Post Messenger Recorder -

After another brutal Winter and a Spring with monsoon rains and below normal temperatures that extended through most of June, we welcome the warm Summer weather with the hopes that it will not be cut short by another early Autumn. Regardless of the weather, folks love to get out on the Sugar River and its small man-made lakes like Lake Winnetka. Many times back in May and June we observed folks out fishing in downpours or chilly temperatures. Kayakers, canoeists, and tubers have been observed paddling down the river in torrential rains and unseasonably cool temperatures. They say that you simply dress for whatever the weather is and go out and enjoy your day. Fishermen wearing rain gear and paddlers wearing chest waders or wetsuits became very common in the extended Spring-like weather of June and early July. Many river enthusiasts even packed a dry bag with extra clothes to be prepared in case of a sudden weather change. It's become quite apparent that regardless of the weather, folks love getting out on the Sugar River. It follows along with the old saying, "In Wisconsin, if the weather changes, don't change your plans, change your clothes."

Sugar River Cleanup

On May 16th, the Lake Winnetka/Sugar River Improvement Association (L.W.S.R.I.A.) organized the 21st annual Sugar River Cleanup. This was the 2nd year that our group teamed up with members of the Decatur Lake Millrace Association (D.L.M.R.A.) and the Lower Sugar River Watershed Association (L.S.R.W.A.). With the involvement of multiple associations, there were over 100 folks cleaning up the river that day, starting from the CTH X bridge about halfway between Dayton and Attica on the Big Sugar River, and down from Schneeberger Road on the Little Sugar River. They continued through Albany's Lake Winnetka and Brodhead's Decatur Lake all the way to the Nelson Road Bridge near Avon Bottoms. This was the longest stretch of Sugar River ever covered at the Sugar River Cleanup, and as the cleanup grows each year, we intend to cover even more.

Special thanks go to the Sweet Minihaha and Crazy Horse Campgrounds, along with S&B Tubing for use of canoes and for providing shuttle service. Also thanks to the Albany Mini Mart, Brewers Center Tap and the Dam Near Home Bar and Grill in Albany, Gempeler's Market in Monticello and Piggly Wiggly in Brodhead for food and beverage supplies. Thanks to the DNR for the dumpster to handle the trash, to the Albany American Legion for the use of their building and to the Albany Police and Fire Department for supplying volunteers and having staff assigned in case of an emergency.

Being that originally this river cleanup only encompassed the Albany area and areas up stream of Albany, and the fact that these areas have been annually cleaned up for more than 20 years, there is not really much trash found up there any more. Most of the trash in the river is found downstream of Albany. Upstream, the majority of the work done is involved with creating a navigable path through fallen trees in the river. Downstream of the Albany bridge to Decatur Lake the opposite is true, as very little tree work is necessary but much more trash pickup is done. From Decatur Lake to Avon Bottoms both trash pickup and tree work is being done because much of this area is being worked on for the first time. Most of the trash items found this year were of the typical nature, with food and beverage containers taking the lead. Tires, shelving, lawn chairs and a television were also found.

A Bike Ride Across America to Help Raise Funds for Sugar River Projects

With our group (the L.W.S.R.I.A.) now working together on many projects with the D.L.M.R.A., we have become acquainted with a couple that is extremely dedicated to maintaining and improving various aspects of the Sugar River and its surrounding watershed. John and Jaine Winters of the D.L.M.R.A. have just completed a bicycle ride across America, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Kitty Hawk, N.C. This 4,000 mile Pacific to Atlantic bicycle trip was done as a fundraiser to raise money for projects on the Sugar River and its surrounding watershed. More about this exciting adventure can be found at http://www.pearlislandamerica.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/pearlislandusa. On this website there is also a nice video entitled "Pearl Island River Cleanup" which shows a portion of the work that was accomplished at the Sugar River Cleanup on May 16th.

W.A.V. Program

Another new venture that the L.W.S.R.I.A. is involved with is the Water Action Volunteer (W.A.V.) program. Members of the D.L.M.R.A. and L.S.R.W.A. are also participants in this program. This program is a cooperative venture between our respective organizations, the DNR and the University of Wisconsin Extension. The time commitment for our volunteers is a couple of hours, once a month, from May through October. The aim is to monitor the streams that flow into the Sugar River, measuring the water temperature, saturated oxygen, water flow, turbidity, phosphorus levels, salinity and other indicators of the health of the watershed. These figures are sent to the UW-Extension, which works together with the DNR to design strategies for those in the watershed to improve their practices which impact the quality of the river. Four streams in the Albany area have been identified for the study, and monitoring on these streams has begun. Depending on the results of the study, the Sugar River can become eligible for grants to help with water quality improvements that in turn will help the fishery.

Embrace the Race

Another recent event on the Sugar River that had L.W.S.R.I.A. participation was D.L.M.R.A.'s "Embrace the Race" pontoon boat rides from the dam on the mill race, where the Old Powerhouse once was, all the way up to the Head Gates by Decatur Lake and back. This event was held as part of Brodhead's "Covered Bridge Days" event. Proceeds from the boat rides will go toward projects on the Decatur Lake Mill Race which is part of the Sugar River. It's really fantastic that members of multiple associations like the L.W.S.R.I.A., D.L.M.R.A. and the L.S.R.W.A. are working together on various projects up and down the river with a Common Goal in mind.

Albany Boat Ramp Improvements

Over the years L.W.S.R.I.A. members who are also residents here in Albany on Lake Winnetka are often questioned by folks who come to town to get on the lake and river as to whether the town is considering making improvements to the boat ramp, specifically adding a pier. Many of us have grown accustomed to launching and retrieving our boats without having a pier to secure them to while parking our vehicle and trailer. But after witnessing a few incidents of "float away boats" it has become obvious that having a pier at the ramp, like other towns do, might just be a good thing. This is especially true in Albany because there can be a pretty good river current at the ramp that could float a boat to the dam in little time. The L.W.S.R.I.A. has inquired with the Village of Albany as to the possibility of a pier being installed and learned that many years ago there was indeed a pier at the ramp which got washed out, and that a new one is now on the agenda as part of the downtown revitalization project. The L.W.S.R.I.A. will continue to work with the village with the hopes that a new pier will be installed at the boat ramp for the 2016 Lake Winnetka boating season.

Carp Control and Fishery Improvement

Work continues to control the Carp population in the Sugar River. Members of both the L.W.S.R.I.A. and D.L.M.R.A. have been researching ways of reducing the populations of Carp in our river and lakes, including the possibility of bringing in a commercial Carp fishing operation. Contact has also been established with other communities in the Sugar River Watershed that also have small man-made lakes to share their ideas with ours and to work with the DNR to develop a comprehensive river-wide plan to manage the Carp populations and to allow more desirable species of Game Fish to proliferate in the river. The towns of Belleville, Monticello and Evansville have all expressed an interest in Carp control and also a concern with efforts to prevent the advent of the even more invasive Asian Carp. Once there is a noticeable reduction in Carp populations, the next step in improving the fishery will be to stock Game Fish that are native to the river.

Albany's Annual Labor Day Weekend Carp-O-Rama

As part of the association's efforts to control Carp and improve the fishery, we will once again be holding our annual Carp Fishing contest this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Prizes will be awarded for the most Carp caught, starting with a $50.00 1st prize, a $25.00 2nd prize, and a 3rd, 4th and 5th prizes consisting of cash or merchandise. There will also be an additional $50.00 prize for the contestant with the largest Carp caught, determined by weight. This gives folks two chances at winning $50.00 or even the possibility of winning both $50.00 prizes. Fishing can be done by rod and reel, spear or bow fishing. No registration is required, but a valid Wisconsin fishing license is required. Fish must be caught in the Lake Winnetka area of the Sugar River, which starts at the top of the Albany Dam and goes up stream to the confluence of the Big and Little Sugar Rivers. Start fishing on Friday, September 4th. Fish through the weekend and turn in your catch for judging at 1:00 p.m., on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, at the Albany boat ramp across from the American Legion Hall.

Frank Kapel

The Water Action Volunteer (WAV) on the left uses an electrochemical water test meter to test portions of the Sugar River for salinity and temperature. On the right this WAV volunteer uses a Secchi Tube to test the water for turbidity and clarity.

Over the years we have had a couple brothers that are pretty excellent bow fisherman. They have won both $50.00 prizes three times. They are Todd and Tate Harnack, and word has it that they are sharpening their arrows and already practicing for this year's event. Why not come on out and give these guys some competition?

For more information about the Carp-O-Rama, call Frank Kapel at (773) 418-7123 or (608) 862-1698 or email lwsria@aol.com or leave a message on the association's Facebook page.

In closing we would like to invite anyone that has an interest in Lake Winnetka or the Sugar River and the surrounding Albany Wildlife Area and the projects we are involved with to become a member of our association. Annual dues are only $20.00 to be a voting member. The more members we have, the more we can accomplish on the lake and river. For more information and lots of pictures of our activities, check out and "Like" our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-WinnetkaSugar-River-Improvement-Association-Inc/374367135943433.

See You On The River!!