The Pelican Lake Association (PLAW) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and Wisconsin non-stock corporation dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing Pelican Lake for current and future generations.
PLAW is a community-based, member-supported organization made up of people who live on and around Pelican Lake, enjoy its waters, and care deeply about its long-term health. We are not a government agency, but we work closely with local, county, state, and tribal partners to support responsible stewardship of the lake and its surrounding resources.
Pelican Lake is located within the Towns of Enterprise and Schoepke, and PLAW works closely with both towns, Oneida County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community to support the health of the lake and surrounding community.
Our Mission
The purpose of the corporation is to preserve, protect, and enhance the waters of Pelican Lake and its surroundings through the undertaking of various activities, including advocating and facilitating communications through sharing of information among individuals, environmental organizations, and state and local governmental bodies. This also includes involvement in various educational and special projects aimed at good stewardship and wise use of the lake to enhance the water quality, fishery, boating safety, natural wildlife habitats, and aesthetic values of Pelican Lake as a public recreational facility for today and future generations.
Basically…
Keep the water clean, the fish biting, the hazards marked, and Pelican Lake healthy and thriving for generations to come.
What We Do
Volunteer Leadership. Professional Stewardship.
PLAW is guided by an all-volunteer Board of Directors and committees whose members donate their time and expertise to support the Association’s mission.
For specialized work requiring training, equipment, insurance, or certification, PLAW partners with qualified professionals, including boat inspectors, buoy installation contractors, and aquatic plant harvesting crews.
The work is divided among committees, all working together to ensure the health of the lake. See all nine committees and what they are responsible for.
This important work is funded by our members, donors, and community supporters
Fighting Invasive Species
Eurasian watermilfoil may be our longest-running houseguest, but we’re working hard to show it the door. Each season, PLAW funds mechanical harvesting and diver-assisted suction harvesting to help control its spread and keep navigation areas open.
Our efforts are guided by our lake consultant and the Comprehensive Lake Management Plan submitted to the DNR in 2025. That year, PLAW was also awarded a $45,303 state Aquatic Invasive Species grant to support late-season harvesting.
Keeping the Hitchhikers OUT
Through Clean Boats, Clean Waters, trained inspectors work the landings throughout the season, checking boats and trailers for invasive species before they reach the lake. In 2025, our inspectors checked 3,296 boats.
Two camera systems at the landings provide additional monitoring during the hours when inspectors aren’t there, helping us stay one step ahead of the next unwelcome visitor.
Helping you Avoid a Rocky Situation
Hazard buoys help keep boaters safely away from rocks and shallow areas. After 50 years of town funding, that support came to an end, and PLAW members stepped up and voted to take on the full cost of maintaining them..
Today, the Association maintains a dedicated restricted fund to ensure this important safety program continues.
Keeping the Fish Biting
PLAW members work alongside DNR biologists and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community on fish surveys, stocking, and habitat projects. We also operate a musky PIT-tag reader program that provides valuable population data to the DNR.
From Shoreline to Roadside
Since 2014, volunteers have tended the Shoreland Restoration Garden at Schoepke Town Hall, demonstrating how native plants can help stabilize shorelines and protect our waters.
Through Adopt-a-Highway, PLAW volunteers also clear more than 13 miles of roadway twice a year, helping keep our community clean and beautiful.
Mapping the Future of Pelican Lake
In 2025, PLAW commissioned a modern, high-resolution survey of the lake bottom, replacing a hand-drawn map from 1940 that served us well for 85 years.
With this mapping we intend to provide valuable information to guide buoy placement, aquatic plant management, and future grant applications—helping us make smarter decisions for Pelican Lake.
Membership
Powered by the Community
PLAW is funded through membership dues, donations, local business support, and community fundraising. Every contribution helps provide the resources needed to protect the lake and support the programs that make a measurable difference.
Whether you live on Pelican Lake year-round, spend your summers here, fish its waters, or simply enjoy time on the lake with family and friends, you have a stake in its future.
As of December 31, 2025, PLAW had 352 active members.
Who can join?
Membership is open to property owners and residents of the Towns of Schoepke and Enterprise, as well as members who have maintained continuous membership since June 11, 2022.
Why membership matters:
Membership dues give PLAW the reliable funding to plan ahead and commit to important projects like aquatic plant harvesting, hazard buoys, and lake protection programs.
One membership = one vote at the Annual Membership Meeting, where members help approve the budget and elect directors.
Your Association at Work
PLAW is a member-led organization. Members elect the Board of Directors at the Annual Membership Meeting, typically held in June. The bylaws provide for up to nine directors, who then elect the Association’s officers from among the board.
Our nine committees help carry out the Association’s work. Each is led by a chair, who may be a board member or another volunteer with the knowledge and experience to lead that area.
Our Articles of Incorporation and bylaws set out the Association’s purposes, membership rights, board responsibilities, and how decisions are made. We believe in keeping our organization transparent and accountable, so these governing documents are available for members to review.
- Board of Directors — Meet the people serving on the board
- Committees — Explore our nine committees and their areas of responsibility
- Meetings & Minutes — Find upcoming meetings and records from past meetings
- Governing Documents — Review our bylaws and association policies
Questions? We’re Here to Help
Have a question about Pelican Lake, PLAW, or membership? Send us a message through our contact form, and we’ll make sure it gets to the right person.
Prefer the old-fashioned way? You can also write to us at:
Pelican Lake Association
PO Box 96
Pelican Lake, WI 54463