Date Set for Joint Public Hearing On Proposed Ordinance to Restrict Certain Artificial Wake Enhancement On Elkhart Lake

The Village of Elkhart Lake and the Town of Rhine are holding a joint public hearing regarding the creation of a Proposed Ordinance Restricting Certain Artificial Wake Enhancement on Elkhart Lake.

We encourage all members with an interest in this topic to attend to express your opinion. The meeting details are as follows:

• Date:  Monday, September 29

• Time: 5:30 PM

• Location: Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School Auditorium

How to Participate

You can participate in three ways:

• In-person at the high school auditorium.

• Via Zoom: The meeting can be accessed at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81779979200?pwd=2sF6mqn3o6kgbJfrqbxmRBw2xTy5H1.1
  Meeting ID: 817 7998 9200
  Passcode: hSwg88

• Submit an email to be tabulated in the results:  Clerk@elkhartlakewi.gov

All comments, including those from emails, are limited to a maximum of three minutes per person.

Speaking at the meeting? The Village asks that you register in advance, especially if you plan to speak via Zoom. To do so, please call the Village office at (920) 876-2122.

Important Note: Any comments or emails submitted for previous meetings will not be considered. If you have previously submitted comments and wish for them to be part of the record for this hearing, you must resubmit them.

This meeting is open to anyone with an interest in the topic, regardless of whether you are a resident of the Village or Township. Your participation is important!

Quagga Mussel Alert: Help Keep Elkhart Lake Clear of Invasive Species 

We’re all more familiar than we’d like to be with invasive zebra mussels. In the last year, there’s been another problematic mussel on the radar of Wisconsin lake communities. In autumn of 2024, the quagga mussel was discovered in Lake Geneva. This is the first time quagga mussels were documented in a Wisconsin inland lake. Originally spotted in Lake Michigan in 2000, these mussels have since spread throughout the Great Lakes region and the Mississippi River.  To read this whole article, "Click Here".

New Real-Time Monitoring Stations on Elkhart Lake

This summer, ELIA installed three real-time sensors across the lake that will help us tell a more comprehensive story about Elkhart Lake:

1. Weather Station:
   Solar-powered station delivers live data on wind, UV, rain, and temperature. It helps us track environmental changes and spot patterns tied to runoff, algae blooms, and shoreline erosion.

2. Lake Level Monitor:
   Using radar tech, this sensor provides lake level readings every 15 minutes. It’s key for detecting sudden water level changes, understanding flood or drought risks, and managing the lake more proactively.  

3. Water Quality & Algae Tracker:
   This buoy measures algae levels, turbidity, temperature, and more; streaming 48 data points a day. It’s an early warning system for significant changes in the lake which can help us make better decisions around water quality, recreation, and public health.

Ongoing Water Quality Testing

In addition to these sensors, we’ve continued our routine water sampling and testing throughout the summer. 

Collaborating with Lake Pulse

ELIA team member, Kevin Sofen, has been working closely with the startup Lake Pulse, who are helping us build a real-time dashboard to visualize these data streams. Because while all this data is great, it still begs the question, what do we do with it?  The dashboard will help us share live insights with stakeholders, identify patterns, and build on current projects to improve lake health.

Lots more to do but we are making progress.  

Thanks all for your help and support!

Healthy water starts on shore

New native plant garden at Osthoff Beach

To read more about his grant initiated project, "CLICK HERE".