Soil Health & Watershed Groups
Friends of Trempealeau Lakes
West Central Wisconsin
Contact
Contact: Bud Hammes - Retired
Phone: (160) 838-6031
Mission
Trempealeau Lakes is a group of three lakes near the village of Trempealeau, Wisconsin. While often considered backwaters of the Mississippi, they actually are independent, spring fed lakes that empty into the Mississippi River. They are among only a few natural lakes in the Driftless region.
Our group’s goal is to improve the water quality and recreational value of these lakes by managing invasive aquatic plants and reducing nitrogen levels entering via springs that create the lakes. If we can achieve these goals, the lakes will become more sustainable for fishing, canoeing and kayaking and natural ecosystems will be preserved. The group aims to work collaboratively with residents, businesses, farmers, government agencies and folks that enjoy lakes.
A small group of community members began meeting informally in 2022 understand the task at hand. Tax exempt status has been acquired and key relationships with GOLD (Guardians of Lake Decorah), Shawn Giblin (Wisconsin DNR), Trempealeau County, Village of Trempealeau planning commission, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives for Fishers and Farmers Partnership are being cultivated to learn about available resources to achieve goals.
News & Stories
- Nature’s Treasures at Trempealeau Lakes | Mississippi Valley Conservancy
- Trempealeau Lakes Nature Preserve | Mississippi Valley Conservancy
- Trempealeau Lakes Hike | Mississippi Valley Conservancy
Watershed or Service Area Map
About Us
Growing a Group:
- Active group 5+ years
- Book sharing
- Farmer-led group
- Formed a new group
- Fundraising
- Grant writing
- Member-led project planning
- Neighbor to neighbor mentoring
- Personal invitations to neighbors to grow the group
- Other
Collaboration:
- Actively participated in local watershed planning process
- Collaboration with agriculture or conservation organizations
- Collaboration with local ag retailers and/or crop advisors
- Collaboration with local civic groups
- Collaboration with local college or university
- Other - Inclusive community startup meetings
Outreach:
- Engage local schools
- Media interviews
- Presentation to groups
- Promotion to media outlets
- Social media cultivation
- Video Development
- Website Development
- Other
Land & Water:
- Bioreactors
- Cover crops
- Crop diversification
- Floodplain restoration
- Grass waterways
- Grazing
- Nutrient management & retention
- Perennial crops
- Prairie strips
- Saturated buffers
- Stream buffers
- Stream restoration
- Water retention basins
- Wetlands
- Other
Assessment & Data:
- Agronomic data collection
- Field edge data collection
- Field walkovers
- Stream monitoring
- Other
Events:
- Fishing event
- Farm field days
- Paddle event
- Upstream or downstream connections/visits
- Booth at local event
- Other
Fishers & Famers Partnership Program Participation:
- Workshop
- Neighbor to Neighbor Radio Podcast
- Boots on the Ground Online Conversation
- Group Presentation
- Project Tour
- Featured in a Story
- Featured in a Video
- Meetings
- None
Additional Photos
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