Tug Lake District
Working together for a clean, healthy Tug Lake.
Open now · Closes October 23, 2026
Resident and Property Owner Survey is Open
We want to hear how you use Tug Lake, what you have noticed on the water, and what the Lake Management Plan should accomplish. Please reply by October 23, 2026. If you received a survey by email, the link in that message already carries your household's survey code. If you received a paper survey, you may return it in the envelope provided or answer here and type the code printed on your letter. Anyone else may answer here without a code.
To update your contact information or ask the District to follow up with you, use the separate contact form.
Next Meeting
Board of Commissioners
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Basement Community Room, Incredible Bank, 3210 E Main St, Merrill
You may also join online. The link is on the meeting notice, posted under Meetings and Records.
All meetings are open to the public. See Meetings and Records for agendas, minutes, and the full schedule.
Who We Are
The Tug Lake District is a local unit of government that protects and improves Tug Lake in the Town of Rock Falls, Lincoln County. Wisconsin law allows lake property owners to form a district like ours under Chapter 33 of the state statutes. The Tug Lake District was formed in March 2021.
The people who own property or vote within the District run it. They meet each year at the Annual Meeting to approve the budget and elect commissioners. A five-member Board of Commissioners manages the District between meetings.
Our Mission
The Tug Lake District protects and improves Tug Lake through sound science, shared decisions, and an informed lake community.
Our Vision
A clean, healthy, and resilient Tug Lake that supports safe recreation, a strong fishery, and a connected lake community for present and future generations.
The Challenge
Tug Lake has a phosphorus problem. Too much phosphorus in the water feeds blue-green algae blooms that can make the lake unsafe for swimming and fishing. The phosphorus comes from two places: runoff from the watershed and a large store of phosphorus that has built up in the lake sediment over decades and releases back into the water every summer.
Years of testing by volunteers, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and consulting scientists have made the problem clear. The details and the numbers are on our Lake Health page.
What We Are Working Toward
The Lake Management Plan sets five goals for a healthier Tug Lake.
- 01
Reduce internal phosphorus loading. Address the phosphorus stored in the lake sediment that feeds algae blooms each summer.
- 02
Reduce external phosphorus loading. Reduce the phosphorus entering the lake from the watershed through best management practices.
- 03
Improve water clarity. Increase Secchi depth and reduce turbidity so the lake is clearer and healthier.
- 04
Maintain a healthy fishery. Support a diverse, self-sustaining fish population in Tug Lake.
- 05
Build an informed lake community. Keep residents and property owners engaged, informed, and involved in lake stewardship.
What Makes This Hard
The phosphorus stored in the sediment is the biggest obstacle. Even if all external sources were eliminated today, that internal load would continue to fuel algae blooms for years.
Treating the sediment requires a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, a detailed plan, and significant funding. The District is pursuing a state Surface Water Grant to help cover the cost.
Watershed runoff is a second challenge. Much of the land draining into Tug Lake is privately owned, so reducing that source depends on voluntary cooperation from landowners.
What Success Looks Like
Success means fewer and shorter algae blooms, clearer water, a healthier fishery, and a lake community that understands the science and stays involved. It will take years of sustained effort, but the District is committed to the work.
Where Things Stand
- 1
Annual Meeting, August 29, 2026. Electors approved the FY2027 budget of $27,500 and a tax levy of $20,000. The Board was authorized to apply for a Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Grant in the 2028 cycle. Commissioner John Greenwood was re-elected to another three-year term. The Board re-elected Todd Nicklaus as Chair, John Greenwood as Secretary, and Don Olson as Treasurer for another year.
- 2
Lake Management Plan. The draft plan is complete. The resident and property owner survey is open through October 23, 2026. The draft will be revised using the survey results and comments from the Board.
- 3
Next meeting: November 4, 2026. The Board of Commissioners will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Basement Community Room, Incredible Bank, 3210 E Main St, Merrill. The meeting notice and agenda will be posted on the Meetings and Records page before the meeting.
Current Lake Conditions
Live buoy data, blue-green algae safety information, and water quality measurements are updated regularly on the Lake Health page.
View Lake Health