Aquatic Plant Management Plans and Maps

Aquatic plant management plans provide an inventory of existing plants in a lake or stream. Goals of the plans include protection of native plants (for their role as the foundation of healthy ecosystems), controlling non-native species, and providing opportunities for recreational activities.These plans are required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in order for them to permit aquatic plant harvesting programs under NR 109 Wis. Admin. Code and must be updated every five years. Some waterbodies have a harvesting priority map (see below) that indicates potential cutting locations, as allowed by the permit.

To develop or update plans and assess lake/river health, Dane County staff and consultants survey aquatic plant communities. Data is collected at pre-determined sampling points for the lakes being studied. At each point, plant species, water depth, sediment type, and fullness of the sampling rake are recorded.