Breakfast on the Farm and Presentation of Mathias-Lesczynski Award

Ed Montsma, Pineylawn Acres LLC is the 2018 Mathias – Lesczynski Water Quality Award Recipient. Ed and Kathy Montsma were presented the award at Breakfast on the Farm on Sunday, June 24 at Wiese Dairy in Rosendale.

Ed has run a totally no-till operation since 1995. He and his wife, Kathy farm 2400 owned and rented acres in southwest Fond du Lac County, planting corn, soybean and wheat test plots.

Participating in the Fond du Lac River Priority Watershed Project’s high residue management program, Ed used his cost-share dollars to retrofit his planter so that he could penetrate the organic layer and achieve proper seed depth and planting rates. By doing that, he saw great gains in his crop production and saved time as well. The management program encourages farmers to leave crop residue on their fields after planting their crops. Ed is also conservation-minded, putting in grass waterways and contour strips along with his no-till work.

Ed enjoys research and works with agricultural and chemical specialists of the University of Wisconsin Extension - Madison to establish test plots. He has hosted many Agronomy Field Days as well as other educational opportunities.

It has been a win-win partnership for Ed, the UW Extension, and the local community who can see state-of-the art research taking place right here at home.

The Lake Winnebago Quality Improvement Association awards the annual Mathias-Lesczynski Water Quality Award to Fond du Lac County farmers that go beyond the government minimum good management practices to prevent runoff of sediment, nutrients, and harmful chemicals.

Lakeside Park West Garden

One of the Lake Winnebago Clean Waters Project's efforts is the creation of a native plant demonstration garden in Fond du Lac's Lakeside Park West. For information on the garden and to volunteer to help, visit www.lakesidewestgarden.com.

For information on a variety of actions to help stop polluted runoff, visit http://www.lakewinnebagocleanwatersproject.org.

Lake Winnebago Clean Waters Project

In the fall of 2013, the Lake Winnebago Quality Improvement Association of Fond du Lac County (LWQIA) initiated a Fond du Lac area-wide campaign to reduce harmful runoff into Lake Winnebago.

View the Clean Waters Project page for more information.

New Receptacles Help Fishermen Recycle Unwanted Line

Chris Anderson and Matthew Dudarenke install a receptacle at Lakeside Park West.

People fishing on Lake Winnebago now have an easy way to dispose of old or unwanted fishing line. Ten fish line receptacles have been placed around the southern end of the lake in an effort to keep the lake clean and safe for wildlife and people using it.

Chris Anderson designed the receptacles from PVC pipe donated by JF Ahern as part of his Eagle Scout project. Fellow scouts from Troop 705 of North Fond du Lac helped with the construction and installation. The project was sponsored by the Lake Winnebago Quality Improvement Association.

Fishing line, or monofilament, is typically non-degradable and lasts about 600 years. Abandoned fishing line injures or kills fish, birds and other wildlife.

Collection bins are located at the following launch sites:

• Black Wolf
• Hwy 45 Wayside
• (3) at Lakeside Park West (Supple Marsh)
• (2) at Lakeside Park East
• Columbia Park in Calumet
• Fisherman's Road in Taycheedah
• Wolf Lake

Chris discusses the placement of labels with Larry Kent.

Chris Anderson is joined by fellow Scouts to work on his Eagle Scout project, including (from left) John Fuchs, Matthew Dudarenke, Mike Fuchs, Jordon Friend, Kurt Weir, and Patrick Weir. The Scouts are from Troop 705 of North Fond du Lac.

LWQIA 2017 Board Meetings

All Board meetings are at 7 PM on the first Wednesday of each month in the EOC (Emergency Operating Center) in the basement of the Fond du Lac City/County Building. The public is invited to attend.

View past articles.