About Clean Lakes Alliance

We envision a community renowned for its healthy lakes, lands, and waters. Healthy Waters. Thriving Community.

Optimism – Together, we can build a better future knowing cleaner lakes are possible.

Respect and Reverence for Water – Our waters are the heart and life of our community.

Focus – Directing our energy makes us effective.

Engagement – Our community thrives when everyone celebrates, connects with, and cares for our lakes, lands, and waters.

Inclusion – We are stronger and wiser when we embrace and value all voices and experiences.

Collaboration – Alliances and teamwork flourish when we intentionally build trust and respect.

Grounded in Science – Good information and objectivity lead to high-impact decisions.

The strategic framework is a summary of Clean Lakes Alliance’s vision, mission, values, strategies, tactics, and key performance indicators. It sets the direction of the organization’s work over the next five years. It also helps get team members and supporters on the same page regarding lessons of the past, what the current moment calls for, and what it will look like when we reach our destination. This includes identifying new opportunities where additional resources and capacities could be directed to broaden or accelerate our impact.

Reducing phosphorus remains the top priority for Clean Lakes Alliance. The strategic framework solidifies this and other priorities to guide the organization’s future focus. Phosphorus pollution mostly enters our lakes in the form of stormwater runoff, and it is the leading contributor to poor water clarity, cyanobacteria blooms, and beach closures that limit our ability to use and enjoy them. Renew the Blue (2022) recommendations also underscore the importance of highly functioning shorelines and lake parks, and call attention to the role of E. coli bacteria in closing beaches. These other areas present new opportunities for focus within the scope of this five-year strategic framework. But while the framework offers tactical considerations under each strategy pillar described below, it is not an operations plan. Instead, it is designed to help inform the development of annual goals and work plans governing the execution of day-to-day activities.

Read the entire Strategic Framework.

Clean Lakes Alliance envisions a community renowned for its healthy lakes, lands, and waters. The more people who share in this vision, the more that clean, safe, and vibrant lakes will become a priority. Making lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa top priorities is, therefore, foundational to everything we do.

In concert with building a stronger alliance and positive voice for our lakes, we remain laser-focused on reducing phosphorus pollution—the leading contributor to algal blooms and poor water quality. We also work to expose other threats while leveraging opportunities that will further our mission.

2022 was another year characterized by strong partnerships, driven team members, and a growing base of support helping us to successfully “champion the lakes and watershed stewardship for the benefit of all.” With renewed attention to core program services, new event formats, and the power of volunteerism, we successfully completed another year even healthier and more focused than ever.

Since our founding in 2010, Clean Lakes Alliance has grown to become one of the largest and most influential nonprofit lake organizations in the nation. Additionally, we ended the year on a strong financial footing as we continue to diversify and shift our revenue streams to earlier fiscal quarters.

Thank you for helping us further the goal of achieving a better water quality future for our lakes.

Read highlights from 2023 in our Impact Report.

Clean Lakes Alliance is a proud member or affiliate of the following organizations:

• Aldo Leopold Nature Center
• Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
• Dane Buy Local
• Downtown Madison, Inc.
• Friends of Lake Wingra
• Friends of Cherokee Marsh
• Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society
• Friends of Pheasant Branch
• Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
• Friends of Starkweather Creek
• Friends of the Arboretum
• Groundswell Conservancy
• Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
• Friends of the Yahara River Parkway
• GuideStar
• Friends of Wisdom Prairie
• Friends of the Warner Beach
• Lake Waubesa Conservation Association
• McFarland Chamber of Commerce
• Middleton Chamber of Commerce
• Monona Chamber of Commerce
• Monona East Side Business Alliance
• North American Lake Management Society
• Rotary Club of Madison
• Sustain Dane
• The Water Council 
• Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education
• Wisconsin Lakes
• Wild Warner
• Wisconsin Nonprofits Association

All water in the Yahara Watershed is connected. Our lakes, streams, wetlands, and groundwater make up critical components of an interdependent hydrologic system. Given the immeasurable value of clean drinking and surface water to Greater Madison, ALL our water resources demand respect, protection, and wise stewardship for the betterment of future generations. Read more about the connection between all water in the Yahara Watershed.

The Early Years

The Clean Lakes Festival, which began in 2007, was organized by the Mad-City Water Ski Team in an effort to raise money to help clean up the lakes. On November 8, 2010, Clean Lakes Alliance was formed, evolving from a volunteer group into an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization started developing and seeking members to become its first board. The first board meeting was held in January 2011.

Our management team consists of an executive board of directors that works closely with Clean Lakes Alliance executive staff to devise community engagement strategies, increase participation in lake activities and events, and create additional opportunities for outreach and education. A Community Board made up of stakeholders and partnering organizations provides us with additional direction in reaching our objectives and strengthening key relationships.

The Future

In 2012, Clean Lakes Alliance commissioned the Yahara CLEAN Strategic Action Plan for Phosphorus Reduction to cut phosphorus runoff to our lakes in half, which will mean clearer water and fewer algae blooms. Today, Clean Lakes Alliance is working to build community support and the financial resources necessary to reach our goal.