Partners propose five‑year pilot to manage aquatic plants in Little Lake Butte des Morts; advocates urged to form lake association

Katie Woodrow of the Fox‑Wolf Watershed Alliance presented a final report to the Neenah Common Council on June 18 summarizing phase‑one work on Little Lake Butte des Morts: stakeholder engagement, data collection, an aquatic plant baseline, and an action plan that includes a mechanical harvesting pilot and a recommendation to form a lake association.

Project partners include the cities of Neenah and Menasha and the Village of Fox Crossing, with technical support from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department, and GEI Consultants. Funding sources identified in the presentation included a DNR surface water grant as well as support from Fund for Lake Michigan, Community Foundation partners and "Future Neenah." Fox‑Wolf said the effort began in October 2023 and phase‑one work focused on assembling data and public input.

Public engagement and baseline data: the partnership held three public meetings (July 18, 2024; February 2025; May 13, 2025) with over 250 total attendees and ran a stakeholder survey. Of 366 survey mailings to shoreline property owners, the presenter said about 150 owners responded (roughly a 41% response rate); an additional 291 public responses were recorded. Winnebago County conducted a shoreline erosion inventory in May 2024 (drone and boat) and found sites of erosion and 13 vegetated shoreline buffers. An aquatic plant inventory in July 2024 sampled 641 locations around the lake using rake surveys and produced an average "rake fullness" of 2.05, indicating dense plant growth in concentrated areas such as near Arrowhead Park.

Water quality sampling by the DNR in 2024 (three sampling events) showed phosphorus and sediment above thresholds for good water quality, the presentation said. Fox‑Wolf characterized the lake as not historically well monitored by the DNR and said the new sampling will form a helpful baseline for ongoing monitoring.

Pilot management plan: the recommended next step for Neenah is a mechanical harvesting pilot focused on the Arrowhead Park/nearby park area to create cut "lanes" for non‑motorized access and to improve aesthetics. The pilot as described would begin in June 2026 under a permit that can be renewed on a 3–5 year cycle; harvested vegetation would be removed and disposed (composted or landfilled) with special precautions to avoid spreading fragments of aquatic invasive species. Fox‑Wolf noted the DNR will monitor outcomes — particularly any spread of invasive species — during the permit period.

Community organization and funding: the report recommends organizing a lake association to provide local leadership, fundraising and grant eligibility. Fox‑Wolf offered to lead initial outreach and provide education, meeting facilitation and fiscal sponsorship while stakeholders organize. Neenah and Menasha have committed seed funding to move to the next phase; Fox‑Wolf planned a stakeholder kickoff on June 24 at the Menasha Library.

Council discussion included questions about PCBs and invasive species/lock operations. Alderman Ellis asked whether latent PCB effects on fish or vegetation had been noted; the presenter said she had not heard reports of deformities and that DNR monitoring post‑cleanup had been favorable. On invasive round goby and lock closures, Fox‑Wolf said the organization is not making lock‑closure recommendations but is prepared to help an organized lake association present information and advocate to state agencies.

No formal council action was required; the presentation concluded with an invitation to interested residents to engage in the next‑phase meetings and the planned pilot permit work.