Deer Lake Herons

Click on a star on the map below for more information about each heron marker.

Blue stars indicate water quality projects installed by homeowners, most with Deer Lake Conservancy technical assistance and grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Green stars indicate natural shorelines.

For more information about how you can reduce runoff and improve habitat on your Deer Lake property or request a visit to one of these sites, email dlcdirector@dlcwi.org.

Natural Shorelines reduce runoff and provide critical habitat next to the water. The canopy of trees provides a protective cover to break the force of rain hitting the ground. Shrubs provide berries and nesting site for birds. Deep roots of native understory plants cover the soil and provide channels in the soil for infiltration of runoff. Native flowers attract and support pollinators. To qualify for a natural shoreline heron marker, the natural cover of trees, shrubs, and groundcover makes up at least 70% of the shoreline buffer zone which starts at the water's edge and extends back 35 feet. The opening in this zone is no more than 30 feet wide, and impervious surfaces make up 10% or less of the area.

Native Plantings restore features of a natural shoreline to more developed properties. Native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees add natural beauty and bring back habitat elements lost when vegetation is removed and replaced with lawn and hardscapes. DNR grants to the Deer Lake Conservancy support native plantings next to the water when they are at least 350 ft ² .

Rain Gardens are shallow, landscaped depressions planted with native plants. They are designed to collect runoff from hard surfaces such as roofs, patios, paths, and driveways. Rain gardens can be designed in many shapes and sizes to fit with your landscaping and how you use your yard. Because they drain within a day or two, they do not allow growth of mosquito larvae. Homeowners have installed over 40 rain gardens around the lake.

Rock infiltration pits and trenches are depressions filled with rock that store runoff water until it can soak into and be purified by the underlying soil. Rock infiltration areas are placed to intercept runoff water, or diversions are created to direct water to them. They are carefully placed to avoid drainage to basements, wells, and septic systems. Rock infiltration pits and trenches are sized according to the area of hard surface that drains to them. They are effective in sandy and loamy (not clay) soils. Deer Lake homeowners have installed over 40 infiltration areas around Deer Lake. Infiltration areas are sometimes created with buried plastic cells or culverts. Many infiltration projects are not visible once the project is complete and lawn is restored.

For more information about Deer Lake homeowner water quality projects go to:  Home Owner Projects | Deer Lake Conservancy (dlcwi.org) 

Interested in learning how you can make positive changes and display a heron marker on your Deer Lake property? Contact Cheryl at dlcdirector@dlcwi.org. Grant funding is available to assist with project installation.