2025-08-22T21:34:49-04:00 2024-12-31 391392227 HUBERTY & ASSOCIATES SC 825 S TAYLOR DR SHEBOYGAN WI 53081 990 2024-01-01 391047600 GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION INC GREE 9202946480 PO BOX 364 GREEN LAKE WI 549410364 STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ CEO 9202946480 2025-08-11 true false KARIN G HARMS CPA P00073773 9204522255 2025-08-11 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ PO BOX 364 GREEN LAKE WI 54941 3089777 false X WWW.GREENLAKEASSOCIATION.COM X 1951 WI SAFEGUARD GREEN LAKE BY IMPROVING ITS WATER QUALITY, PROTECTING IT FROM CRITICAL THREATS, AND ACCELERATING ITS RETURN TO A CLEAN LAKE. 15 15 18 70 0 1818494 2876470 125343 130351 30115 73261 -78006 -147929 1895946 2932153 0 0 484898 620205 0 151840 703756 630376 1188654 1250581 707292 1681572 4321763 6019388 326202 300424 3995561 5718964 X SAFEGUARD GREEN LAKE BY IMPROVING ITS WATER QUALITY, PROTECTING IT FROM CRITICAL THREATS, AND ACCELERATING ITS RETURN TO A CLEAN LAKE. false false 1064406 130351 THIS YEAR, THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION CONTINUED TO MAKE STRIDES IN PROTECTING AND RESTORING GREEN LAKE, DRIVEN BY INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, AND THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, WE TACKLED CHALLENGES, CELEBRATED SUCCESSES, AND SET THE STAGE FOR A CLEANER, HEALTHIER LAKE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION (GLA) HAS ORGANIZED ITS WORK UNDER FIVE AREAS: PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION, DATA EVALUATION, COMMUNITY ACTIVATION, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON PROGRAMMING WAS 954,240. BELOW ARE MANY OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK IN 2024: PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION UNDERSTANDING PHOSPHORUS IN GREEN LAKE'S INLETS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, THE GLA IMPLEMENTS SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE LAKE'S INCOMING PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION-WHICH IMPAIRS GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY, FUELING PLANT GROWTH AND DEGRADING CONDITIONS FOR BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND AQUATIC ANIMALS. REDUCING PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN GREEN LAKE IS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD IMPROVING ITS WATER QUALITY AND PRESERVING ITS HEALTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS YEAR, THE GLA TEAMED UP WITH STANTEC AND UW-STOUT TO STUDY HOW PHOSPHORUS MOVES AND BUILDS UP IN KEY AREAS OF THE WATERSHED, SPECIFICALLY THE SILVER CREEK ESTUARY AND COUNTY HIGHWAY K MARSH. FIELDWORK INCLUDED 12 WEEKS OF COLLECTING WATER SAMPLES, MONITORING CONDITIONS LIKE TEMPERATURE AND OXYGEN LEVELS, AND GATHERING SEDIMENT CORES FROM THE LAKEBED. THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW PHOSPHORUS FROM DECAYING PLANTS AND SOIL ENTERS THE LAKE AND CONTRIBUTES TO ITS WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES. ONE OF THE KEY PARTS OF THIS STUDY IS LEARNING HOW PHOSPHORUS GETS RELEASED FROM THE LAKEBED UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, SUCH AS CHANGES IN OXYGEN OR WATER TEMPERATURE. THIS PROCESS, KNOWN AS PHOSPHORUS FLUX, WILL BE STUDIED IN DETAIL BY TESTING THE SEDIMENT CORES COLLECTED BY UW-STOUT. BY EXAMINING THIS DATA, WE CAN PINPOINT WHEN AND WHY PHOSPHORUS ENTERS THE LAKE, GIVING US THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AT ITS SOURCE. THE FINDINGS FROM THESE STUDIES WILL FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR TARGETED PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION STRATEGIES. BY IDENTIFYING THE CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER PHOSPHORUS RELEASE, THE GLA AND ITS PARTNERS CAN IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO TREAT GREEN LAKE, REDUCE PHOSPHORUS INPUTS, AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. THIS DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH WILL ENSURE THAT OUR RESTORATION EFFORTS ARE BOTH IMPACTFUL AND SUSTAINABLE, SUPPORTING A HEALTHIER GREEN LAKE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION PRESERVING GREEN LAKE THROUGH PROACTIVE BOATER EDUCATION TO PROTECT GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY, THE GLA MINIMIZES THE SPREAD OF NEW AND EXISTING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGH PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. PROTECTING GREEN LAKE FROM AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SAFEGUARDING THE LAKE'S HEALTH AND PRESERVING IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. LAST SUMMER, THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION (GLA) MANAGED THE CLEAN BOATS, CLEAN WATERS (CBCW) PROGRAM IN-HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME, TAKING CHARGE OF HIRING, TRAINING, SCHEDULING, AND DATA COLLECTION. SEVEN INSPECTORS COVERED THE LAKE'S EIGHT PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHES, LOGGING OVER 1,000 HOURS AND ENGAGING WITH 3,044 BOATERS. THEIR WORK REVEALED THAT 239 BOATS HAD VISITED OTHER LAKES WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF ARRIVING AT GREEN LAKE, INCLUDING THREE FROM OUTSIDE WISCONSIN. 59 OF THE 70 LAKES PREVIOUSLY VISITED BY THESE BOATS CONTAIN AIS NOT CURRENTLY FOUND IN GREEN LAKE, WITH THE MOST COMMON SPECIES BEING BANDED AND CHINESE MYSTERY SNAILS. BY MANAGING THE CBCW PROGRAM INTERNALLY, GLA ENHANCED ITS ABILITY TO TRAIN INSPECTORS ON DELIVERING IMPACTFUL MESSAGES TO BOATERS AND STREAMLINED SCHEDULING TO MAXIMIZE COVERAGE DURING PEAK TIMES. THIS HANDS-ON APPROACH ALSO ALLOWED FOR MORE PRECISE DATA MANAGEMENT AND ENSURED ACCURATE REPORTING INTO THE DNR'S SURFACE WATER INTEGRATED MONITORING SYSTEM (SWIMS). THE INSIGHTS GATHERED FROM THIS YEAR'S EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHTED AREAS FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS BUT ALSO DEEPENED THE GLA'S UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO PREVENT AIS FROM ENTERING GREEN LAKE. THESE FINDINGS UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED VIGILANCE, AS THE THREAT OF AIS IS ONLY A SINGLE CONTAMINATED WATERCRAFT AWAY. THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF CBCW INSPECTORS AND THE PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, THE GLA CONTINUES TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF STEWARDSHIP AMONG LAKE USERS. BY EDUCATING BOATERS AND ENCOURAGING PREVENTIVE MEASURES, WE ARE TAKING MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PROTECT GREEN LAKE'S DELICATE ECOSYSTEM AND RECREATIONAL VALUE. THESE EFFORTS ARE A VITAL INVESTMENT IN THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND ENJOYMENT OF GREEN LAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. HARMFUL BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS LED TO BEACH CLOSURES, BUT RAPID TESTING AND SWIFT COMMUNICATION WITH THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROTECTED OUR COMMUNITY AND REINFORCED THE URGENCY OF REDUCING PHOSPHORUS. DATA EVALUATION CELEBRATING THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF OUR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS THE GLA GATHERS DATA AND INFORMATION THAT DRIVES THE LAKE MANAGEMENT PLANNING TEAM TO IDENTIFY WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS, INFORM SOLUTIONS, AND TRACK OUR COLLECTIVE PROGRESS. IN 2024, THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED THE WATER QUALITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. COMPRISED OF A GROWING GROUP OF COMMITTED CITIZEN SCIENTISTS WHO COLLECT CRITICAL DATA ACROSS THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED, THE WATER QUALITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS CONTRIBUTING TO A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES. THE GROUPS INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE: - NITRATE WATCH, A NEWLY ESTABLISHED PROGRAM IN 2024, HAD 23 VOLUNTEERS GATHER 173 NITRATE READINGS, WHO UNCOVERED THAT 17% OF SAMPLES EXCEEDED THE EPA'S DRINKING WATER STANDARD OF 10 MG/L. THANKS TO THIS INFORMATION, THE GLA WAS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND NOTIFY THE HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE WATER WAS AT RISK. SIMILAR TO PHOSPHORUS, NITRATE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO POLLUTION THAT DEGRADES GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY. - SECCHI DEPTH MONITORING, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE 1920S, PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S ANNUAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENTS. IN 2024, VOLUNTEERS RECORDED AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 14 FEET-TWO FEET BETTER THAN LAST YEAR. - SALT WATCH VOLUNTEERS MEASURE SALT POLLUTION THROUGHOUT THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT OUR WATERWAYS. IN 2024, PARTICIPATION ROSE FROM 17 TO 29 INDIVIDUALS. - THE WATER ACTION VOLUNTEER (WAV) PROGRAM, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY ORGANIZED BY LOCAL DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ERIC GODFREY & TOM IN 2024. 23 VOLUNTEERS WORKED LAST YEAR TO ESTABLISH A ROBUST BASELINE OF WATERSHED HEALTH, MONITORING 18 SITES AND CONDUCTING MONTHLY PHOSPHORUS SAMPLING AT ASSEMBLY CREEK, A LOCATION FOR WHICH WE LACKED HISTORICAL NUTRIENT DATA. THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF THESE INITIATIVES IS REMARKABLE. ACROSS THESE FOUR PROGRAMS, 70 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 578 HOURS TO WATER QUALITY MONITORING, WHILE GLA BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS DEDICATED AN ADDITIONAL 416 HOURS. TOGETHER, THEIR 1,000 HOURS OF SERVICE UNDERSCORE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ACTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING GREEN LAKE'S WATERSHED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE CONDUCTED 11 FOCUS GROUPS TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GATHERING VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO INFORM THE FUTURE OF GREEN LAKE. ADDITIONALLY, OUR WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM EMPOWERED LOCAL TEACHERS TO INTEGRATE A LAKE-CENTRIC CURRICULUM INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS, INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAKE STEWARDS. COMMUNITY ACTIVATION FOSTERING COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP WITH WATERSHED MARKERS THE GLA CULTIVATES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE BY MOBILIZING OUR MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PARTNERS TO ACT ON GREEN LAKE'S BEHALF. WE WELCOMED US SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN, STATE SENATOR JOAN BALLWEG, AND WDNR SECRETARY'S DIRECTOR CONNIE ANTONUK TO GREEN LAKE, SHOWCASING THE PROGRESS AND CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR WATERSHED. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE VISITS ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WHO DEDICATE THEIR TIME TO MAKING PROGRESS FOR OUR LAKE. IN 2024, THE GLA COLLABORATED WITH GREEN LAKE AND FOND DU LAC COUNTIES TO INSTALL MORE THAN 20 WATERSHED BOUNDARY AND STREAM CROSSING SIGNS, STRATEGICALLY PLACED TO MARK THE WATERSHED'S BOUNDARIES AND HIGHLIGHT THE STREAMS THAT FLOW INTO GREEN LAKE. THESE SIGNS NOW STAND AS VISIBLE REMINDERS OF THE INTERCONNECTED WATER SYSTEMS WE RELY ON AND THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS IN SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED IS VAST, SPANNING 60% OF GREEN LAKE COUNTY AND EXTENDING 40% INTO FOND DU LAC COUNTY. RECOGNIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AWARENESS, THE GLA WORKED CLOSELY WITH COUNTY PARTNERS TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. IN FEBRUARY, FOND DU LAC COUNTY ENDORSED THE INSTALLATION OF BOUNDARY SIGNS, AND BY APRIL, THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAD COMPLETED INSTALLATIONS IN THEIR JURISDICTION. THESE SIGNS ARE MORE THAN INFORMATIONAL TOOLS-THEY ARE INVITATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT WITH THE WATERSH 1064406 true true false false false false false false false false true false false true true true true false false false false false false false true false false false false true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 1 0 18 true false false false false false true true false false false true false false false X 15 15 false false false false true false false true true false false true true true true true false true false false WI X STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ 9202946480 PO BOX 364 GREEN LAKE WI 54941 STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ CEO 45.00 X 164711 0 5094 FRED CARUSO TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 KENT DELUCENAY PAST CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 RICH DIEMER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHARON DOLAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK FRANZEN VICE CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 MARK FURLONG DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JIM HEBBE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD MARTENS SECRETARY 4.00 X X 0 0 0 GARY MECKLENBURG CHAIR 7.00 X X 0 0 0 WILLIAM T MULLIGAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MIKE REGAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEFF SHADICK DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JIM TRUBSHAW DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BOB WALLACE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LESLIE WHITE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 164711 5094 1 false true false STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES 13980 COLLECTIONS CENTER DRIVE CHICAGO IL 60693 CONSULTING 138557 1 2168299 116795 591376 84627 2876470 MEMBERSHIP 900099 75351 75351 PROGRAM SERVICE INCOME 900099 55000 55000 130351 73261 73261 9595 2168299 157624 -148029 -148029 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 100 100 100 2932153 130351 -74668 169805 144236 8346 17223 354877 244882 1345 108650 9526 7914 206 1406 44790 37211 969 6610 41207 30524 760 9923 404 404 16500 16500 29243 16954 5870 6419 7708 7708 24806 24263 543 23884 23884 21914 20848 1066 36419 36419 15150 15150 LMP PHASE 1 & 2 163642 163642 CLEAN STREAMS 90810 90810 PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION 50481 50481 INVADER DEFENSE 46811 46811 102604 102265 339 1250581 1064406 34335 151840 111431 61659 1324273 1930261 1985524 2561807 241472 410100 8810 18261 260831 85320 158320 175511 491933 861789 4321763 6019388 85319 85538 13493 227390 214886 326202 300424 X 2018264 2843115 1977297 2875849 3995561 5718964 4321763 6019388 X 1681572 41831 X false true X true false X 474302 1971719 1899189 1818494 2876470 9040174 94471 80830 87545 125343 130351 518540 568773 2052549 1986734 1943837 3006821 9558714 69717 1466513 707541 441283 509857 3194911 27868 27868 97585 1466513 707541 441283 509857 3222779 6335935 2090 6923 30115 73261 112389 2090 6923 30115 73261 112389 568773 2054639 1993657 1973952 3080082 9671103 0.65510 0.59490 0.01000 0.01000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 260831 85320 175511 175511 BENEFICIAL INTEREST 650849 RIGHT-TO-USE OPERATING LEASE 210940 861789 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 214886 214886 X 3131608 199455 199455 2932153 2932153 1408205 157624 157624 1250581 1250581 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X THE ASSOCIATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ASSOCIATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501(C) (3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO BEEN CLASSIFIED AS AN ENTITY THAT IS NOT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 509(A) AND QUALIFIES FOR DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 170(B) (1) (A) (VI). THE ASSOCIATION IS SUBJECT TO A TAX ON INCOME FROM UNRELATED BUSINESS. THE ASSOCIATION HAS EVALUATED TAX POSITIONS TAKEN FOR FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND ALL STATE TAX JURISDICTIONS WHERE IT OPERATES. THE ASSOCIATION BELIEVES THAT INCOME TAX FILING POSITIONS WILL BE SUSTAINED UPON EXAMINATION AND DOES NOT ANTICIPATE ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD RESULT IN A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE ASSOCIATIONS FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OR CASH FLOWS. ACCORDINGLY, THE ASSOCIATION HAS NOT RECORDED ANY RESERVES, OR RELATED ACCRUALS FOR INTEREST AND PENALTIES FOR UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY. SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XI, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 157,624 RETURN ON BENEFICIAL INTEREST 41,831 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 157,624 GALA 311479 301884 9595 28367 45000 27616 8600 31012 MEMBERSHIP CAMP 81527 81527 17029 3 1784888 1784888 2177894 2168299 9595 28367 45000 27616 8600 48041 157624 -148029 WI X X X false false false false false false false false false STEPHANIE PRELLWITZ CEO 164711 5094 169805 X 1 40000 FMV X GALA AUCTION 4 16260 FMV X GRANT STUDY 1 27000 FMV X BOAT WINTERIZE 1 1367 FMV false false false FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A THIS YEAR, THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION CONTINUED TO MAKE STRIDES IN PROTECTING AND RESTORING GREEN LAKE, DRIVEN BY INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, AND THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, WE TACKLED CHALLENGES, CELEBRATED SUCCESSES, AND SET THE STAGE FOR A CLEANER, HEALTHIER LAKE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION (GLA) HAS ORGANIZED ITS WORK UNDER FIVE AREAS: PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION, DATA EVALUATION, COMMUNITY ACTIVATION, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON PROGRAMMING WAS 954,240. BELOW ARE MANY OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK IN 2024: PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION UNDERSTANDING PHOSPHORUS IN GREEN LAKE'S INLETS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, THE GLA IMPLEMENTS SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE LAKE'S INCOMING PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION-WHICH IMPAIRS GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY, FUELING PLANT GROWTH AND DEGRADING CONDITIONS FOR BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND AQUATIC ANIMALS. REDUCING PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN GREEN LAKE IS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD IMPROVING ITS WATER QUALITY AND PRESERVING ITS HEALTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS YEAR, THE GLA TEAMED UP WITH STANTEC AND UW-STOUT TO STUDY HOW PHOSPHORUS MOVES AND BUILDS UP IN KEY AREAS OF THE WATERSHED, SPECIFICALLY THE SILVER CREEK ESTUARY AND COUNTY HIGHWAY K MARSH. FIELDWORK INCLUDED 12 WEEKS OF COLLECTING WATER SAMPLES, MONITORING CONDITIONS LIKE TEMPERATURE AND OXYGEN LEVELS, AND GATHERING SEDIMENT CORES FROM THE LAKEBED. THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW PHOSPHORUS FROM DECAYING PLANTS AND SOIL ENTERS THE LAKE AND CONTRIBUTES TO ITS WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES. ONE OF THE KEY PARTS OF THIS STUDY IS LEARNING HOW PHOSPHORUS GETS RELEASED FROM THE LAKEBED UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, SUCH AS CHANGES IN OXYGEN OR WATER TEMPERATURE. THIS PROCESS, KNOWN AS PHOSPHORUS FLUX, WILL BE STUDIED IN DETAIL BY TESTING THE SEDIMENT CORES COLLECTED BY UW-STOUT. BY EXAMINING THIS DATA, WE CAN PINPOINT WHEN AND WHY PHOSPHORUS ENTERS THE LAKE, GIVING US THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AT ITS SOURCE. THE FINDINGS FROM THESE STUDIES WILL FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR TARGETED PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION STRATEGIES. BY IDENTIFYING THE CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER PHOSPHORUS RELEASE, THE GLA AND ITS PARTNERS CAN IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO TREAT GREEN LAKE, REDUCE PHOSPHORUS INPUTS, AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. THIS DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH WILL ENSURE THAT OUR RESTORATION EFFORTS ARE BOTH IMPACTFUL AND SUSTAINABLE, SUPPORTING A HEALTHIER GREEN LAKE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION PRESERVING GREEN LAKE THROUGH PROACTIVE BOATER EDUCATION TO PROTECT GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY, THE GLA MINIMIZES THE SPREAD OF NEW AND EXISTING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGH PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. PROTECTING GREEN LAKE FROM AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SAFEGUARDING THE LAKE'S HEALTH AND PRESERVING IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. LAST SUMMER, THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION (GLA) MANAGED THE CLEAN BOATS, CLEAN WATERS (CBCW) PROGRAM IN-HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME, TAKING CHARGE OF HIRING, TRAINING, SCHEDULING, AND DATA COLLECTION. SEVEN INSPECTORS COVERED THE LAKE'S EIGHT PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHES, LOGGING OVER 1,000 HOURS AND ENGAGING WITH 3,044 BOATERS. THEIR WORK REVEALED THAT 239 BOATS HAD VISITED OTHER LAKES WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF ARRIVING AT GREEN LAKE, INCLUDING THREE FROM OUTSIDE WISCONSIN. 59 OF THE 70 LAKES PREVIOUSLY VISITED BY THESE BOATS CONTAIN AIS NOT CURRENTLY FOUND IN GREEN LAKE, WITH THE MOST COMMON SPECIES BEING BANDED AND CHINESE MYSTERY SNAILS. BY MANAGING THE CBCW PROGRAM INTERNALLY, GLA ENHANCED ITS ABILITY TO TRAIN INSPECTORS ON DELIVERING IMPACTFUL MESSAGES TO BOATERS AND STREAMLINED SCHEDULING TO MAXIMIZE COVERAGE DURING PEAK TIMES. THIS HANDS-ON APPROACH ALSO ALLOWED FOR MORE PRECISE DATA MANAGEMENT AND ENSURED ACCURATE REPORTING INTO THE DNR'S SURFACE WATER INTEGRATED MONITORING SYSTEM (SWIMS). THE INSIGHTS GATHERED FROM THIS YEAR'S EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHTED AREAS FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS BUT ALSO DEEPENED THE GLA'S UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO PREVENT AIS FROM ENTERING GREEN LAKE. THESE FINDINGS UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED VIGILANCE, AS THE THREAT OF AIS IS ONLY A SINGLE CONTAMINATED WATERCRAFT AWAY. THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF CBCW INSPECTORS AND THE PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, THE GLA CONTINUES TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF STEWARDSHIP AMONG LAKE USERS. BY EDUCATING BOATERS AND ENCOURAGING PREVENTIVE MEASURES, WE ARE TAKING MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PROTECT GREEN LAKE'S DELICATE ECOSYSTEM AND RECREATIONAL VALUE. THESE EFFORTS ARE A VITAL INVESTMENT IN THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND ENJOYMENT OF GREEN LAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. HARMFUL BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS LED TO BEACH CLOSURES, BUT RAPID TESTING AND SWIFT COMMUNICATION WITH THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROTECTED OUR COMMUNITY AND REINFORCED THE URGENCY OF REDUCING PHOSPHORUS. DATA EVALUATION CELEBRATING THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF OUR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS THE GLA GATHERS DATA AND INFORMATION THAT DRIVES THE LAKE MANAGEMENT PLANNING TEAM TO IDENTIFY WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS, INFORM SOLUTIONS, AND TRACK OUR COLLECTIVE PROGRESS. IN 2024, THE GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED THE WATER QUALITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. COMPRISED OF A GROWING GROUP OF COMMITTED CITIZEN SCIENTISTS WHO COLLECT CRITICAL DATA ACROSS THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED, THE WATER QUALITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS CONTRIBUTING TO A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES. THE GROUPS INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE: - NITRATE WATCH, A NEWLY ESTABLISHED PROGRAM IN 2024, HAD 23 VOLUNTEERS GATHER 173 NITRATE READINGS, WHO UNCOVERED THAT 17% OF SAMPLES EXCEEDED THE EPA'S DRINKING WATER STANDARD OF 10 MG/L. THANKS TO THIS INFORMATION, THE GLA WAS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND NOTIFY THE HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE WATER WAS AT RISK. SIMILAR TO PHOSPHORUS, NITRATE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO POLLUTION THAT DEGRADES GREEN LAKE'S WATER QUALITY. - SECCHI DEPTH MONITORING, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE 1920S, PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S ANNUAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENTS. IN 2024, VOLUNTEERS RECORDED AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 14 FEET-TWO FEET BETTER THAN LAST YEAR. - SALT WATCH VOLUNTEERS MEASURE SALT POLLUTION THROUGHOUT THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT OUR WATERWAYS. IN 2024, PARTICIPATION ROSE FROM 17 TO 29 INDIVIDUALS. - THE WATER ACTION VOLUNTEER (WAV) PROGRAM, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY ORGANIZED BY LOCAL DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ERIC GODFREY & TOM IN 2024. 23 VOLUNTEERS WORKED LAST YEAR TO ESTABLISH A ROBUST BASELINE OF WATERSHED HEALTH, MONITORING 18 SITES AND CONDUCTING MONTHLY PHOSPHORUS SAMPLING AT ASSEMBLY CREEK, A LOCATION FOR WHICH WE LACKED HISTORICAL NUTRIENT DATA. THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF THESE INITIATIVES IS REMARKABLE. ACROSS THESE FOUR PROGRAMS, 70 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 578 HOURS TO WATER QUALITY MONITORING, WHILE GLA BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS DEDICATED AN ADDITIONAL 416 HOURS. TOGETHER, THEIR 1,000 HOURS OF SERVICE UNDERSCORE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ACTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING GREEN LAKE'S WATERSHED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE CONDUCTED 11 FOCUS GROUPS TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GATHERING VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO INFORM THE FUTURE OF GREEN LAKE. ADDITIONALLY, OUR WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM EMPOWERED LOCAL TEACHERS TO INTEGRATE A LAKE-CENTRIC CURRICULUM INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS, INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAKE STEWARDS. COMMUNITY ACTIVATION FOSTERING COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP WITH WATERSHED MARKERS THE GLA CULTIVATES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE BY MOBILIZING OUR MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PARTNERS TO ACT ON GREEN LAKE'S BEHALF. WE WELCOMED US SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN, STATE SENATOR JOAN BALLWEG, AND WDNR SECRETARY'S DIRECTOR CONNIE ANTONUK TO GREEN LAKE, SHOWCASING THE PROGRESS AND CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR WATERSHED. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE VISITS ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WHO DEDICATE THEIR TIME TO MAKING PROGRESS FOR OUR LAKE. IN 2024, THE GLA COLLABORATED WITH GREEN LAKE AND FOND DU LAC COUNTIES TO INSTALL MORE THAN 20 WATERSHED BOUNDARY AND STREAM CROSSING SIGNS, STRATEGICALLY PLACED TO MARK THE WATERSHED'S BOUNDARIES AND HIGHLIGHT THE STREAMS THAT FLOW INTO GREEN LAKE. THESE SIGNS NOW STAND AS VISIBLE REMINDERS OF THE INTERCONNECTED WATER SYSTEMS WE RELY ON AND THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS IN SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE GREEN LAKE WATERSHED IS VAST, SPANNING 60% OF GREEN LAKE COUNTY AND EXTENDING 40% INTO FOND DU LAC COUNTY. RECOGNIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AWARENESS, THE GLA WORKED CLOSELY WITH COUNTY PARTNERS TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. IN FEBRUARY, FOND DU LAC COUNTY ENDORSED THE INSTALLATION OF BOUNDARY SIGNS, AND BY APRIL, THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAD COMPLETED INSTALLATIONS IN THEIR JURISDICTION. THESE SIGNS ARE MORE THAN INFORMATIONAL TOOLS-THEY ARE INVITATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT WITH THE WATERSH FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 6 THE ORGANIZATION HAS MEMBERS FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE DRAFT 990 IS SHARED WITH THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE AS WELL AS ALL BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C EACH INDIVIDUAL SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANY PERSONAL INTEREST WHICH HE OR SHE MAY HAVE IN ANY MATTER PENDING BEFORE THE CORPORATION AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY DECISION ON SUCH MATTER. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECEIVES A PERFORMANCE REVIEW BY THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. COMPENSATION AND BONUSES ARE REVIEWED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 RETURN ON BENEFICIAL INTEREST 41,831