FROM: Board of Directors, Mary Lake P&R District
TO: Lake District Members
DATE: January 9, 2025

Letter to Members Releasing NRE Report Jan 2025   (full text also below)

As you know, the Lake District voted to engage Clay Frazer of Native Range Ecological LLC (NRE) to conduct an assessment on upper and lower Mary Creek in an effort to determine viable solutions for better management of the lake, creek, and water levels as impacted by beaver presence. NRE's on-site evaluation took place in early June 2024, with the written evaluation delivered to the board in early August 2024. After review at the September 2024 boardmeeting, the board placed some inquiries on the findings with NRE; NRE feedback was received in late November 2024.

This letter is to advise you that you can now find both of these documents on our Lake District website http://www.marylakeprdistrict.com under the “Information & Management” tab, subheading “Lake Management Plan,” section “Mary Lake/Mary Creek Beaver Impact Assessment.” The first is the original release of the findings of NRE; the second is the supplement which NRE sent in response to questions, concerns and data that the Board had provided to Mr. Frazer, as mentioned above. The 2 documents should be read and used in conjunction.

At the December 7, 2024, quarterly meeting, the board decided that although they had expected NRE to incorporate its responses (and possible edits) into the original document, it did not want to continue with a back/forth feedback situation that was billable to the District (see minutes from Sept and Dec 2024 meetings posted on website). As such, the board unanimously agreed to release the two documents "as are", with the position that the Board neither agrees nor disagrees with the data and opinions in the assessment and supplement, and that the findings of NRE need to stand on their own, subject to further feedback (if any), review and conversation at a later date -- as/if warranted. 

What IS accepted and acknowledged, again unanimously by board members in attendance, is that NRE has provided what appears to be viable solutions to the water-management situation, if and when the beaver return AND if/when agencies such as the DNR, the Forest Service (a majority owner of property around Mary Lake and the upper watershed), Oconto and Langlade Counties and the public therein, and the District membership, can reach an agreement and design a solution (which may include elements presented by NRE) as to the best means to manage the Mary Lake and Mary Creek resource for the good of the lake itself, which will then best serve the members and the public.

This will be an item on the June 2025 Annual Meeting agenda.

Please note that you are receiving this communication in order to fulfill the state requirements on equal and timely communications to all members of the Lake District. Both postal mail and email are being used for delivery, as not all members subscribe to electronic messaging.

The Board of Directors, Mary Lake P&R District
Bob Wegener, Chairman

COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION:         

Bob Wegener, Chairman                        [email protected]

Tracy Zabrowski                                      [email protected]

Phyllis Sachs, Secr/Treas                       [email protected]

Doug Curler, Langlade Cty                      ph:  715-623-2253

Jim Tilkens, Town-Wolf River                 contact Heather Baker, clerk