Natural shorelines and water resource protection will be the focus of the annual meeting of lake group leaders and members from six northern Wisconsin counties Friday, July 12, at Nicolet College auditorium in Rhinelander.

“Clean Waters: Our Mission, Our Legacy,” is the theme for the meeting, from 9 a.m. to noon. Attendees, expected from Oneida, Vilas, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln and Iron counties, will explore ways to encourage lake residents and lake users to take actions to protect lakes and streams and the scenic values of the Northwoods.

Attendees are “The single best and simplest measure people can take to protect their lakes is to keep the shoreline habitat natural or restore it to a more natural condition,” said Bob Martini, president of the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association, which is organizing the event with the Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association.

The main speaker, Patrick Goggin, lakes specialist with the UW-Extension Lakes team, will discuss shoreland buffers and other forms of shoreline protection as a way to help prevent runoff of nutrients and sediment into lakes.

Other speakers include Michael Engleson, executive director of Wisconsin Lakes, giving an update on state government policies affecting lakes; Dave Noel, presenting summaries of studies linking lake quality to regional economies and property values; and Bob Martini, reporting on the Wisconsin’s Green Fire organization promoting sound science as a basis for public policies.

Dane Whittaker, a graduate assistant at Arizona State University, will report on a Northwoods Fishery Study now underway. A discussion and feedback session will follow the program. The event will include exhibits from water-related organizations. Annual meetings of countywide lake associations will follow. For more information, contact Martini at 715-282-5896 or Steve Budnik at 715-686-7852.