Public input and information is invited during the upcoming Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) public meeting regarding a possible walleye spawning reef project on Franklin Lake.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Resource Center on Pine Street in Eagle River.
According to DNR Fisheries Biologist Greg Matzke, this meeting will discuss the results of a 2025 comprehensive survey of Franklin Lake and the changes that have been documented in the fishery over the past 50 years.
“The majority of this meeting will focus on the walleye population, which was once strong but has been below what is considered a ‘fishable’ level over the past 20 years. Public input will be sought on a proposed walleye spawning reef that would be constructed along U.S. Forest Service property to help rehabilitate the walleye population,” Matzke said.
This proposal was brought forward previously just over a decade ago, but was met with enough opposition to halt the project moving forward.
“I was surprised when the proposal was met with resistance, since almost everyone would love to have someone attempt to fix a failing walleye population,” Martzke said. “But with the resistance we felt we should not go through with the project the first time.” He added that while time has passed, much of the science remains the same and plans have not changed much since the original proposal was released.
Project outline
The Franklin Lake Improvement Association circulated a petition earlier this summer that aimed to garner support to address the declining walleye population in Franklin Lake, located east of Eagle River within the Nicolet National Forest in Forest County.
The association gathered input and feedback on the DNR’s proposed walleye spawning reef project on the 839-acre lake. The proposed project not only looks at why the walleye population has declined so drastically in the last decade or so, but also at ways to remedy the problem.
Martzke created the original proposal after conducting a comprehensive survey of Franklin Lake in 2014. He said he spent a lot of time out there, seeing where the walleye are attempting to spawn and looking at the habitat there that is, “simply put, not suitable for steady natural reproduction of walleye.”
DNR research shows Franklin Lake has experienced declining walleye population numbers and reproduction rates in recent years despite stocking efforts and imposed bag limits.
The proposed walleye spawning reef would provide proper spawning habitat for the species that the lake currently lacks. The goal of the project is to reestablish an abundant walleye population that can withstand tribal and non-tribal harvest and capable of maintaining itself without stocking within 15 years of project completion, the DNR said in its original proposal of the project.
“Walleye have declined since 2014, but there remains to be a low abundance of northern pike, and a low to moderate abundance of smallmouth bass, indicating that no other gamefish have filled the void left by the walleye population crash,” Martzke explained.
Placement of the proposed reef
In order to address the issue, the DNR is proposing the placement of a large rock reef on the bed of the lake right in the middle of the most utilized walleye spawning site, creating ideal habitat that is currently missing altogether.
“Natural reproduction of walleye is quite rare in Forest County, with only a few lakes that do not need to be maintained via stocking, which is what makes the opportunity to fix the current recruitment issues even more important.”
The DNR noted that even with a lack of spawning habitat, the walleye population still manages to pull off very small amounts of natural reproduction annually. “By putting the right habitat in the right place we should be able to have an immediate impact on walleye recruitment that in time will create an impressive adult walleye population.”
The project location is on the bed of Franklin Lake along the east shore, where the DNR says walleye spawning activity is greatest. The adjacent property is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, which also supports the project.
Martzke said this proposed plan has always been a partnership between WDNR, U.S. Forest Service, and Mole Lake Chippewa Tribe. “Each partner is extremely vital to the success of the project,” he added.
According to a Department of Agriculture spokesperson, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is also helping to support the project through assistance with fish surveys and facilitating access to Franklin Lake via national forest lands. “The Wisconsin DNR is leading the effort and is responsible for reef design, construction oversight, and securing funding,” the spokesperson said.
Research for the original proposal showed that Franklin Lake is favorable for walleye in many ways; fairly large acreage, very little aquatic vegetation, adequate depth, and relatively few competing predators. “Add to this the fact that the lake is still consistently recruiting at low levels, has a history of high walleye recruitment prior to habitat degradation and you have a very good chance of success for this project,” the DNR said in its original proposal.
These types of reefs have been used before in other lakes, oftentimes leading to positive growth in the walleye populations.
The DNR feels that the spawning reef in conjunction with stocking efforts will overall substantially increase walleye levels within the waters.
Martzke was a strong advocate for the original proposal, and that has not changed for him although he said funding could hold up the project.
“Out of all the walleye rehabilitation projects that I have attempted, in my professional opinion, Franklin Lake had the best chance at working and rehabilitating the walleye population so it has always been high on my list of projects to do,” Martzke said.
“A group of interested people were disappointed that the project was not carried out the first time. I basically told them that if we had support for the project the only thing holding it back would be funding,” he said.
This public hearing is only the first step toward implementing a walleye spawning reef in the lake. Martzke said the money would still need to be raised to fund the project.
“The last time it was hard to find a local source of the stone we would like to use. So if we had public support and funding, then we would start the ball rolling.”
He would also need to find a supplier for the stone, lock down the logistics, then hope for good safe ice to carry out the project.
“In the past ice thickness had not been a problem, but we have had more interesting winters in recent years. If we got a supplier and ice was thick, I think we would create the spawning reef in late February or early March of 2027 at the earliest,” Martzke said.
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