Northeastern Wisconsin Great Lakes Sport Fishermen will hold the 49th annual Salmon Derby July 4-7 with derby headquarters at Manitowoc Marina, 425 Maritime Drive.

Derby headquarters under the big tents will be operational starting July 4 as part of the Fourth on the Shore celebration. Food and live entertainment will be included with admission free and open to the public.

The entertainment lineup is as follows:

• July 4: The Chili Dogs, noon to 4:30 p.m.; Dave Steffen Band, 6-9:30 p.m.; and city fireworks at dusk;
• July 6: Nashville Pipeline, 7-10:30 p.m.; and
• July 7: Kolache Brothers, 12:30-4 p.m.

As part of the Salmon Derby, a Super Tournament will be from 5 a.m. until noon July 6 and a free kids’ fishing derby will be from 8 to 10 a.m. July 6. Children and their families are encouraged to arrive by 7:30 a.m. to get registered before the start of fishing. Every participating child will receive a prize. Awarding of prizes for the Salmon Derby and the Super Tournament will start at 3 p.m. July 7.

For Salmon Derby details, check newglsf.org.

Read last week’s column:Nominate someone for the 2025 Manitowoc County Conservationists Hall of Fame class. Here’s how, and more in the latest outdoors report.

Reedsville club’s fall hunter safety course starts Aug. 28

The Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club will hold its fall 2024 hunter safety course from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 and Sept. 4 and finishing up from 8 a.m. until noon Sept. 7.

Sign-up starts July 1 and is limited to 40 people. You must have your DNR customer ID number when you sign up. If you don’t have one, you need to go to the DNR website under “Go Wild” and create an account to get your number.

To sign up or with questions, call or text Jim Dietrich at 920-323-6577.

Latest on Carstens Lake project

In collaboration with Manitowoc County Lakes Association, Stantec Consulting Services and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership is implementing a water quality improvement project along Pine Creek, which directly feeds into Carstens Lake.

This project follows a three-year study by MCLA that revealed high phosphorus levels in Carstens Lake. Excess phosphorous worsens overall ecosystem health and habitat quality.

Here’s an overview of project activities:

• Wetland scrapes: In fall 2023, the project team constructed shallow pools next to Pine Creek that will enhance habitat quality. Cover crops and native plants will continue to be installed to help stabilize the area.
• Sedimentation basin: Set for construction in summer 2024, this basin will slow water flow and allow sediments and nutrients (like phosphorous) to settle.
• Phosflow technology: Developed by UWSP, this eco-friendly material removes phosphorus from water. It will be tested this summer and could offer a low-cost solution for reducing phosphorus in Carstens Lake and other local lakes.

LNRP will continue to share updates as the project progresses. Contact Jim Kettler, LNRP director of special projects, at jim@lnrp.org with any questions.

Shoto club offers $1,500 scholarships

Shoto Conservation Club is offering three $1,500 scholarships for the 2024-25 school year.

Students must be entering their junior or senior year of college pursuing a career in the sciences or wildlife environmental field.

Go to shotoconservationclub.org and click on annual scholarships. Deadline to apply is Aug. 31.

Friends of Branch River Watershed plans fundraising brat fry

Friends of Branch River Watershed will hold a fundraising brat fry from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 5. It will take place at Rob’s Family Market, 2330 Menasha Ave. in Manitowoc.

Help support the group’s efforts on the Branch River as well as their children’s programming.

‘Raising a Wild Child’ on osprey set at Woodland Dunes

The next in the “Raising a Wild Child” series at Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve, 3000 Hawthorne Ave., Two Rivers, will be July 11 and focus on osprey.

Session one runs 9-10:15 a.m. and session two is 10:45 a.m. to noon. Cost is $2 per child for members or $3 per child for non-members.

Experience the wonders of nature with your 2- to 5-year-old through nature hikes, play and guided activities. Help your child notice the natural world and ignite their curiosity.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather, as the majority of the program takes place outdoors. Older siblings are welcome to attend.

Registration is required by the Monday before each session, and space is limited. To register, email Jess at jessicaj@woodlanddunes.org or call 920-793-4007.

More Bob Schuh:Click here to read more outdoors columns by Bob Schuh

Canada geese in the molting process

Canada geese are now in the process of molting, where they lose their flight feathers and grow new ones.

Molting takes approximately a month for geese, so by the end of July, you will start seeing them in the air again.

Juvenile geese will then be flying with the adults and can be lots of fun for kids. Give them a goose call and watch their eyes light up when they get some of these young geese coming their way. Just remind the kids the geese will come for a look, but won’t stop as they just take a look and then keep going.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.