about FCAL
The Forest County Association of Lakes (FCAL) is a cooperative effort between each of the lake associations in Forest County, Wisconsin to protect our inland water bodies, environs, and watershed. As a team, we facilitate research and sharing between organizations, governmental bodies, and the general public and work together to preserve the aesthetic beauty, water quality, wildlife habitats, and fisheries within Forest County.
Join FCAL
Join online or by mail.
Our Environment
Forest County Courtesy Code
- Be Kind to Wildlife, Your Neighbors, & Your Lake
- Watercraft Safety – OBEY THE LAWS, REGULATIONS, & RULES
- Clean Boats/Clean Waters – OBEY THE LAWS, REGULATIONS, & RULES
REPORT INVASIVE SPECIES VIOLATIONS TO THE DNR’S TIP LINE
1-800-847-9367
OTHER VIOLATIONS CAN BE REPORTED TO Austin Babich WDNR WARDEN
608-896-5217 or ">
Or FOREST COUNTY SHERIFF
715-478-3331
WDNR Tip Line
800-847-9367
Forest County Sheriff’s Recreation Officer–Chad Mullis
715-478-3331
RECYCLING MONOFILAMENT FISHING LINE
If left out in the environment, monofilament fishing line can tangle or be ingested by wildlife, endanger swimmers or become wrapped around boat propellers. It can last up to 600 years in freshwater, meaning it poses a threat for a long time. Removing discarded fishing line from the environment is a great first step. Recycling gives it new life.
How to recycle old fishing line
Monofilament fishing line is the line anglers most commonly use: single-strand, high-density nylon. Recyclers that specialize in fishing line melt it down into plastic pellets, which are then recycled into products such as tackle boxes, spools for fishing line, toys and fish habitat structures.
Look for collection bins specifically designed for fishing line at boat launches or similar locations. Line may also be mailed directly to:
Berkley Recycling
1900 18th Street
Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Never put fishing line in regular recycling bins as it can cause major issues at recycling facilities designed to handle cans, bottles, paper and cardboard.
Forest County Association of Lakes are building monofilament fish line containers. We are donating them to Forest County lake associations that are members of FCAL for their boat landings. They have been installed on Camp Six Lake, Lily Lake, Little Long Lake, Pine Lake, Pickerel Lake, Roberts Lake, Lake Lucerne, Silver Lake and Lake Metonga. Anyone who is interested in obtaining a container can contact us through this website by filling out the contact us form or purchase one.
FCAL 2025 Essay Contest
“What (fill in the blank) Taught Me About My Relationship with Nature” was the topic for this year’s Forest County Association of Lakes (FCAL) essay contest. Students from 5th and 6th grades in Crandon, Laona and Wabeno were invited to participate. FCAL members made presentations in some classrooms, leading brainstorming about connections the students had with nature. Students continued to brainstorm with their teachers ways we depend on nature and ways it depends on us.
Then they wrote a myth, fable or legend in which a personified being from the natural world teaches them something important about their relationship with nature. Talking bees, trees, foxes, mushrooms and more taught lessons about protecting bees, keeping our waters clean, respecting wild animals, appreciating the plants and trees that provide oxygen for us to breathe and more.
First, second and third place winners received $100, $50 and $25 cash prizes, respectively. Awards were presented at each school. Essay contest winners and two family members are invited to attend the FCAL annual banquet on October 18. Winning essays can be seen at the Crandon Public Library and on the FCAL website at fcal-wis.org.
Crandon 5th grade (teacher Lacey Palubicki) winners are 1st place Preston Hauser, 2nd place Myles Kircher and 3rd place Ellee VanZile. Crandon 6th grade (teacher Lindsey Jaeger) winners are 1st place Drew Gerber, 2nd place Maaliyah Ward and 3rd place Tenley Teschner.
Laona 5th grade (teacher Maggie Nowicki) winners are 1st place Jase Miller, 2nd place Jackson Frank and 3rd place Jonah Peters. Laona 6th grader (teachers Michelle Ferm and Karen Biedermann) winners are 1st place TJ Perry, 2nd place Cienna Cleereman and 3rd place McKenzie Berg.
Wabeno 5th grade (teachers Darcie Zelle and Laurie VanKauwenberg) winners are 1st place Aubree Linssen, 2nd place Flynn Habeck and 3rd place Alex Beerntsen. Wabeno 6th grade winners (teacher Chris Kuntz) are 1st place Grace Yingling, 2nd place Gabrielle Boyd and 3rd place Colleen Stealer.
The mission of FCAL is to work with lake organizations, government agencies and the general public to protect Forest County inland water bodies, environs and watersheds for now and future generations. Visit us at fcal-wis.org for news, resources and information.
Wabeno 5th Grade: From left, FCAL president Pam Schroeder, Aubree Linssen, Darcie Zelle, Flynn Habeck, Laurie VanKauwenberg, Alex Beerntsen, Clair Carty
Crandon 5th Grade: From left, Lacey Palubicki, FCAL president Pam
Schroeder, Preston Hauser, Myles Kircher, Ellee VanZile, Clair Carty.
Wabeno 6th Grade: Chris Kuntz, FCAL president Pam Schroeder, Grace Yingling, Gabrielle Boyd, Colleen Stealer, Clair Carty
Laona 6th Grade: From left, FCAL board member Clair Carty, TJ Perry, Cienna Cleereman, McKenzie Berg, Michelle Ferm
Crandon 6th Grade: From left, Lindsey Jaeger, FCAL president Pam Schroeder, Drew Gerber, Maaliyah Ward, Tenley Teschner, Clair Carty
Laona 5th Grade: Clair Carty, Jase Miller, Jackson Frank, Jonah Peters, Maggie Nowicki.
News & Events
2025 Minocqua Dragon Boat Festival
Event Details Paddles Up! The Minocqua Dragon Boat Festival is a fun, free, family event that has entertained thousands since it started in 2016. Over 152 teams have paddled from across 13 states and Canada. This excitement and energy have also had an immense impact...
Rhinelander’s Boom Lake Boat Races
There was a time when Boom Lake in Rhinelander wasn’t just a quiet, scenic waterway, it was a Northwoods’ racetrack. As Rhinelander’s sawmilling era declined, and the old log booms that gave the lake it's name were removed, Boom Lake gradually transformed from an...
FCAL Fall Forum
Friday, August 15, 2025 FCAL Fall Forum 4301 County W, Lake Lucerne Advancement Association Pavilion. 8:30 to 9:30 Arrive/Set Up Board Meeting 9:30 to 11:30 Forum 11:30 to 12:00 Clean Up Presenters will be the following: Austin Babich, Forest County WDNR Warden Meet...
Wisconsin group empowers women to restore prairies, pollinators
June is National Pollinator Month and a local agricultural group which aims to empower women in conservation is bringing awareness to how prairie restoration can aid the declining population of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Through its Wisconsin Women in...
Health officials encourage safe firework handling this holiday weekend
Firework displays are planned all across the Northwoods for tonight. Health officials are urging people that plan to light off their own to use caution. Every year, fireworks send thousands of children in the U.S. to the emergency department. Fireworks-related...
New Potawatomi Chairman selected
The Forest County Potawatomi Community has elected a new Chairman. A post on the Forest County Potawatomi Community Facebook page congratulated Chairman Brooks Boyd Sr. He had previously been serving on the Potawatomi Executive Council. Boyd follows James Crawford in...
