Lake Ripley Management District

06/08/2026

Our turtles are loving this rain - which also means they are on the move! Below are some tips on helping the turtles make it safely across the road.

The District has turtle crossing signs for $9.00 at the office. Give us a call at 608-445-4536 or send us an email to pick yours up today!

05/11/2026

We will once again be participating in the Cambridge Area Lions Club Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25th! 🇺🇸

In two weeks from now, parade will start at 10:30am and will travel down Main Street! There will be lots of fun community traditions, so be sure to follow the Lions Club page for all the info! If you take any photos of our equipment, post it in the comments.

04/29/2026

Hi friends! The turtles are out and about, and it is time to put out your turtle signs! 🐢 Let's make sure our turtles are protected!

If you need signs, we got them! The signs are $9.00 cash/check or $9.58 if you would like to use the donate button on our website (www.lakeripley.org)! Feel free to call us at 608-423-4537 to let us know you are coming by to grab a sign.

04/06/2026

Protect your trees from oak wilt this spring! From April through July your oaks are going to be the most susceptible to 'oak wilt'. DO NOT do any pruning work during this time to avoid an infection.

The DNR has put together a quick 3-minute video explaining what this fungal infection is and how to prevent it from affecting your oak trees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLvSgKr5uY4

Find more information here: https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/2026/04/01/video-explains-importance-of-oak-wilt-prevention/

Oak trees: majestic, good for wildlife, hearty, and...in danger? Learn how to help protect and lengthen the life of your oak trees. Its simple: http://dnr.wi...

03/23/2026

The Lake Ripley Management District is hiring! 📬 Our two open positions are 'W**d Harvester Operator' and 'Water Quality and Field Technician'.

Find the two open job opportunities and how to apply on our website: https://lakeripley.org/opportunities/

03/03/2026

Do you want to support our local farmers? The Rock River Regenerative Grazers are hosting their first annual Jefferson County Beef Producers Steak Dinner! 🥩

This special evening will bring together local farmers, families, and community members to celebrate Wisconsin beef and the hardworking producers right here in Jefferson County. Enjoy a steak dinner, connect with the farmers who raise your food, and learn more about the impact beef production has on our local economy and landscape.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter of local agriculture or simply enjoy a great steak, this event is a perfect opportunity to support local beef producers and enjoy a great meal with friends and neighbors. In addition to this dinner, the Jefferson County Beef Producers will be holding quarterly meetings and educational events. Proceeds from this event will go to purchase steers from youth at the Jefferson County Fair, have them processed, and donate the meat to local Family and Consumer Science Classrooms that are in need due to recent budgetary constraints.

02/20/2026

It's never too early to start planning what you are going to be planting come spring! Planting native plants in your yard helps our native pollinators, but it can also help improve Lake Ripley's water quality.

We are now accepting orders for our annual Native Plant Sale! Each year the District submits a order to the local greenhouse, Agrecol LLC, to help our residents enhance their yards with native plants🌻

Take the first step in helping the lake and start planting native plants near your shoreline. Installing a lake-edge buffer garden reduces harmful runoff from entering our lake. Be a 'Lake Steward', and help make Lake Ripley's shoreline colorful and native!

To access the plant list and the ordering form, visit our website (https://lakeripley.org/co-share-programs/). For questions or help, call the office at 608-445-4536 or email us at [email protected].

02/16/2026

The Jefferson County Land and Water Department is hosting a Shoreland Contractors workshop in April! Sign up now to reserve your team a spot 🧰

Attention all Shoreland Contractors:

Jefferson County’s Land and Water Conservation Department and Planning and Development Department are hosting a free shoreland development and restoration workshop at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday, April 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

You will learn about:

• County and city shoreland zoning rules
• Native plantings
• Bioengineering practices
• Riprap practices
• Funding opportunities
• Resources for contractors and landowners

Please contact Colton Hutchinson at 920-674-7111 or [email protected] to RSVP. We encourage RSVPs, but walk-ins are welcome.

Contractors in attendance will have their company highlighted on our contractor lists indicating that they attended the workshop.

02/12/2026

The Jefferson County Parks Department is updating its Parks & Outdoor Recreation Plan - and your input matters! Visit the project website to explore details, sign up for email updates and stay informed about new engagement opportunities and project milestones.

Survey Link: https://snyder-associates.mysocialpinpoint.com/jefferson-county-porp

If you love your local parks, we want to hear from you! We're updating the Jefferson County Parks and Outdoor Recreation Plan; your input will help identify the best improvements, trail development, land acquisitions, and program expansions to optimize the Parks System for those who enjoy it most.

To provide your thoughts via our online survey, click here:

https://snyder-associates.mysocialpinpoint.com/jefferson-county-porp

You can also attend the Public Open House. Details:

Wednesday, March 18 (5:00 to 7:00 p.m.)
UW-Extension Office for Jefferson County
864 Collins Rd.
Jefferson, WI

See the full Parks and Outdoor Recreation Plan press release here:

https://cms4.revize.com/revize/jeffersoncountywi25/news_detail_T7_R37.php

01/26/2026

It's Wisconsin Winter Salt Awareness Week! ❄️

Did you know that a teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water? Every winter, tons of salt are spread on Wisconsin roads, parking lots and sidewalks to help keep us safe. But once that snow melts, the salt doesn't just disappear - it washes into our lakes, streams, and groundwater. Rising salt levels corrode infrastructure, stresses wildlife, and poses a risk to our drinking water. Do your part to help protect our shared freshwater resources and follow the "4 S's" this winter: Shovel, Scatter, Switch, Sweep!

Sticking to this practice will help you save money, protect our community's infrastructure and keep salt out of our waterways! Visit https://wintersaltweek.org/ for more information!