2nd National Extension Nat Res Conference-Abstract 17

Lowell Klessig and Robert Korth, Professor and Lake Management Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources, Stevens Point, WI 54481; 715.346.4266; lklessig@uwsp.edu; and Carrol Schaal, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 101 S. Webster Street., Madison, WI 53707; 608.261.6423; Schaac@mail01.dnr.state.wi.us

Citizens are assuming greater roles in natural resource management around the globe and around many different resources. Lake management in North America is no exception and in many ways is a model for citizen participation that has evolved to citizen partnerships.

The Wisconsin Lake Management Program has had a heavy citizen component for almost 30 years. With 15,000 lakes the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does not have and would never obtain sufficient employees to provide individual care for each lake. Citizen involvement is essential. Necessity reinforced an interest in citizen participation.

A decade ago the Wisconsin Lake Management Program was officially renamed the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership with 3 partners: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin Extension, and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (representing citizens). The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides a regulatory framework, technical assistance, and grants to local lake management organizations. The University of Wisconsin Extension provides organizational and educational assistance.

For the partnership to be effective, some local citizen leaders must be willing to broaden their leadership scope beyond their own lake management organization to represent citizens at county and statewide levels.

The Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute was initiated in 1998 to develop that leadership capacity of citizens to work in the Partnership and represent the Partnership with the Legislature and in other policy arenas.

This paper describes the development and philosophy of the Institute in 1997, the implementation and evaluation of the first 2 Institutes in 1998 and 1999, and the refinements made for the third Institute in 2000.

The lead role of the University of Wisconsin Extension in the Institute and the division of labor in the larger Wisconsin Lakes Partnership is highlighted.