MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
April 25, 2019
Please mark your calendars and join us on Thursday April 25th, at the Manitowoc County Office building @ 4319 Expo Drive,
Room 300, at 6:30pm.
Public and Guests are encouraged to attend.
The cost of poor water quality to property values, an analysis commissioned by Manitowoc County Lakes Association, and conducted by Drs. Wolf and Kemp of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, will be presented by MCLA Past President John Durbrow. The study has demonstrated that lake water clarity directly impacts the property value of residences on that water body. The report concludes “… that a 1 meter increase in water clarity will result in a 10.5% increase in home values for properties located within 250 meters of a lake.” Conversely, the more water clarity is degraded, the more property values are reduced. A hypothetical one meter increase in water clarity would add $30,840,000 to property values of residences associated with the County lakes.
The study analyzed 8,372 property transactions which occurred between 2013 and 2016 in Manitowoc and adjacent counties. The result clearly documents that water clarity is a significant determinate of property values. The study did not address any added value to a lake for recreational users or any subjective benefits which would derive from the higher water quality.
Rising Lake Michigan Water levels high and rising; record snow depths and rainfall this past year in the Lake Michigan drainage basin has some concerned about lake levels in 2019. Lake Michigan does not respond immediately like inland lakes from flooding and runoff but generally peaks in August or late summer. Ron Schaper, a long time resident and property owner on the bluff of Lake Michigan in Manitowoc County has been an astute observer of lake levels and its impacts on the shoreline will present a history of lake level dynamics and what we may expect in the future.
Newly hired AIS Coordinator for Manitowoc and Sheboygan County will be in attendance; to personally meet our Lake Representatives. We are proud to announce that Samantha Lammers (Olsen) has accepted the position and will be hiring boat inspectors for both Counties and conducting Aquatic Invasive Species education, and training with AIS monitors. Her role will be to resume the AIS programming in Manitowoc County.
Samantha (Sam) was currently working as a Natural Resource Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and was a Deputy Conservation Warden. She has extensive experience in aquatic invasive species programming, and leading the Wisconsin Water Guard Team that oversaw education and enforcement of invasive species in the State. She trained and supported 12 Water Guards (Wardens) across the State and DNR Wardens on invasive species identification. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay as well as Associates Degrees in Applied Science – Criminal Justice from Lakeshore Technical College, completing a 520 hour Police Academy from Lakeshore Technical College.
The MCLA business meeting will follow.
MANITOWOC COUNTY LAKES ASSOCIATION
“The Manitowoc County Lakes Association will protect and enhance the quality of area lakes and watersheds
for the benefit of all.”
www.manitowoccountylakesassociation.org