Elkhart Lake Improvement Association

Our Agenda

Our Concerns
Services We Offer
Bylaws

Our Concerns - Protecting and Preserving Elkhart Lake

The mission of the Elkhart Lake Improvement Association is to promote, preserve and enhance the general welfare of the lake through furthering water safety, pollution control, environmental maintenance and public education. In this spirit, ELIA offers this Statement of Concerns to area governmental and regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the lake and the surrounding community as well as to lake property owners, potential private buyers, and real estate agents and developers. The aim of ELIA is to encourage that changes to the ownership and use of the surrounding lake community will not result in changes to the beauty, tranquility and quality of the lake.

Invasive Species Education - June 23, 2008

Touch and feel aquatic and terrestrial invasives. Learn from experts how to reduce their population. Meet “Rusty” the Crawfish and “IGGIE” the Mussel. See beetles in action on Purple Loosestrife! Demonstrations will be conducted on alien removal and detection. Training will be held at Elkhart Lake's Fireman's Park Shelter on Badger and Lake Street. Event is sponsored by Sheboygan County Association of Lakes, Sheboygan River Basin Partnership and Glacial Lakes Conservancy. See you there!

Impact of Building - Shoreland Preservation and Enhancement

Preserving natural shoreline vegetation is a primary concern. The beauty of the lake is derived primarily from the heavily wooded shoreline of mature trees and shrubs that are native to this area. Shoreline vegetation is critical to the ecological balance of the lake. It provides habitat to the area's wildlife and helps to filter nutrient-rich runoff from adjacent land.

Any major development in the area should include a plan not only to retain but also to replenish the shoreline with trees and other vegetation that is natural to the area. Current village ordinances restricting the removal of trees should be strictly enforced. Removal of other shoreland vegetation should also require prior approval by the village and should be limited to that which is needed for construction of structures.

Water Quality

Water quality is adversely affected by pollution from leaking septic tanks, as well as runoff from surrounding land in our watershed including roads, parking lots, farmland, feed lots, gardens and lawns. In an October 1, 1998 letter in connection with a potential stormwater outlet discharging into Elkhart Lake, the remarks made by Susan Schumacher, the Water Management Specialist from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, are particularly compelling:

Stormwater generally has a pollutant load, depending on the area from which the stormwater is collected. Roof drainage generally has some particulate matter from the shingles, parking lot and road drainage generally has oil, grease, antifreeze and particulate matter, and lawn runoff usually has fertilizer, herbicide and/or pesticide runoff, as well as particulate matter including soil.

Particulate matter and soil have devastating effects on the receiving waterway. By clouding the water, photosynthesis can be slowed or stopped, killing submergent plants; particulates will damage fish gills, suffocating fish; sight hunting aquatic predators such as game fish cannot see prey and may become stunted or die; when the silt settles out of the water, it can cover plants or fish eggs, killing them.

Pollutants can have various negative effects, depending on the type of pollutant. Fertilizers can cause algae blooms or encourage weedy growth on the lake bottom, which may necessitate the use of a weed harvester to maintain boating channels. Herbicides or pesticides can kill off desirable plant and animal species, disrupting the food chain and impacting game fish. Oils and other petroleum products can cause slicks on the surface, negatively impacting ducks and other shorebirds, as well as being detrimental to swimmers.

Therefore, ELIA believes that the use of chemicals in connection with land use should be more closely regulated. Property owners should be encouraged to restrict their use of pesticides and herbicides. ELIA must and will continue to be vigilant in monitoring water quality in order to detect and address sources of pollution.

Lighting

The night sky is an important natural resource. The ability to enjoy a starlit night on Elkhart Lake is growing more and more difficult as the city lights encroach and as some lake property owners install high power security lighting on their property. While lighting is necessary in a residential area for both safety and security, we would encourage that outdoor lighting be used sparingly. Lighting fixtures are readily available which would limit glare, reduce uplight and conserve energy.

We agree with the International Dark-Sky Association's code for good lighting:

• Using the right amount of light, not overkill and not too little
• No glare!
• Avoiding light trespass: light going where it's not wanted or needed.
• Minimizing the up light. Save the Stars!
• Saving energy. Light that produces glare, bright skies and light trespass wastes energy.

Impact of Boating -Regulation of High Impact Watercraft

The proliferation of personal watercraft and other high impact motorized boats are of particular concern to ELIA because of the impact they have on safety and aesthetics (both noise and unnecessary wave action). Other problems include water pollution from fuel leakage, fumes, disruption of wildlife particularly water fowl and aquatic fish habitat, erosion on the shore of the lake from wakes and congestion. Restriction of high horsepower operation would provide low impact watercraft such as canoes, fishing boats, sailboats and pontoon boats and people on the shore, the opportunity to enjoy a more tranquil setting.

ELIA will work toward the further regulation of high impact watercraft. In particular, ELIA will seek restrictions on the hours of operation of high-speed motorboat operation (for example, Monday through Saturday from l0 am to 3 pm). In addition, ELIA will continue to seek the means to monitor and limit the number of watercraft launched at any given time as governed by DNR regulations.

Waterfront structures

Piers, boatlifts and mooring buoy density should be governed by the appropriate regulation to balance the enjoyment of the lake by the lake property owners and the interests of the public in access to the lake. The regulations should be consistent round the entire lakeshore and should be equally monitored and enforced.

While the preservation of the historic boathouses around the lake is encouraged, there should not be any renovation or additional building that is inconsistent with current building restrictions within the first fyi feet of the lake. Any requests for additional structures should require the proper variances, and no variances should be granted without allowing ample opportunity for public comment. Strong enforcement is essential. In addition to monetary penalties, there must be a willingness to take strong measures against offenders, including the removal of the violating structure.

CONCLUSION

ELIA is "dedicated to preserving the beauty, tranquility and quality of Elkhart Lake." Community growth and private property development cannot come at the expense of one of our areas greatest natural resources.

Service We Offer

ELIA participates in many venues and activities in pursuit of our mission. Ultimately this translates into benefits for association members and the community as a whole. Our agenda consists of but is not necessarily limited to the following:

• ELIA participates in ongoing WATER QUALITY MONITERING including testing for clarity and purity.
• ELIA provides funding for the BOAT PATROL to the end that all lake users can recreate in safety.
• ELIA purchases and maintains the system of NO WAKE BUOYS that establish a buffer zone between high impact watercraft, the shoreline and it's inhabitants.
• ELIA provides the community with LAKE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES by making printed and video materials available and by maintaining this web site.
• ELIA conducts the PUBLIC FORUM SERIES enabling the community to come together and discuss issues of mutual interest and concern in hopes of promoting cohesiveness and understanding.
• ELIA is currently participating in it's third LAKE PLANNING GRANT making Elkhart among the most studied lakes in the state from an environmental and lake usage standpoint.
• ELIA provides an ADVOCACY FOR OUR COMMUNITY in many arenas including the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and state and local government.
• The SCHOLARSHIP provided annually by ELIA helps to enable local students further their education.

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