May 2023. LWQIA prepared and staffed a booth at the Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Fair at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds.

LWQIA at the Spring 2022 Master Gardener Event

LWQIA's Mathias-Lesczynski Water Quality Award Winner 2022

This year's award of $1000.00 was presented to Schultz Legacy Farms of Van Dyne.

Schultz Legacy Farm Family: Brenda, Joan, Dave, Allison, Lexie, Dustin and Stevie in Dustin's arms.

Award Presentation by Bruce Peterson, Member of the Board of LWQIA, at the 2022 Breakfast on the Farm Event.

"Kiss the Ground," a Documentary

A healthy soil means healthy plants and healthy plants means healthy humans. It is critical for our survival to maintain healthy soils.

Plowing healthy soils releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to global warming and increasing soil erosion. Plant biodiversity is critical to maintaining a healthy soil and healthy soil microorganisms.

Composting is a means of carbon capture and something we can do at home with a little planning.

Visit https://kissthegroundmovie.com/ to see the video. The website affords options for viewing it, including streaming on Netflix or renting for $1 from Vimeo.

Logo vector created by macrovector - www.freepik.com

Pipe Creek Watershed and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The Pipe Creek Watershed in the northeast portion of Fond du Lac County has seen a significant amount of phosphorous runoff into Lake Winnebago over the last couple of years. Dairy farms account for 71% of the land usage in the watershed. This project, funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, is challenging two farmers, Chad Tasch and Dave Simon, to implement continuous no-till, cover crops, and low disturbance manure injection on 225 acres each for three years. These practices best reduce the risk of runoff and erosion, but they are new to this area and require experimentation and economic risk to accomplish the desired environmental outcomes. This project is done in collaboration with the Fond du Lac Land and Water Conservation Department, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, and Outagamie Land Conservation Department.

LWQIA's 2020 Agricultural Award Presented to Dale and Denise Theel of Greendale Farms

The LAKE WINNEBAGO QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (LWQIA) presented the 2020 Mathias/Lesczynski Conservation Award at Breakfast on the Farm at LaClare Goat Farm on June 27. The award is named after long time employee of the Fond du Lac County Land Conservation department Lynn Mathias and ARCS conservationist Erv Lesczynski for their work with Fond du Lac County farmers to prevent soil erosion. The 2020 award was presented to Dale and Denise Theel of Greendale Farms of Fond du Lac. The award is for $1000.00.

Dale worked with his father for years before taking over ownership of the farm on his father's retirement in 1983. Currently he and Denise operate 650 acres of no-till corn, soybeans and winter wheat. When assuming management of the farm Dale realized the savings of soil and time they would make by no-till planting and by the early 1990's their operation was 100% no-till. Dale admits that the early years were a time of experiment and trust as there were few other farmers to ask questions of for guidance.

As part of their efforts to improve their land, the Theels started planting cover crops about 10 years ago and planting into the growing crop (known as planting green) about 7 years ago.

Over the years Dale has been involved in the community by serving as a Town Board member for the Town of Empire, serving on the USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee and now serving as the at-large member of the FDL County Land Conservation Committee, which he currently chairs. Dale has worked to start the FDL County Farmers for Healthy Soil and is a member of Between the Lakes farmers group helping to teach others from his experiences.

It was with pleasure that LWQIA presented the Mathias/Lesczynksi award to the Theels for their dedication to the improvement of our land and water.

Congratulations to Dale and Denise Theel!

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 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.