Thanks to the support of donors like you, Clean Lakes Alliance is able to contribute $100,000 per year to fund phosphorus reduction practices through watershed adaptive management. Learn more about how this cooperative approach is helping our community meet its water quality goals.
Clearest water in years shown in 2016 State of the Lakes Annual Report
Luck from “Mother Nature”
MADISON, Wis. — Today at the sixth annual Save Our Lakes community breakfast, Clean Lakes Alliance released the 2016 State of the Lakes Annual Report. The report looks at phosphorus reduction efforts through the 2016 calendar year. It shows as a community, progress is being made. Phosphorus is the root cause of algae – just one pound of the nutrient is capable of producing 500 pounds of algae.
“2016 was a great year. The water was as clear as it’s been in a long time in our lakes, but we got lucky,” said Clean Lakes Alliance Executive Director James Tye. “A slow spring melt and fewer intense rain events meant phosphorus-rich runoff to our lakes was down, but it shows us if we control runoff regularly, we can impact our lake clarity.”
2016 State of Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the largest of the lakes in the Yahara chain. The watershed surrounding the lake is primarily agricultural, including many fourth and fifth generation dairy farms to the north, but is experiencing rapid urban growth.
Phosphorus that enters Lake Mendota from its tributaries are carried down the chain of lakes via the Yahara River and represent the largest sources of excess nutrients in the lower lakes. To improve water quality in the chain of lakes, we need to make improvements in the land surrounding Lake Mendota.
Letter in support of RES-059 (Nutrient Concentration System)
Dear Friends of Clean Lakes,
Clean Lakes Alliance is very proud of the progress our community has made towards enacting the Yahara CLEAN Strategic Action Plan for Reducing Phosphorus. Dane County has been a leader in supporting clean water since the start. Just this past year, a $12-million, county-funded initiative to remove phosphorus-laced sediment from 33 miles of Yahara streams over five years helped further our common goal of healthy lakes.
Sponsor Feature: Foley & Lardner, LLP
A sponsor since the beginning
At Clean Lakes Alliance, our mission is to create a community that is dedicated to protecting and improving water quality in the Yahara River watershed. Partners like Foley & Lardner help us make this goal a reality. One of four sustaining founders of Clean Lakes Alliance, Foley & Lardner is an example of a local company that makes lake health a top priority.
Frozen Assets Brings More Events to Three-Day Festival
New races, Kites over Mendota, and other family-friendly events announced
MADISON, Wis. — After unseasonable rain, the return of cold temperatures and a dose of winter white helped Lake Mendota stay solid for Frozen Assets! Back for a third year, the three-day, free family-friendly festival expects to draw near 10,000 people throughout the weekend. Frozen Assets is made possible thanks to title sponsors CG Schmidt, Hovde Properties, Lands’ End Outfitters, Spectrum Brands, and is hosted by platinum sponsor, The Edgewater.
Frozen Assets Festival celebrates Madison’s lakes (Journal Sentinel)
The Frozen Assets Festival is back for its 3rd year, with new events and a continued commitment to bringing people together to connect with the lake. Here is an excerpt from Journal Sentinel’s article featuring Adam Sodersten, the Director of Marketing and Development at Clean Lakes Alliance, on the lakes:
“They are one of the big reasons people live here, and the quality of the water in those lakes is certainly worth protecting and promoting.This festival is all about enjoying the lakes in the winter and making more people aware of what’s being done to clean them up, while at the same time getting folks behind efforts to continue improving them.”
Lake Mendota officially freezes on January 1st!
MADISON, Wis. — It was hard to call, but on January 1, Lake Mendota officially froze for the 2016-2017 winter season. The largest and deepest of Madison’s lakes joins Lake Wingra, which officially frozen on December 9, and Lake Monona, which reported “ice-on” on December 16.
New academy to train emerging leaders for local water
Yahara Watershed Academy now accepting applications – Scholarships available!
MADISON, Wis. — A coalition of partners announced today that it is now accepting applications for the first-ever Yahara Watershed Academy. The hands-on crash course will train 25 promising individuals to be leaders for local water and jumpstart self-selected projects.
James’ 7 reasons to feel optimistic about our lakes
