ROCK LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, President’s Report, 2004

Board Members: Johanna Chworowsky, Jim Colegrove, Pete Ebbott, Larry Everson, Kevin Lehner, Stanley Smoniewski, Milt Strauss, Katie Travers, Karl Vonderohe, Russell Wagner

RLIA has always been a tax-free, non-profit organization, incorporated with the State of Wisconsin, but this year it has gained two significant designations. It is classified as a qualified lake association, which lessens the paperwork when obtaining grants, and it is now a 501(c)3 corporation, which means that dues and contributions are tax deductible. Milt Strauss and Jennifer Colegrove donated many hours of their time and energy to accomplish this.

Through the efforts and planning of the Joint Rock Lake Committee and Patricia Cicero, RLIA is the recipient of a Lake Management Planning Grant from the DNR. This will build on the lake management plan developed after a 1995 grant, addressing continuing concerns and some that have arisen since then, such as prevention of the introduction of zebra mussels or other exotic species into the lake. A more detailed description of this project is in the Joint Committee’s report. All members of RLIA are encouraged to watch for opportunities to participate.

Stan has developed an educational power-point presentation that is now ready for public viewing by any group in the area interested in disseminating information about preserving the quality of Rock Lake.

His son, Jason, has again this year been the master webmaster for the RLIA website: www.rocklake.org.

Almost forty young people participated in the annual spring clean-up of the Rock Lake area.

Gene Ott has been collecting the water quality data (clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll) for the state lake monitoring program. The DNR analyzes the data that he sends to them. Written reports for 2004 (partial) and 2003 are available here at the annual meeting and on www.dnr.wi.gov. Go to “Natural Resources” then “Lakes” to get Rock Lake’s reports.

For the third year, RLIA has collected data on the resident goose population. This year’s count of 449 was 86 more than in 2003.

Packets of information about shoreline practices, lake regulations, and everything-you-need-to-know about moving “on the lake” continue to be distributed to new shoreline property owners.

In order to expedite the removal of a vehicle that went through the ice, RLIA coordinated the solicitation of donations and donated funds to the DNR.

To help publicize RLIA, t-shirts with the RLIA logo were distributed through local businesses. Donations prompted by the shirts exceeded the costs. Membership brochures were sent to all in the watershed (about 3,000) and placed at local businesses. The Lake Mills Leader and the Watertown Daily Times regularly publish Johanna’s educational articles, and RLIA placed an ad in the free Lake Mills Festival issue of the Leader, which has a distribution of over 5000. This ad included a list of the membership for the year 2004.

RLIA is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes. Pete, Stanley, and Johanna attended the WAL convention in March.

Board meetings continue to be the second Wednesday of the every month, except for August, but the venue has been changed to the Lake Mills Municipal Building.