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Property owners urge return of historic lake levels after DNR cites 1955 order; committee hears impacts on access, fisheries and wetlands
Summary
Representatives of the Whitefish Lake Property Owners Association told the committee that the DNR’s adoption of a 1955 order and a relocated gauge in 2021 lowered lake levels roughly one foot across the Lac Courte Oreilles chain, harming navigation, docks, wetlands and fishery habitat; the DNR public meeting date was not yet set.
Members of the Whitefish Lake Property Owners Association told the Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee that a DNR action in May 2021 applying a 1955 water‑level order and using a newly positioned gauge lowered lake levels on three connected lakes by about one foot, which they say has reduced boat access, accelerated shoreline erosion, affected wetlands and stressed cold‑water fisheries.
Pat Weir, speaking for the Whitefish Lake Property Owners Association, described impacts on navigation, dock and lift removal, and increased maintenance expense for town ramps. He said his group submitted a petition asking the DNR to restore lake levels to the elevation maintained prior to February 2021 and that they were not seeking higher levels, only a return to prior management levels.
Weir and a quoted resident cited the rarity of cisco/whitefish fisheries in Wisconsin and said low water can reduce winter dissolved oxygen and increase stress on such species. They also said shallower water increases milfoil (Eurasian watermilfoil) exposure and growth. Weir asked the committee to consider whether the county can encourage the DNR to reexamine the gauge placement and that residents expect a public meeting; county staff said no DNR public hearing date had been announced.
Committee members asked county staff whether the DNR had scheduled a public hearing; staff said they had no date to announce and had corresponded with DNR staff. No formal committee action was taken; the presentation was received as informational public comment.
