CLF Releases 2020 Yellow Iris Abatement

An experienced executive in the financial services industry, William Mahler is an advocate for preserving the natural environment. Among his areas of focus, William Mahler helps to protect Wisconsin's Crab Lake ecosystem as the president of the Crab Lake Conservation Foundation.

Seeking to sustain the Crab Lake area, the Crab Lake Conservation Foundation carries out boating safety, fishery, natural-beauty, and water-quality initiatives, and in recent years it has sought to reduce the negative effects of the invasive yellow iris. The yellow iris causes significant environmental damage, including overwhelming native vegetation and trapping sediment.

In a 2020 report, the foundation estimated its impact on reducing the harm caused by the yellow iris. It announced it had addressed (by either removing or treating plants) 56.5 percent of the 112 known yellow iris locations. It had also removed or treated 74.5 percent of 2870 known yellow iris leaf fans. In all, the organization removed and burned 3.7 cubic yards of total plant mass volume. Additionally, the foundation stated that though its 2019-2020 yellow iris abatement initiatives represented a “very high bar,” abatement should not be seen as a 100-percent effective measure. Accordingly, further surveys and abatement efforts should be expected in order to manage the invasive plant's impact on the area’s ecosystem.

Casa Romero’s Canasta Llena Program Strengthens Families

A financial executive with Baird for more than three decades, William Mahler most recently served as chairman of equity asset management and equity capital markets. An active philanthropist, William Mahler serves on the finance committee for Casa Romero, an educational organization that provides multicultural and bilingual spiritual programming for Latino youth in Milwaukee.

At the Casa Romero Renewal Center, children and families can participate in faith-based programming designed to strengthen families and enhance communities. The Canasta Llena (Full Basket) Retreat, for example, comprises four sessions that can deepen family connections, particularly between parents and teenagers. The program includes full days of sharing and communication, concluding with a “family resolution” that identifies a common goal to work on.

The family then attends follow-up sessions where they are guided in reflection on how the resolution is going and how they might continue improving. As part of the program, the family also participates in a community service project that provides the opportunity for bonding through the pursuit of a meaningful objective.

Crab Lake Conservation Foundation Fights Invasive Species

In his most recent role as chairman of equity asset management and equity capital markets with Baird, William Mahler led the Institutional Equities Business division to growth for 17 consecutive years. Currently, William Mahler focuses on philanthropic causes such pediatric health care, in addition to serving as president of the Crab Lake Conservation Foundation.

A 949-acre lake located in Vilas County, Wisconsin, Crab Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and boasts exceptional water clarity year-round. The mesotrophic lake, was formed by glaciers, drains into Lake Superior, and consists of 24 islands and more than 25 miles of shoreline. With lots of rock bars and fallen trees, the shoreline provides a habitat for numerous species of fish and rare birds such as loons and bald eagles.

The Crab Lake Conservation Foundation was created to preserve the natural habitats and beauty of the lake. In addition to raising money to build an endowment, the foundation has worked on an initiative to eliminate the island’s infestation of yellow flag iris, an invasive species that is detrimental to native flowers and plants.