Delavan Lake Improvement Association (DLIA)
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President: Mary P. O'Connor
Our Mission:
The Delavan lake Improvement Association advocates for policies and practices that support healthy lake water quality. We support land uses and farming practices designed to slow sediment entering the lake from the watershed. As advocates, we keep our members informed of current issues affecting the lake by maintaining constructive relationships with other lake monitoring partners. These partners include Town of Delavan, WDNR, Walworth County Conservation, USGS & the Delavan Lake Sanitary District.
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The DLIA is here to advocate for and inform everyone interested in maintaining this amazing resource we have in Delavan. The lake contributes to the entire economy of Walworth County and its’ health is of utmost importance to all property owners and visitors. If you want to help the DLIA with their efforts and initiatives, feel free to donate or become a member. Visit www.delavan-lake.org to learn more.
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Examples of our work to improve and support the health of Delavan Lake...
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Farming Best Practices
One of the primary goals of the DLIA is to slow down the runoff into Delavan Lake from surrounding farms. Slowing down runoff allows phosphorus-laden sediment to settle out, with less entering the lake. Over the past several years the DLIA has financially supported farmers in establishing certain agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) that help accomplish that goal. Up to this point we have recruited 7 to 8 farmers who annually take small parcels of land out of production for cover crop or other BMP’s that promote soil health. In 2016 The Department of Agricultural, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) began a program that provides grants to groups of farmers willing to lead conservation efforts tailored to their watersheds. The program encourages innovative ideas for conservation, promotes locally led decision making by producers and improves water quality and soil health. One of the primary goals of the DLIA is to slow down the runoff into Delavan Lake from surrounding farms. Slowing down runoff allows phosphorus-laden sediment to settle out, with less entering the lake. Over the past several years the DLIA has financially supported farmers in establishing certain agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) that help accomplish that goal. Up to this point we have recruited 7 to 8 farmers who annually take small parcels of land out of production for cover crop or other BMP’s that promote soil health. In 2016 The Department of Agricultural, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) began a program that provides grants to groups of farmers willing to lead conservation efforts tailored to their watersheds. The program encourages innovative ideas for conservation, promotes locally led decision making by producers and improves water quality and soil health.
Frontage Property Grants
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has a program called Healthy Lakes Grants, which awards lakeshore properties owners $1000 for each best practice installed at the waters’ edge. The DLIA assists lakefront property owners obtain these grants for private shoreline planting. The most popular practice is native shoreline plants. For every 350 sq. ft. of contiguous area you can receive $1000 toward the restoration and planting of your shoreline. Grants are applied through the Delavan Lake Sanitary District. The District and the DLIA are working together to assist property owners with the process.
For the 2020 season 11 grants were awarded on Delavan Lake and we are now taking applications for 2021. Although the DLIA has promoted this program for several years, it is only now that we are seeing projects in action. Jackson Park on North Shore Drive is a lake access community with 200 feet of shoreline. The Jackson Park homeowners were awarded three $1000 grants to restore their shoreline. The community worked together to obtain the grants, engage a landscaper familiar with lakeshore planting and begin the process of restoration and planting. This project is ongoing right now and the results of their work will not only benefit them with the beautification of the shore, but most importantly supply habitat and contribute to less runoff and erosion. The neighboring community of Assembly Park is also currently engaging in the same practice restoring an additional 200 ft. of shore. That group was also awarded three $1000 grants. The entire project will create 400 feet of contiguous shoreline planted with native plants on the north side of Delavan Lake.
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The Healthy Lakes Grants offers opportunities for other affordable and simple practices which include, the installation of fish sticks, rain gardens, rock infiltration, and water diversion projects. To learn more about how you can take advantage of the WDNR grants contact the DLIA at www.delavan-lake.org or the Delavan Lake Sanitary District. We have volunteers and staff to assist you in getting a project of your own started and implemented.
