Strategy for Monetary Support of Legal Petition Cost

March 19, 2026 / Rand Atkinson

On February 27, 2026, the Walleye Restoration Foundation, Inc. (WRF, Inc) made a request for public records of WDNR Fish Management documents regarding Presque Isle Lake, Vilas County, those related to the WDNR “Updated Walleye Plan 2022”, as well as all 2026 applications for stocking walleye and related records.

On Friday March 12, 2026, the Walleye Restoration Foundation, Inc. petitioned the Secretary of the Wisconsin DNR for a contested case hearing regarding the denial of a stocking permit for walleye on Presque Isle Lake, Vilas County. This denial stops the WRF, Inc. developed methods to rehabilitate those populations while preserving the genetic integrity of walleye native to those waters.

  • These actions are necessary to follow through with our Foundation’s mission and methods of restoration of our fisheries in Northern Wisconsin.
  • These actions were precluded by research on the walleye and other fish life histories, WDNR and GLIFWC data and management, and walleye habitat as related to geology and hydrology.
  • These actions were also precluded by educating the public for support of our restoration actions through sports shows, the Wisconsin Lakes & River conventions, local information fairs, and website communication.
  • The center of our restoration is on the use of the Portable Shoreline Fish Hatchery (PSFH) combined with Deep Water Brush Shelter Habitat For better recruitment of walleye and other fish into a sustainable fishery. The denied stocking permit of our project on Presque Isle Lake was a denial of our Pilot Program.
  • It has always been our Foundation’s intention to work cooperatively with the communities of the Northwoods as well as the fisheries regulatory agency in our efforts. We have solicited and received the support of the Presque Isle Township, the Bad River Tribe of the Chippewa, and many lake residents

It is now time to ask for monetary support from those who are concerned about our failing fisheries and their habitat in our efforts for legal actions to continue our mission statement and restoration activities. Please visit our website: WalleyeRestorationFoundation.org to donate or send check to our Foundation address below.

Sincerely,
Rand Atkinson
President, Walleye Restoration Foundation, Inc.
3894 Star Lake Road
Star Lake, WI 54562