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.
News & Events
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Share your view on wake-enhanced boats
As WI takes to water over Memorial Day, share your view on wake-enhanced boats James N. Fitzhenryof the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. We want your opinion on Wakesurfing in Wisconsin and have introduced an interactive poll to get your thoughts. Please take a few...
Canadian Nightcrawlers: More Than Just Bait
If you’ve ever spent a cool morning at the edge of a lake with a fishing pole in hand, there’s a good chance you’ve used a Canadian Nightcrawler as bait. Fat, wriggly, and irresistible to fish, these worms are sold by the dozens at bait shops across North America. But...
Muskie Season Set to Open
Musky season opens tomorrow. State officials are predicting a normal opener, despite the late spring. Tim Simonson from the DNR Bureau of Fisheries Management says spawning for muskies has generally already happened. “Yeah one of the reason that we open the season...
Life jackets save lives, but only if you wear them!
By law, boaters are required to have a life jacket on board for every person, but those life jackets only work if you’re wearing them. Fourteen people died in boating incidents last year in Wisconsin, only two were wearing life jackets. “It doesn't do a whole lot of...
When We Lose Land, We Lose Wildlife!
According to experts, more than a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing. From wide-roaming bears to migratory birds and freshwater fish, wildlife depends on healthy, connected landscapes to survive. But every year, thousands...
Protect Loons! Do your part.
Over the last seventy years, northern Wisconsin has experienced increasing development. Housing density maps from 1940, 1990, and 2010 clearly show cumulative density throughout the decades, particularly in the lakes regions. What does this mean for loons? Loss of...
