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Prevention of Starry Stonewort & Spiny Water Flea

Invasive Species: Know the Threat, Stop the Spread!

Click to view the Starry Stonewort and Spiny Water Flea Presentation

 

What do Starry Stonewort and Spiny Water Flea have in common? They’re invasive species threatening Wisconsin’s waters!

In a presentation at the MCLA Annual Banquet on Oct 17, 2026, Valerie O’Connor of Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development and Jason Miller of the Door County Invasive Species Team explained how invasive species affect our lakes, ecosystems, fishing, agriculture, and property values.

Learn about the threats these species pose to the Great Lakes and local waterways, how to recognize potential invaders, and what you can do to help prevent their spread.

The message is simple: Inspect, remove, drain, and dry! Clean boats and equipment thoroughly, and report suspected invasive species—even if you’re not certain.

Early detection is key to protecting our waters. Cedar Lake and Silver Lake have tested negative for Spiny Water Fleas, and Starry Stonewort has not been found in Manitowoc County.

Read the presentation PDF to learn more about these invasive species and how you can help protect our local lakes!

a young woman holding a fish a young man in front of a brick building
Updated: October 27, 2026 — 4:43 pm

New Fishing Regulations Effective April 1, 2026

3 men in a boat with fishing gear and cold weather apparel.

New Fishing Regulations (Effective April 1, 2026)

At the February 26, 2026 Meeting of Manitowoc County Lakes Association, Jason Breeggemann, WI-DNR Senior Fisheries Biologist, discussed the new regulations designed to balance fish populations that take effect across several county lakes on April 1.

  • Long Lake: 25 panfish daily limit, including no more than 5 bluegill

  • Bullhead Lake and Pigeon Lake: 10 panfish daily limit

  • Cedar Lake: Northern pike 25–35 inch protected slot limit, daily bag of 2; 10 panfish daily limit (max 5 bluegill)

  • Silver Lake: 26-inch minimum length for northern pike, daily bag limit of 2.

  • English Lake: 10 panfish daily limit (max 5 bluegill)

  • Harpt Lake: 10 panfish daily limit (max 5 yellow perch)

photo credit Scott Otterson

Updated: March 4, 2026 — 3:07 pm

New Fisheries Surveys for Long and Bullhead Lakes

A 10" bass

Survey Results Highlight Fish Population Trends in Local Lakes

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently completed comprehensive fisheries surveys on Long Lake and Bullhead Lake to evaluate fish populations and guide future management decisions. The surveys used fyke netting and electrofishing to measure fish abundance, growth, and size structure.

Jason Breeggemann, Senior Fisheries Biologist, presented results at the MCLA Meeting on February 26, 2026.

Long Lake

The 2025 survey found healthy northern pike and panfish populations in Long Lake. Biologists collected 3,396 fish from 13 species during netting surveys and 296 fish from 10 species during electrofishing.

Key findings include:

  • Northern Pike: Moderate–high abundance with an average size of 23.6 inches and fish up to 35 inches. Strong evidence suggests the population is being sustained by natural reproduction.

  • Black Crappie: Very abundant (96th percentile statewide), though most fish top out around 9–10 inches.

  • Bluegill: Moderate–high density with good growth rates and size structure.

Managers will continue monitoring natural pike reproduction and adjusting panfish regulations to maintain a balanced fish community.

Bullhead Lake

Bullhead Lake showed a different population structure, with very high numbers of largemouth bass and relatively fewer panfish.

Surveys captured 283 fish representing nine species during netting and 348 fish representing five species during electrofishing.

Key findings include:

  • Northern Pike: Moderate population dominated by older fish, suggesting limited recruitment of young pike.

  • Walleye: Low abundance, though survival from 2023 stocking efforts appears promising.

  • Largemouth Bass: Extremely abundant (99th percentile statewide) but slow-growing due to overcrowding.

  • Bluegill: Low–moderate abundance with good growth potential but few large individuals.

Managers recommend removing the minimum size limit for largemouth bass to reduce overcrowding and improve growth. Continued walleye stocking and monitoring of the pike population are also planned.

Updated: March 4, 2026 — 3:52 pm

Winter Kill ’26 on Silver Lake

What Happened: The January 2026 Winterkill on Silver Lake

  • In late January 2026, the Wisconsin DNR received reports from anglers on Silver Lake of a lack of fish on sonar and bait minnows dying in the water.

  • DNR biologists investigating the reports found dead fish — including bluegills and other panfish — and low dissolved oxygen levels in multiple basins; several dozen fish were initially documented.

  • Sampling across multiple sites (see map) by Fisheries Biologist Jason Breeggemann and Claire Hetzel confirmed low dissolved oxygen throughout the lake, with dead crappies and bluegill observed in some locations using an underwater camera. Pink circles = low O2 and no dead fish observed; yellow circles = low O2 and dead fish observed.

  • The leading explanation is oxygen depletion under ice — a common winter condition in shallow lakes — likely linked to high nutrient levels, a possible late-season algal bloom, and limited submerged vegetation producing oxygen beneath ice cover.

  • Additional water sampling is underway to determine whether oxygen decline resulted from natural biological processes or runoff inputs; early results show normal E. coli levels, ruling out an acute spill.

What’s Next?

  • Similar past events suggest some species may persist in limited refuge areas, but the full extent of this winterkill cannot be determined until after ice-out.

  • Testing and monitoring continue, with electrofishing surveys planned for spring — and possibly netting if conditions allow — to assess impacts.

  • Some media coverage has suggested the event may have eliminated an entire species locally and that recovery could take years; officials say the final impact assessment is pending survey results.

  • Findings from ongoing sampling and surveys will guide future management discussions, including whether aeration or other mitigation strategies should be considered.

Media Coverage

 

Updated: February 16, 2026 — 5:59 pm

June 2025 meeting – DNR update and Wake Vote

JUNE 26, 2025 MANITOWOC COUNTY LAKES ASSOCIATION MEETING AGENDA

from Jerry Corfman, President

UPDATED: Meeting Minutes

 

Date: Thursday, 6/26/25 

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Room 300, Manitowoc County Office Complex, 4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54245

Public Welcome

 

Planned agenda:

DNR conservation wardens Isaac Hackett and/or David Bennett will introduce themselves and give us an update on their schedules for Manitowoc County and answer questions from the audience.

 

5 to 7 minute social break.

 

MCLA general membership meeting

1) Secretary’s report of 4/17/25 meeting, request for any corrections/additions

2) Treasurer’s report

3) Lake representatives reports

4) MCLA Hazardous Wake resolution vote. (read more about the issue)

5) Upcoming meeting schedule, August 28, November 20, the annual meeting/banquet for 2025 is being hosted by the English Lake Association and is on Saturday October 11 th at Viking Bow and Gun Club. Tentative 2026 meeting dates are 2/26/26, 4/23/26, 6/25/26, 8/27/26, 11/19/26. 2026 annual meeting/banquet date and location are yet to be determined.

6) Motion to adjourn

Updated: July 31, 2025 — 1:35 pm

Are you part of the network? Volunteer!

 

Chances are that if you are reading this on our lakes website, you care about preserving Wisconsin’s important natural resources!

 

There are many opportunities to get involved with a Wisconsin Citizen-Based Monitoring Network program.

If you cannot volunteer, please visit their website and subscribe to their newsletter for valuable news and information. Read their winter 2020 newsletter.

 

Manitowoc County Organizations accepting volunteers:

Adopt-a-Beach
Alliance for the Great Lakes

Centerville Citizens for Air, River, and Environmental Solutions
WDNR, Discovery Farms, The WATER Institute

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network
Wisconsin DNR Northeast Region

National Weather Service Cooperative Observing Program
   NOAA, National Weather Service Green Bay

Woodland Dunes Nature Center

 


Statewide volunteer opportunities also available!

 

Bumble Bee Brigade logo
The Bumble Bee Brigade surveys for native bumble bees throughout the state.
Clean Lakes Monitoring Network logo
The Citizen Lake Monitoring Network is a partnership between UW-Extension Lakes, the Wisconsin DNR, and over 1,000 volunteers that collect many types of water quality information on Wisconsin Lakes.
Rare Plant Monitoring Program logo
The Rare Plant Monitoring Program surveys for rare plants around Wisconsin.
Water Action Volunteers logo
Water Action Volunteers (WAV) measure six important elements of stream health using scientific tools and techniques and report data to a statewide database.
Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey logo
The Wisconsin Frog & Toad Survey documents frog and toad distribution, relative abundance, and population trends in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Program logo
The Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Program seeks to provide up-to-date information on the distribution of native freshwater mussels at a statewide level.
Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program logo
The Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program aims to document turtle distribution, nesting areas, and road mortality hot spots statewide in order for conservation managers and citizen scientists to utilize data to focus on high priority areas for conservation.
Updated: December 11, 2020 — 10:08 am