News
The Draft Half Moon Lake Aquatic Plant Management Plan is available for public review and comment. Responses can be submitted until November 15, directed to Jim Benike (jimb@benike.com or 507-254-1063).
UPDATE - November 17, 2023 - Draft plan removed. Final plan posted on the Plants and Weeds page of this website.
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the dates for fall open houses at two fish hatcheries and two fish spawning facilities. Over the next month, the DNR will host open houses at the Governor Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery, Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility, Root River Steelhead Facility and the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery.
Each of these free events will give attendees a chance to see fish up close and learn how hatcheries and spawning facilities help sustain Wisconsin’s fish populations.
Tour the state’s largest cool water fish hatchery and the world’s largest muskellunge hatchery at the Governor Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 951 West Maple Street in Spooner. Doors will open at 10 a.m. and offer attendees a chance to see walleye, muskellunge and the various tools used to help rear and stock fish into waterbodies across the state.
The second open house event will showcase a spawning facility, and will occur on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Besandy Anadromous Fish Facility, at N3884 Ransom Moore Lane in Kewaunee. Come watch salmon egg collection demonstrations, enjoy fishing displays and take a guided tour of the facility. The Algoma Kewaunee Great Lakes Sport Fisherman will also be providing wagon rides from the Winter Park ski area parking lot to the facility.
Join the DNR at another fish spawning facility on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Root River Steelhead Facility. The event will take place at 2200 Domanik Dr, Lincoln Park in Racine and will feature guided tours and fish spawning demonstrations. Volunteers from Salmon Unlimited, Trout Unlimited and the Kenosha Sport Fishing and Conservation Association will be on-hand to provide educational fishing stations where visitors can try new casting techniques and receive fly-tying lessons.
The final open house of the fall will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery’s education center, located at N5871 State Road 22 in Wild Rose. This event will celebrate the annual fall salmon migration. There will be games and educational activities set up for people of all ages, including learning to cast workshops, fish identification tips or the chance to “swim” upriver like salmon on their migratory journey to spawning areas. Other fish activities include fish printing on tote bags, building a spinnerbait, making Kool-Aid clay and touring the original 1908 hatchery and the modern operation.
More details on each of these events can be found on the DNR’s events webpage.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Governor Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery Open House
When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30
Where: Governor Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery
951 West Maple Street
Spooner, WI 54801
What: Besandy Anadromous Fish Facility Open House
When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7
Where: Besandy Anadromous Fish Facility
3884 Ransom Moore Lane
Kewaunee, WI 53404
What: Root River Steelhead Facility Open House
When: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14
Where: Root River Steelhead Facility
2200 Domanik Drive
Racine, WI 53404
What: Wild Rose Fall Fish Migration Open House
When: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
Where: Wild Rose Hatchery
N5871 State Road 22
Wild Rose, WI 54984
A new lake association has been proposed and is looking for volunteers. The new association would be different than the current District group. The new association would be responsible for lake activities such as the 4th of July events, social events, newsletters, etc. Whereas the District would continue and be responsible for lake quality issues.
Terry Hauer has volunteered to organize the new association. He has experience with the Balsam Lake association and would like to help HML form its association.
If you would like to volunteer or have questions, please reach out to him at:
651-261-4124
terry@wordsworth.net
From Justin Grimm - 1278 County Rd G
Half Moon Lake Neighbors, we need your help installing two new “Your Speed” Radar Controlled signs on County Rd G.
Our Mission
Encourage drivers to slow down to the speed limit when they enter the 35mph zone when coming up to the lake
Increase safety to homeowners along County G
Increase safety for walkers, runners, and bikers that use this stretch of road
Reduce noise pollution from vehicles that gets blasted out onto the lake
Decrease vehicle accidents on this curvy section of road
We would like to install two “Your Speed” signs on County Rd G where the 55mph goes down to 35mph, one on each side of the lake. Polk County Highway Commissioner has approved our request to place the signs and the Half Moon Lake District supports our project.
Product
TrafficLogix signs have been chosen because they are frequently used by the surrounding counties. You can see more info here: https://trafficlogix.com/
The actual sign selected is the 15” solar sign with battery. Price is $6,190.74 shipped for two signs.
Funding
Polk County is willing to pay for the installation which is great! The homeowners will need to pay for the actual cost of the signs. Due to the GoFundMe fees taken out of each transaction (2.94% + .30/transaction), our goal is $6400.
If we can get 50 donations at ~$130/each, we would reach our goal. Of course, larger donations would be wonderful!
The lake will be a more peaceful and safe place once these signs are installed.
Thank you to everyone and please share this GoFundMe with all of your HML neighbors!
Link to Go Fund Me
Pictures of the Landing work on Sunday November 6th.
The main landing at Half Moon Lake is closed and work is underway. Opening date is to be determined on how the weather cooperates and construction goes. Opening date will be posted here when it’s available.
Photo below courtesy of: Rick Miller
LAST UPDATE: This is post was last updated on 9/29/22
The main boat landing at Half Moon Lake will be closed starting Monday October 24th. The last day to use the landing will be Sunday October 23rd.
The boat landing will be reconstructed and will take a few weeks to complete. The current plan is for the landing to close on October 24th, cement poured on Nov 1st, and complete by November 15th.
Be aware that the landing will be unusable during these dates, and depending on how construction goes, it may be closed beyond those dates. As an alternative, Half Moon Lake has a smaller landing at the end of Breezy Bay Court.
As updates become available, they will be posted here on the News page of the website.
“Dynamic 88” preforms annually over the 4th of July on Half Moon Lake. They did a minimal show in 2019, then nothing in 2020 because of COVID, but last year (2021) they were back.
On July 3 2021. they got a wireless unit for their guitar so they tested it out by going down to the dock. While practicing a few boats stopped by to listen for a while, then, from across the lake, someone else with a guitar started answering back. They ended up getting into a friendly duel, answering each other back and forth from the East and West sides of Halfmoon.
On the 4th they preformed two sets of songs. To close the show they did a solo rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, shredding back across the lake, and settling the duel. Song from one of the Sets
They hope to do this all again next 4th of July (2022). They hope to do a sound check during the boat parade, and then a more formal show a little later (TBD). Watch the Event’s section of the site for updated dates and times.
The following report was conducted on Half Moon Lake in late 2021.
A slide washed up to shore on the south end of the lake. The slide is on the end of Scott Lessard's dock if the owner would like to pick it up.
