Stakeholder participation in lake management in <fc>W</fc>isconsin (<fc>USA</fc>): Fid-Bau Portal

Stakeholder participation in lake management in Wisconsin (USA)

Thornton, Jeffrey A.

The State of Wisconsin (USA) has 15 000 natural lakes. Many of these lakes are managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pursuant to their mandate as the State's natural resources conservation agency. This level of management is primarily focused on issuance of hunting and fishing licences, boating licences and administration of relevant State regulations. Supporting this governmental function is a network of stakeholders who are organized under the auspices of various statewide programmes, such as the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, or formed into local community‐based organizations. These organizations include special purpose units of government, principally public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts, as well as private associations, some of which might be incorporated under Wisconsin law and/or granted federal non‐profit status. This article describes the various organizational options open to lake stakeholders and outlines the types of activities in which they engage. Lessons learned through this active programme of stakeholder participation are used to illustrate the value of this range of organizations.