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Clean Lakes Alliance kicks off annual Mendota Freeze Contest

On Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, Clean Lakes Alliance kicked off its 10th annual Mendota Freeze Contest. This year, Greater Madison experienced near-normal November temperatures. As of the first of the month, Lake Mendota, and the other four Greater Madison lakes, remained completely open. Despite this week’s mild temperatures, more than 165 years of data show the median freeze date for Lake Mendota is only a little under three weeks away on December 20th.

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2021 FORE! Lakes Golf Outing - Nakoma Golf Club

Greater Madison businesses tee off to raise money for the lakes

A warm temperature and a sunny sky greeted golfers participating in this year’s FORE! Lakes Golf Outing, held for a third year at Nakoma Golf Club. The event was made possible thanks to platinum sponsor, Johnson Financial Group; cart sponsor CG Schmidt; scoreboard sponsors Buye Law Office, Lands’ End, and Weed Man Lawn Care; and a host of hole and green sponsors.

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Clean Lakes Alliance Header

Along with our community of supporters, Clean Lakes Alliance is reacting to the global pandemic, COVID-19 (Coronavirus), and its effect on all operations and public events.

Operations

Clean Lakes Alliance staff has prepared to work remotely due to school closings and social distancing recommendations. A limited staff presence will be maintained at the office as many staff members will be working remotely. The organization will continue to raise funds and plan projects in the watershed. All in-person meetings will be canceled through April 30th.

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Loop the Lake

A bike ride for our lakes

Our scenic Loop the Lake Bike Ride around Lake Monona features five fun stops along the way. After all, we are riding for our five favorite lakes! Join us Saturday, June 15th at Olbrich Park. Your registration will help support important lake improvement projects, water quality monitoring, and educational programs.

Loop the Lake Route
Loop the Lake route map
Loop the Lake Bike Ride
Saturday, June 15th, 2019
9 a.m. check-in | 10 a.m. start
Olbrich Park in Madison, WI
$35 per rider
FREE for kids 10 & under
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2019 Clean Lakes Community Breakfast Speakers

The Mayor, The Executive, and The Secretary

Clean Lakes Alliance is pleased to announce a trifecta of speakers joining us for our Community Breakfast on Wednesday, May 8th at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall. We’ll hear from City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, and Wisconsin DNR Secretary Preston Cole about their plans for the Yahara Watershed.

At the breakfast, we’ll renew our public partnerships with the city, county, and state to align our efforts for the Yahara CLEAN Compact and to improve water quality. Join us for the beginning of a NEW united approach to lake health.

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Frozen Assets on Land

Clean Lakes Alliance’s Frozen Assets Festival is ON!

Lake Mendota ice activities moved on land February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

Madison’s favorite winter festival is moving forward with a full slate of activities during the first weekend of February at The Edgewater. Warm temperatures and a virtually snowless winter have left Lake Mendota’s ice cover in question for the February Frozen Assets Festival, presented by Lands’ End. But even if the ice is off, the FESTIVAL IS ON!

“Our number one goal every year is safety,” said Clean Lakes Alliance Executive Director James Tye. “We of course always want to be able to use Lake Mendota – our largest ‘frozen asset’ – for our festival. We have a great partnership with The Edgewater allowing us to hold events even if a changing climate takes away our ice.”

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Lake Mendota Frozen Dec 2018

It’s Official – ICE ON for Lake Mendota!

Ice on date beats median freeze date by five days

Despite warm weather in Madison over the weekend, cool nights, light winds, and cold water helped Lake Mendota officially freeze on Saturday, December 15th. Lake Mendota, the largest lake in the Yahara Watershed, froze eight days after the smallest lake in the watershed, Lake Wingra, which officially froze on December 7th. Lake Monona officially froze on December 11th.

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office requires ice to hold for a period of 24 hours before a lake can officially be declared frozen over. After ice took shape this weekend, staff waited to see whether it would hold out through the warm daytime temperatures. The December 15th freeze date is 12 days ahead of last year’s December 27th freeze date, and a surprising five days ahead of the December 20th median freeze date. The latest freeze date for Lake Mendota was January 30th – which happened in the winter of 1932.

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office makes the official determination as to whether the lake is frozen. The climatologists use the same guidelines they have used for decades to determine whether the lakes are iced over. This allows for a continuity in data collection. Read more: Determining ice cover on Madison’s lakes.

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Lake Explorer Camp 2018

Creating a new generation of lake enthusiasts

Lake Explorer Camp receives Evjue Foundation grant

The Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Capital Times Company, recently announced grants to 56 nonprofits in Dane County. The latest grant contributions bring the total awarded by the Evjue Foundation in 2018 to $2.3 million. Clean Lakes Alliance’s Lake Explorer Camp is honored to be chosen as one of the grant recipients.

Clean Lakes Alliance will receive $5,000 to support its Lake Explorer Camp. The camp is an opportunity for young people to learn about our lakes and waters. Clean Lakes Alliance believes connections to nature begin to develop in childhood. Children who have educational experiences with our lakes will grow to treasure our waters.

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