The Fox Lake Preservation Organization, a member-dedicated non-profit that diligently works toward improving Fox Lake water quality, has provided over six tons of free cereal rye seed to select Fox Lake farmers.
Fox Lake Preservation Organization President Charlie Nelson explains, “Dodge County’s primary industry is agriculture. The FLPO analyzed which area farm fields are near the Fox Lake shoreline. We approached those farmers, asking if they would be willing to participate in cover cropping if we supplied the delivery of free seed. The Dodge County Healthy Soils/Healthy Waters initiative has demonstrated to area farmers and lake groups the importance of cover crops. Over 12,000 pounds of seed was delivered to the three farms and will be used as a winter cover crop, thus decreasing soil and surface water run-off.
“The FLPO has partnered with our Fox Lake watershed farmers and the Dodge County Healthy Soils/Healthy Waters group to reduce the lake’s nutrients. The mission of FLPO is to enhance the water quality, fishery, boating safety, and aesthetic values of Fox Lake. Thanks to our forward-thinking partners, we protect Fox Lake as a public recreational facility for today and future generations.”
Participating farms include Schultz (TriFecta) Farm, Dale Paul Farm, and the Hoekstra Farm. If other farms wish to join the free cereal rye winter cover crop initiative, please call 920.344.2881 or 920-296-4764.
“We are grateful to these innovative producers,” Nelson concludes. “But those who live on the lake also need to work towards water quality. FLPO is encouraging shoreline homeowners to install buffers and rain gardens. The DNR Healthy Lakes Grant makes state funds available to individual lakeshore property owners for shoreline restoration, habitat reclamation, runoff, and erosion control projects. If our Fox Lake shoreline homeowners and farmers work together, we will see a difference in our lake’s water quality.”
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