PICNIC ISLAND IS OPEN AND READY FOR PICNICS!
The SCLA Education Committee and volunteers were hard at work in summer 2024 restoring Picnic Island on Big Spider Lake. The island was transformed into a live laboratory of best practices to restore shoreland with the installment of a rock diversion and in September, 348 native plants and 7 trees.
Storm damage over the past decade felled several large trees which created areas with no vegetation and therefore no root systems to contain the soil. These conditions caused significant erosion – our work will help build a tree and plant root system that will control run-off and contain erosion.
If you visit the island this fall, you will see LOTS of pink flags which mark native plant areas. SCLA volunteers continue to water plants. Please be careful where you walk. The picnic table and grill are easily accessible from the south side of the island so please park your boat/kayak/canoe there. We left two hoses on the island to water plants. Please leave them there.
Several people made donations to the project and over 19 volunteers donated 1,200 hours (so far) to get DNR approval to restore the island, write (and secure) a Healthy Lakes grant, install rock diversion, plant native plants and provide educational opportunities to learn how you, too, can protect your shoreland. Work will continue with watering this fall. We will assess future needs next Spring.
Picnic Island Restoration Launch 7/29/24 The restoration of Picnic Island has begun! On July 29, six volunteers and SCLA contractor, Nile, installed the “Rock Diversion” phase of our restoration plan. Native plants will be planted in late August/early September. The third element, “Rock Infiltration” will be scheduled if the diversion isn’t enough to contain erosion — we will keep you posted with news on this webpage. If you would like to install one of the Healthy Lakes and Rivers “Five Best Practices” on your shoreline, go to healthylakeswi.com for more information. We are cheering you on! In the meantime, grab a picnic and head over to Picnic Island to see the completion of the first phase of our restoration plan. Volunteers - Stay Tuned! SCLA will notify members in the "What's New" member section of the website: (Membership>For Members>What's New) for updates and volunteer needs. To view the site plans click here. For background information and more details see below. |
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PICNIC ISLAND RESTORATION: A LIVING LAB OF SHORELAND BEST PRACTICES
SCLA volunteers are excited to restore Picnic Island (Big Spider) after storm damage over the past decade. We will implement 3 of the 5 best practices recommended by Wisconsin Healthy Lakes. Using the island as a live laboratory, you’ll have a chance to learn more about the best practices and summer plans to contain erosion on our beloved Picnic Island.
Learn more: click here for the June 2024 presentation by Scott Van Egeren and Nile Merton.
WHERE IS PICNIC ISLAND?
MAP OF PICNIC ISLAND + PLANS
WISCONSIN HEALTHY LAKES BEST PRACTICES COMING TO PICNIC ISLAND
