plan contains a number of actions within six major areas (1) Aquatic Species Management (2) The Peppermill Dam, (3) Recreational Uses of the Lake, (4) Shorelands (within 1,000 feet of the lake), (5) Water Quality and (6) Peppermill Lake Watershed (outside the shoreland area).

The Lake Advisory Group (LAG) tried to do a thorough job of identifying all possible actions that have been documented to improve other lakes that are similar to Peppermill Lake in their characteristics (as documented in the lake study) or to remedy concerns by property owners, as reflected in the recent 2004 survey.

Nothing Is Cast in Stone: There are a number of actions listed that “Explore” or “Investigate” or “Identify” or “Inventory.” Simply because a particular action is mentioned does not mean it will be implemented, but rather that the LAG wanted to consider it, explore the options and investigate it further. Among these are many rules or programs that have been shown to improve a lake or a lake community.

For example, because many who responded to the questionnaire complained about noise, particularly lawn mowers, barking dogs, etc; they also indicated that “quiet” was the thing they liked best about Peppermill Lake. In response, the LAG included an action to “Explore a noise ordinance.” Likewise concerns about night lights shining on the lake has been shown to detrimentally impact fish and aquatic insect behavior in a lake, and several lake communities have devised a way to shade lights to minimize this impact. In response, the LAG included an action to “Explore a light trespass” ordinance (which does not mean turn off your lights, just make sure they shine only on your property and not on the neighbor’s property or the lake). Other possible actions included a Lake Drawdown, inspection of septic systems (likely to contribute to phosphorus in the lake), prohibition of fertilizers on lake shore properties, etc.

You Will Have Input: Before any of these steps are allowed to become firm, the lake citizens will have an opportunity to voice their concerns, vote at an annual meeting and at a second level, the changes must be approved by Adams County and in some cases by the Town Board.

Reviewed and Revised Annually: The LAG is a standing committee and will be reviewing the Lake Management Plan at least annually to determine progress and respond to changes in the lake or changing wishes of the lake community. Individuals wishing to see certain policies in Peppermill Lake Management are encouraged to submit their suggestions to the Adams County Land and Water Conservation Department or to the Lake Advisory Committee.