Eighteen Portage County, Wisconsin lakes are now under management plans due to collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Center for Watershed Science and Education, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and community members.

This collaboration prompted interested citizens to form group and discuss their lakes which is the first step to an organization. Management plans these groups devise help to identify potential uses and problems; such as invasive species or eroding shorelines.

Other counties in Wisconsin are now interested in developing their own programs and are looking toward the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for guidance. The faculty is currently working with citizens in Marathon County to collect data on 11 lakes in the county.