The researchers surveyed several dozen undeveloped and developed lakes in Vilas, Oneida and Forest counties in summer 1997, measuring the relative abundance and variety of frogs, birds, plants, trees and animal species. As a result, invasive species such as Eurasian milfoil and cowbirds are becoming more numerous and treasured Northwoods sounds are being replaced with silence as thrushes, warblers and frogs disappear. Conversely, most birds at undeveloped lakes were species such as thrushes, warblers, and other migrating birds. The study and another recently completed report point out problems with Wisconsin's Shoreland Management Program, established in 1966 to protect shoreland habitat, water quality and natural beauty. The regulatory program requires counties to enforce minimum standards for the size of lots, for how far buildings need to be set back from the water, and for limits on cutting plants, shrubs and trees along the shoreline.
Counties are free to adopt more protective standards.
Bernthal and Meyer's reports suggest writing clearer rules about how much and where people can cut plants on the shoreline. Other possible solutions, the reports say, include educating landowners about the critical need for shoreline habitat, increasing support for county enforcement of shoreland rules, strengthening the minimum standards themselves, and supporting local efforts to adopt more protective zoning than the state minimums. Richard Wedepohl, DNR shoreland zoning chief, said the agency realizes the critical importance of shoreland habitat and is looking for public input on ways to improve the shoreland rules. But he said there are difficulties in revising rules that are applied across the entire state, and notes that many northern counties are proceeding on their own. Douglas, Oneida and Waupaca counties, for instance, are identifying which lakes inside their boundaries are more vulnerable to impacts from shoreland development.