Oak Wilt Awareness: *** The Town of Spider Lake is working to raise awareness of Oak Wilt.   Oak wilt is a destructive disease that kills red oak trees by spreading to their tissues and starving them of water and nutrients. Prevention is the best strategy to protect oak trees, and here are some best practices: Avoid pruning during high-risk periods In Wisconsin, the risk period is April through July, but it can vary by location and season. Sanitize pruning equipment Use denatured methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or a household disinfectant to sterilize equipment between trees. Paint wounds Immediately apply a thin layer of wound paint or pruning seal to pruning cuts and other wounds to prevent fungal spores from sticking to the sap and infecting the tree. Buy and transport dry wood Purchase wood locally that has been thoroughly dried for at least a year, and avoid moving firewood to new locations. Create a buffer zone Dig a trench at least 100 feet from the last symptomatic tree and 48 inches deep. Remove infected trees Promptly remove and burn or bury dead or diseased trees. If possible, burn trees in place. Treat logs and branches Before April, cut infected oaks as close to the ground as possible, and burn, debark, or chip logs and larger branches. You can also process diseased logs into lumber or kiln-dry them before April. Tarp wood From April through July, tarp wood to prevent sap beetles from coming into contact with spores. Make sure the tarp is thick enough to prevent punctures and completely bury the edges.   For more information on oak wilt management. Please CLICK HERE.

TEST TW WEATHER

Posted on by Tim Sheldon

Boating Ordinance Update

The Town is in the process of redrafting its Boating Ordinance to comply with Wisconsin statutes (specifically, Wis. Stat. § 30.77 by 1973 Wisconsin Act 302). For more background and details, CLICK HERE. Once the new ordinance is drafted:

  1. The Town will convene a Public Hearing to present the new ordinance and collect public input (desired by the Town and required by law).
  2. Next, the Town will secure an advisory review from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, so that the new ordinance fully complies with Wisconsin statute (Wis. Stat. § 30.77 by 1973 Wisconsin Act 302).
  3. After that, the Town Board of Supervisors will consider the adoption of the new Boating Ordinance and then,
  4. The Town will file the Ordinance with Sawyer County.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Town Chair Tim Sheldon ([email protected])