Events

Billy Boy Dam Public Informational Meeting Sawyer County

Date: 12/15/2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Seven Winds Conference Center, 13767 W County Road B, Hayward, WI 54843

Details: The DNR has made a tentative determination that it will authorize the WLPOA proposed maximum ordered level and the Sawyer County proposed operations amendments. The ordered minimum will remain as is in decision 2-WP-929. To see the petitions and other associated information, please visit the DNR’s permit tracking website at and search using the keyword “Whitefish Lake Property Owners Association."

Reasonable accommodation, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Briefing information from Whitefish Lake Property Owners Association

Sissabagama Lake Fishery Management Planning Meeting

Date: 01/07/2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. - End of Agenda
Location: Virtual
Contact: Max Wolter, Max.Wolter@wisconsin.gov
Details: This is a public meeting to gather input on fishery preferences for Sissabagama Lake in Sawyer County. All interested members of the public are welcome to attend and provide input which will be used to develop a fishery management plan for Sissabagama Lake.
Register for this meeting via Zoom.

Last Wilderness Alliance Wake Boat ZOOM Meeting

Date: 03/012/2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Virtual
We still have time to protect our lakes from the introduction of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) such as Spiny Water Flea, Quagga Mussels and Eurasian Water Milfoil, etc. - but the help is not coming from our legislators. It is an accepted fact that Wakeboat ballast tanks are a vector for the introduction of AIS since they can not be completely cleaned of ballast water (as DNR NR 19.055 requires).

Last Wilderness Alliance has helped over 70 townships enact local ordinances. We would like to provide education to our lakeshore owners and interested citizens about the perils and solutions. We propose to do that by first offering this program and then to survey them as to their level of interest in enacting a local lake protection ordinance.

March 12 at 9am. Jeff Meessmann of Last Wilderness Alliance has volunteered to provide a zoom presentation to further the public’s knowledge on this topic. All are welcome to attend this zoom presentation.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

NOTICE: County Board Viewing of Lake District Webinar

On WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025 AT 12:00 PM IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE ROOM, SAWYER COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT 10610 MAIN ST., HAYWARD WI 54843:

Members of the Sawyer County Board will be meeting to participate in a webinar conducted by the Wisconsin Counties Association on Lake Districts. A quorum of the Board and/or a Committee of the Board may be present to participate in the webinar.

There will be no other agenda items or business conducted.

The public is welcome to attend.

Note: Any person wishing to attend whom, because of a disability, requires accommodation should call the Sawyer County Clerk’s Office (715.634.4866) at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Listening Sessions in Northern Wisconsin May 5th and 6th

Our lakes need your help! Attend an upcoming listening session May 5th and 6th in Oneida and Vilas Counties to share your views on wake boats and Wisconsin's lakes with Senate President Mary Felzkowski and Representative Rob Swearingen.

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13th Annual Red Cedar Watershed Conference
March 13, 2025
Menomonie, Wisconsin

The 13th Annual conference will feature keynote presentations from Jeremy Solin and John Strauser on how we can use systems thinking to solve water quality issues.

Over lunch, we’ll hear updates on projects from local agencies and organizations that have been working to improve water quality in the Red Cedar Watershed.

There is an exciting lineup of breakout sessions including hearing from Healthy Lakes grant recipients in the watershed, a local food panel, latest research on agriculture and water quality, and a recap of research done in the Red Cedar Watershed by LAKES REU students over the past decade.

Registration is open now. Visit www.uwstout.edu/redcedar to learn more about the conference and to register. We look forward to seeing you there!

Aquatic Plant Management Rulemaking

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)'s Aquatic Plant Management Program is halfway through rule drafting. In June, the program will host four in-person public meetings to share updates and gather public input on this process.

The meeting dates, locations and times are:

• June 4: Oshkosh at 4 p.m.

• June 5: Oconomowoc at 4 p.m.

• June 10: Hayward at 4 p.m.

• June 11: Rhinelander at 4 p.m.

Addresses and meeting descriptions are available on the DNR’s Meetings and Hearings calendar.

The DNR will collect feedback from all stakeholders through the end of June 2025. These comments will be considered while finishing the first draft of the Economic Impact Analysis and Board Order for public comment.

For more information on the draft rule proposals, meeting locations and rule timeline, visit the Aquatic Plant Management Rules webpage.

Information Session on Lake Districts

Eric Olson, Director of Extension Lakes, will be conducting an informational session on Lake Districts. This session is not specific to any one Lake District, but for general formation and operation procedures. The meeting will be at Town of Hayward Town Hall, Wednesday June 11 at 9:00 a.m. He will give a short talk on lake districts and then field questions. The meeting is open to Please anyone in Sawyer County who is wondering what lake districts are and how they might work for a given situation. This might also be useful for town board and county board members who are learning about lake districts. No RSVP is required.

The town hall is just east of the City of Hayward on Hwy. 77:

15460W State Hwy. 77
Hayward, WI 54843

A Webinar from WI Salt Wise and Wisconsin Lakes
Tue, February 18 ~ 4:00-5:00pm
It's free, but you must register to attend

Join Wisconsin Lakes as we host Allison Madison of Wisconsin Salt Wise in a discussion of salt and how it’s overuse can pollute our lakes, streams, and groundwater.

Representative Green to Hold Listening Sessions
State Assembly 74th District Representative Chanz Green (R-Grand View) will conduct four citizen input listening sessions in the next few weeks, including one in Hayward.

This is an opportunity for constituents to come and express their views on certain topics that the Wisconsin State Legislature might consider and learn what Rep. Green has been working on in Madison.

The schedule is:

• Friday, Feb. 28: Spooner City Hall, 1-2 p.m.

• Friday, March 21: Washburn County Courthouse, Shell Lake, 1-2 p.m.

• Friday, April 4: Minong Village Hall, 1-2 p.m.

• Friday, April 18: Hayward Veterans Community Center, 1-2 p.m.

Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearings
The Joint Finance Committee has announced the dates for the statewide budget hearings. This is an opportunity for constituents to come and express their views on budget items the Wisconsin State Legislature may consider.

The schedule is:

• Wednesday, April 2 – Kaukauna High School

• Friday, April 4 – State Fair Park, West Allis

• Monday, April 28 – Hayward High School

• Tuesday, April 29 – Northcentral Technical College, Wausau

Sawyer County Lakes Forum Annual Meeting
August 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - noon
Veterans Community Center
10534 Main St, Hayward, WI 54843
Hayward, Wisconsin

The Sawyer County Lakes Forum will hold their Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Veterans Community Center in Hayward.

Tentative presentations scheduled on Safe Boating, and Elevated Wakes

Lake Ecology, Shoreland Protection and Restoration
Saturday September 6 - Sunday September 7
This two-day workshop will introduce concepts of Lake Ecology, especially as they pertain to shoreland protection and restoration on lakefront properties.

Other topics include best practices for lakeshore restoration, advantages of native plants, the benefits of aquatic plants, “fish sticks” and practical help with grants and resources for restoration.

The workshop will include indoor lectures and outdoor field trips, including visiting examples of best management practices of lakefront properties on nearby lakes.

More information here.

Red Cedar Watershed Conference
March 12, 2026, at UW-Stout

Keynote speakers: Tara Greiman (WI Farmers Union) will address how land use changes affect water quality, soil health, and the farm economy; Nicole Hayes and Keith Gilland (UW-Stout) will discuss water quality trends and ongoing restoration efforts at UW-Stout; and Paul Mitchell (UW-Madison) will discuss the Farm Bill and other federal programs and how they impact land management/water quality.