A View from the Lake by Tom Schroeder - President, Beaver Dam Lake Management District, October 4, 2025

It seems that the summers are coming and going faster each year. I always look with anticipation for ice

out and the installation of docks and lifts around the lake. But, before you know it, it is time to pull them

before the lake again freezes over! 

Although it seems like yesterday, the 2025 BDLMD Annual Meeting was held on Sat. Aug. 2rd with 70

individuals in attendance. The budget was passed which will fund treating for Eurasian Water Milfoil-

EWM, and complete the newly developed Beaver Dam Lake Management Plan that was presented and

approved at the Annual Meeting. The plan looks out to the next 10 years, and we can now begin

working on several of the plan Goals, including the completion of the SE storm water pond pathway,

and develop a conceptual plan for improving the shoreline and dockage along the City Parking lot along

Library Lake. Michael Benjamin was elected as commissioner, along with Tim Defoe, who returns for

another term. Following the Annual Meeting a brief Board meeting was held, where the current officers

were re-elected for the next fiscal year.

With the completion of the SE storm water pond which included additional trees and walking path, a

new dock with an attached kayak/canoe launch was installed. In October, the walking path was extended

from the western “rain garden” pond, along Highway 48/63 to 5th Ave. The pathway connected to the

pedestrian crossing across the highway to the corner by the former real estate office. The Cumberland

Area Trails Alliance-CATA is working on funding the installation of an electronic cross signal at the

crossing location.

Although the dredging of Library Lake was completed to the WDNR permitted locations, depth and

sediment quantity, many people have indicated they thought more of the Lake, including the “Bog”, was

going to be removed. Unfortunately, that could not be accomplished but additional floating debris from

the dredging project was removed. Next spring the Grove Street bridge channel will be cleaned out to

allow easier passage in and out of Library Lake. The BDLMD commissioners approved the replacement

of the dock located just north of the small pepper eating stage in Spring 2026.

The Lake level is almost a foot below normal. This is as low as I have observed in the 17 years I have

resided on the Lake. The lack of rain since mid-Sept., plus the warm dry weather increasing evaporation

rates are the main reason for the low lake level. To prevent shoreline damage due to ice movement

during the winter months the lake is normally lowered about 6 to 8 inches starting around Nov. 1st. This

is a WDNR approved and Barron County task. The water in the channel flowing from Duck Lake into

Norwegian Bay on Nov. 15th was about half of what is flowing over the stop log at the dam.

The issue of enhanced wakes continues to grow with a number of organizations advocating for

regulations on a State-wide basis. Certainly, there are small, shallow lakes and rivers where watercraft

that create enhanced wakes should be prohibited. This past summer, I was again pleased, except for a

few occasions, to observe responsible operation of watercraft that were creating enhanced wakes.

During 2026, it will be interesting to follow what happens in Madison with potential Enhanced Wake

(Wake Boat) legislation!

The October aquatic Plant Survey was completed with encouraging results, excluding increased EWM

in Williams Bay and surprisingly Library Lake. Even though Library Lake was lowered by over 4 ft for

the entire winter which normally kills EWM, it is possible that the dredging disturbed the sediment and exposed EWM seeds that can lie dormant for years. The commissioners will be discussing the Draft

2026 EWM Treatment Plan at the Dec. Board Meeting to determine what goals should be drafted for the

2026 EWM Treatment Permit. In Jan. 2026, the commissioners will be meeting with the WDNR to

review our Draft EWM Treatment Plan prior to submittal. Hopefully this will eliminate the need for

legal action that was pursued in 2025.

Hopefully the weather this winter will provide the ideal conditions so everyone can pursue what they

enjoy during the winter months – whether it is fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, skating, etc.

Remember to practice common sense and follow the regulations when on the ice, on the trails or ski

hills. Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the upcoming Holidays.