FAQ

The Lake District leadership is currently developing a physical packet to provide to new residents.

Alternatively you can view our digital version here

The Lake District does not maintain a list of lake residents or property owners. Our mailings are sent to the addresses showing on the Polk property tax records. We send the mailings to the same address to which your tax statements are sent. See our current web site home page under “Subscribe” for email delivery of News Letters.

Water levels are controlled by the dam at the Northwest end of Big Lake. At the time the dam was installed, the DNR established lake levels that are to be maintained. Keep in mind a substantial rainfall can raise the water level and it may take time for the water to maintain its normal level. Also keep in mind that ice movement in the winter and early spring can cause changes to the lake bottom near shore. This may be why your boat lift or dock isn't exactly in the same water depth every year.

The Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District has no legal authority to enforce any town, county or state laws, ordinances or regulations. Anyone in the general public has right to contact the local Sheriffs (Polk and St Croix counties) to file excessive noise or dangerous boating or underage drinking (or other) complaints and request enforcement. They have the authority to enforce the various laws and ordinances.

The Polk County Water Patrol Officer is J.T.Smith. His direct dial number is 715-485-8329.

In addition, the DNR has a violation hotline which can be reached by call or text at 1-800-847-9367. The DNR's Violation Hotline provides Wisconsin citizens with the opportunity to confidentially report suspected wildlife, recreational and environmental violations using a toll free number. These violations may include fishing or hunting out of season, night hunting, exceeding bag limits, illegal sale of fish and wildlife, deposit of harmful substances in lakes or rivers or illegal storage or disposal of hazardous waste.

Each and every boat operator should be familiar with all Wisconsin boating regulations. There are specific age requirements, personal floatation device (PFD) requirements and safe operational rules that must be obeyed for everyone’s safe enjoyment of the lake.

For Boating Incidents refer to the Incident Reporting Link in our web site under “Safety” or by clicking here

The Lakeshore properties within the boundaries of the Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District are subject to the following laws and regulations and ordinances: 59.692

Wisconsin Statutes governs Zoning of Shorelands on Navigable Waters. Shorelands are defined as the area within 1000 feet from the ordinary high water mark. The DNR has jurisdiction of the area from the high water mark lakeward and has promulgated its Shoreland Regulations in NR 115 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Each County has jurisdiction from the high water mark landward and has published its own Shoreland Protection Zoning Ordinance. Polk County Chapter 33 and St. Croix County Chapter 17.

Polk County Zoning:
715-485-9279

St. Croix County Zoning:
715-386-4680.

Lake residents should contact the Zoning office with any questions before undertaking projects or if they see projects that may not meet regulatory codes. Recent laws passed by the Wisconsin Legislature did NOT strike down zoning requirements, but dictated that DNR regulations and local zoning ordinances cannot be more restrictive than the State Statutes. Therefore, some DNR regulations and County Ordinances have had to be amended, but our lakeshore continues to be subject to regulation.

You can find more information here.

Reference Polk County WI Zoning office, or

WI DNR:

1-800-TIP-WDNR
(1-800-847-9367)

“A speed at which a vessel moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.”
-Wisconsin DNR: https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/le/le0301.pdf

The 100 Foot Rule:

• While operating a motorboat on any lake, Slow-NoWake speed is required when within 100 feet of a raft, pier, buoyed restricted area and lake shore. Examples include restricted areas: dam, marked swimming areas.

• While operating a Personal Watercraft anywhere, Slow No-Wake speed is required when within 100 feet of any other boat, including other PWCs.

The 200 foot rule:

• While operating any Personal Watercraft, Slow-No-Wake speed is required when within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake. Examples include the channels between our lakes.

An aquatic invasive species is an aquatic species that has spread or been introduced beyond its native range and is either causing harm or has the potential to cause harm.

See our web site under “Learn/ Water Quality Education”

If you find something suspicious: take a picture, bag it, and contact one of our Board members here.

Or Katelin Anderson
AIS Coordinator with Polk County:

Katelin Anderson
Polk County LWRD
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 120
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
(715) 485-8637

katelinanderson@co.polk.wi.us

Clean Boats, Clean Waters includes teams of volunteers, as well as paid staff from the DNR, Sea Grant and other organizations.

Boat inspectors help perform boat and trailer checks, hand out informational brochures and educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species
.
WI DNR Clean Boats Clean Water Webpage

UW-Extension Lakes CBCW

Public Access Page

I-LIDS Monitor Page

The inspectors at the launch sites are part of the Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) program that the Lake District applies for a grant annually.

Boat inspectors help perform boat and trailer checks, hand out informational brochures and educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Want to learn more? See the following links:

CBCW Homepage

CBCW Wisconsin DNR Page

CBCW Lake District Page

CBCW Grant Information

Basic steps to follow to help the lake are to minimize runoff from your shore land to the lake. This is usually accomplished with:

• Minimizing the amount of soil covered with impermeable materials.

• Diverting runoff to low areas where the water can soak in.

• Plantings to cover all exposed soil, especially the first 35 feet from shore.

The University of Wisconsin Extension has many helpful publications. The staff at the Polk County Land and Water Resources will also help with suggestions for practical shore land practices to implement. Be forewarned, shoreland regulations can be difficult to understand and often time consuming to follow.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and UW-Stevens Point Extension office both have numerous publications and pages related to best practices for lakeshore living, plantings and environmental practices. Here are just a few of their resources:

Protecting Your Waterfront Investment

A Guide to Environmentally Sound Lakeshore Ownership

A Shoreland Maintenance Checklist

Wisconsin Healthy Lakes
 

Septic systems

Correct installation and operation of Septic Tanks is each landowner’s responsibility. A State Sanitary Permit is required for the installation of a “private on-site wastewater treatment system” (POWTS).
A County Sanitary Permit is required for the repair, reconnection or rejuvenation of a POWTS or for the installation of a non-plumbing sanitation (i.e. privy, composting toilet, etc.)

A Sanitary Permit is required prior to obtaining a building permit from Town Staff. A Sanitary Permit may only be submitted by a licensed plumber. Staff will conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.
In addition, the proper maintenance of a POWTS is essential to ensure the longevity of your private sewage system and to avoid premature failure. When obtaining a Sanitary permit you are required to submit a signed agreement indicating that as the property owner you will maintain your septic system properly and report this maintenance to the Community Development Office.
Septic systems are required to be properly inspected or pumped every 3 years. Inspections may be conducted by a master plumber, POWTS inspector, septage servicing operator, or POWTS maintainer. Click here for more information on St Croix County information and here for Polk County information.

Click here for more information on St Croix County information
and here for Polk County information.

Private Wells.

Like septic systems, proper maintenance of a water well is important. The Wisconsin DNR has many resources on wells and getting your well water tested. Private Well Resources can be found here.

• The Big Lake Boat Ramp has “Private Pay” parking available across the street from the Landing next to “Morks Big Lake Store”. These are not owned, operated, or maintained by the Lake District

• The Church Pine Landing has parking along 45th Ave next to the ramp.

For maps and more information about our public access ramps see here

Church Pine Landing:

Alden Township

Big Lake Landing:

Ownership has not been officially determined to be the Town of Alden or Polk County