Welcome to the Lake Wausau Association Website

Thank you for visiting us and for your interest in Lake Wausau!

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Recent News and Updates...

2023 LWA MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS:

A reminder that 2023 Membership dues are effective January 1,2023. Dues may be submitted via regular mail (click HERE for our 2023 Membership form) or via PayPal (a $2.00 service fee applies). Membership dues are only $25 annually -- visit our Membership Page to learn more about the benefits of becoming a member of LWA! When becoming a member or renewing your membership, please also be sure to provide us updated street and email addresses to ensure you receive our news updates and event invites during the year.

ANNUAL FUNDRAISER:

It's that time of year again! The Lake Wausau Association 11th Annual Fundraiser will be held on Thursday, May 11th at the Wausau Country Club. The event will begin at 6pm, with cash drawings taking place at 9pm (need not be present to win cash prizes). A festive themed BBQ buffet will be provided along with beer, seltzers and soft drinks. Liquor drinks/cocktails will be available for purchase. Like previous fundraisers, games, raffles, events and silent auctions will take place for the duration of the event. Tickets are still available for purchase at $50 per ticket. If interested, please contact us via email: lakewausau@gmail.com or through Facebook Messenger: "Friends of Lake Wausau"

LWA's annual fundraiser is a primary source of funding to help maintain Lake Wausau. All proceeds from our annual fundraiser go entirely toward Lake Wausau improvements efforts. We are very excited for the ADA Compliant Kayak Launch to be ready for use this spring at DC Everest Park.

In addition to the ADA Kayak Launch project, LWA will continue to harvest invasive aquatic vegetation (primarily curly-leaf pondweed) to maintain navigable channels and to minimize/prevent the spread of invasive species in Lake Wausau. LWA budgets approximately $20,000 annually for mechanical weed harvesting and is considering the purchase of a weed harvester to better control the cost-benefit of these efforts.

NO WAKE BUOYS AND SAFE WAKE SURFING:

LWA installed no wake buoys in Lake Wausau in 2022 and provides education on safe recreating and wakesurfing to promote overall safety of lake users and preservation of shorelines. Review our Surfing Brochure & Map and provide us your comments and feedback. This brochure will also be placed at various boat landings to help educate users on best practices and areas for wake surfing.

KEEPING LAKE WAUSAU CLEAN:

We encourage community members to become involved in the upkeep of Lake Wausau by participating in our Adopt-A-Shoreline volunteer program. This is a great opportunity for families, organizations, and local businesses to participate in the preservation of this natural resource we all enjoy. Let’s work TOGETHER toward a better Lake Wausau for today and tomorrow!

Lake Wausau Management Plan Complete and Officially Adopted!

Since the Lake Wausau Association reorganized in 2011, members of the board and of various committees of the organization have worked dilgently to develop a comprehensive Lake Management Plan (the "Plan"), which involved signficant input from local stakeholders and surrounding communities. The purpose of the Plan is to coordinate efforts to protect, maintain, and enhance environmental and recreational values on Lake Wausau and its surroundings, which aligns directly with the Lake Wausau Association's mission statement. The Plan will also allow Lake Wausau to be eligible for future implementation projects funded with Lake Protection Grants. Please click on the links provided below to download an electronic copy of the complete Plan.

• 2018 Lake Wausau Protection and Improvement Plan
• Appendix A: Socio Economic Survey
• Appendix B: In-Lake Habitat Report
• Appendix C: USACE Hydrodynamic Modeling Results
• Appendix D: Fish Survey Results
• Appendix J: Aquatic Plant Management Plan

​Lake Wausau Evaluation Project - Public Discussions Process for Development of the Lake Management

We are pleased to share that our lake evaluation project is near completion and we are in the process of developing the formal Lake Management Plan (LMP), which will be our roadmap for maintaining, preserving, and improving Lake Wausau and its environment. The LMP is expected to be formalized and adopted by LWA by December 31, 2017. The public is invited to be involved in the development process. Please see our PRESS RELEASE pertaining to the public process for developing the formal Lake Management Plan for Lake Wausau, as well as the Proposed Process for Developing the Lake Management Plan. Dates and details for upcoming public meetings and agenda items/materials can be found at our Calendar of Events. See details below for a recap of the public meetings held.

Recap of Public Discussion on September 27, 2017

The first public discussion was held on Tuesday, September 27th. The discussion topics focused on a review of the aquatic plant surveys, strategies for the prevention and early response steps for aquatic invasive species, and fishery and habitat community and recommendations for improvements. Biologists and resource specialists shared data collected and recommendations, and responded to questions and suggestions. The meeting agenda and presentation materials can be found below for downloading and printing:

• Public Discussion Meeting Agenda for 9/27/17
• Aquatic Plant Survey Results Presentation - (Nancy Turyk, UWSP & Chris Hamerla, Golden Sands RC&D)
• Update on Fish Community and Recommendations - (Al Niebur, Wisconsin DNR)

Recap of Public Discussion on October 21, 2017

The second public discussion was held on Saturday, October 21st. The discussion topics focused on the hydrodynamic modeling results, watersheds, water quality, and land use. Scientists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presented strategies for water quality improvements in previously identified areas of Lake Wausau. They also presented alternativess and feasibility for the improvement of fish spawning habitat in the upper end of the lake. General water quality conditions as they relate to land management were also discussed with scientists from UWSP and WDNR. The meeting agenda, materials and recordings of the meetings can be found below for downloading, printing, and viewing:

• Public Disussion Meeting Agenda for 10/21/17
• Lake Wausau Water Quailty, Land Use Practices, Shorelands, and the Watershed Presentation - (Nancy Turyk, UWSP)

Recorded Presentations:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Strategies for Water Quality Improvements for Lake Wausau
• Lake Wausau Water Quality, Land Use Practices, Shorelands, and the Watershed

If you would like to share any concerns, thoughts, or suggestions for consideration in the development of the LMP, please contact LWA at lakewausau@gmail.com or Nancy Turyk from UWSP at nturyk@uwsp.edu or 715-346-4155.

For additional information regarding the work that has been done to date on this project, including draft reports of data collected by researchers, please see our Newsletters page.

2021 Membership Renewals

It's time for LWA membership renewals. Membership is open to any individual who enjoys Lake Wausau and wishes to be part of an organization that works to protect, maintain and enhance Lake Wausau. As a member, you'rll be entitled to voting rights on certain Lake Association matters; first hand updates on news, information, and events pertaining to Lake Wausau and its surroundings; opportunities to participate and be involved in one of our community's greatest resources; and inclusion in a network of lake users building stronger bonds within our community.

Renew your membership or join LWA as a new member in 2021 and help us protect, maintain, and enhance Lake Wausau and its beautiful surroundings. Membership dues are a substantial part of our financial support and go toward efforts to improve Lake Wausau. So please help support our efforts to create a healthier lake by becoming a member today.

We thank you for your continued support in helping us create a healthier Lake Wausau. Membership continues to grow as those in the community realize the value of this incredible resource outside our back doors. Renewing your membership and recruiting new members for continued membership growth is critical to our success! Our past and current member listings are published below.

• 2021 Members
• 2020 Members
• 2019 Members
• 2018 Members
• 2017 Members
• 2016 Members
• 2015 Members
• 2014 Members
• 2013 Members
• 2012 Members
• 2011 Members

See Membership Information to learn more about being a member.

Important Lake Resources and Contact Information

Lake Wausau Association, Inc. - Standing Committees

Executive Committee Shall act on behalf of, and with the authority of, the entire Board of Directors, to the extend so authorized by the Board of Directors. When acting within this authority, formal minutes shall be ke…