New study reveals true value of our lakes
Clean Lakes Alliance, along with SRF Consulting Group, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, completed a first-of-its-kind study to determine the economic impact of the Yahara chain of lakes on the Greater Madison community. The study reveals how our lakes and their conditions impact tourism, real estate, and quality-of-life factors. Investing in the protection and improvement of lake quality can pay dividends felt throughout the region.
The Yahara lakes region, called Teejop (meaning “Four Lakes”) by the native Ho-Chunk, has drawn people to its vast lakeshores for thousands of years. Since the end of the last ice age, the lakes have shaped how people live, work, and play. Humans living in this region have both benefited from and impacted the lands and waters of Teejop.
Have you ever considered what our Greater Madison communities would be like without these lakes? Is it even possible to put a value on all the public benefits they generate? What price tag would you place on clean water, natural scenic beauty, biological diversity, or any of the countless quality-of-life attributes that make this lake-rich area so special? More importantly, what happens to those benefits if lake conditions improve or deteriorate?
Clean Lakes Alliance partnered with a team of economists and other experts to try to answer these questions. The findings proved to be nothing short of eye-opening. The lakes are a true driving force in our local economy.
An economic powerhouse
Today, the Yahara lakes support 1,802 full-time-equivalent jobs and annually contribute a staggering $220.1 million to the Greater Madison economy! This is a conservative estimate that equates to $2.2 billion every decade.
Lake-related businesses and tourism thrive when water conditions are healthy. In 2023 alone, residents made an estimated 2.7 million visits to the Yahara lakes. These visits fuel local restaurants, shops, and outdoor recreation businesses. But population surveys conducted as part of the study found that nearly 82% of respondents are “very or extremely concerned” about cyanobacteria blooms in the lakes. And they are not wrong. Poor water quality comes at a steep price: Dane County loses more than $3.2 million in economic benefit for every cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) bloom day.
Property values in particular are directly linked to water quality. Homes closer to the lakes are worth nearly 49% more due to their proximity, and a 12-inch drop in water clarity across all five lakes would reduce home values by nearly $80 million. This means that as lake conditions change, impacts reverberate through the regional housing market.
The ripple effects of clean water
Just as we see the lakes respond quickly and favorably to phosphorus reductions, we also see economic benefit when water quality improves. Clearer water means more open beaches, more visitors, and more revenue for local businesses. An additional 19 summer days without a cyanobacteria bloom or beach closure can generate an estimated $75 million per year in additional economic benefits.
These figures paint a clear picture: The health of our lakes is directly tied to the strength of our economy. By working together to protect and restore them, we’re not only safeguarding a natural resource, we are also ensuring that our local businesses, property values, and outdoor spaces continue to thrive.
Be part of the solution
Each of us can play a role in keeping our lakes clean and preserving their value. Start small by checking out Clean Lakes Alliance’s Top 10 Ways to Help the Lakes at Home — simple steps like reducing runoff, keeping leaves out of street gutters, and supporting lake-friendly businesses. Or consider becoming a donor to help support ongoing efforts to protect and restore our lakes. Finally, make your interests known by advocating for water quality-protective policies and investments. Your elected representatives want to hear from you as their constituents, and starting local is a great way to push for action around recommendations outlined in RENEW THE BLUE: A Community Guide to Cleaner Lakes & Beaches in the Yahara Watershed.
Healthy lakes create thriving communities. By investing in water quality, we’re investing in the future of Greater Madison — one that continues to benefit from thriving businesses, strong property values, and swimmable, fishable waters for generations to come.
To view Clean Lakes Alliance’s Top 10 Ways to Help the Lakes at Home, please visit: cleanlakesalliance.org/top10
Learn more about Clean Lakes Alliance’s Teejop Initiative: cleanlakesalliance.org/teejop-initiative
