Yahara Lakes 101: Suck the Muck at Token Creek

Yahara Lakes 101 “Suck the Muck” Edition with Dane County Executive Joe Parisi

Yahara Lakes 101 is taking a field trip! Register today to join us for this educational event at Token Creek County Park.

About this Talk

Dane County’s “Suck the Muck” project has received a lot of exciting attention over the past year for their legacy sediment removal in Dorn Creek where they have removed three to four feet of sediment since 2016. Now on the second phase of the project, Dane County will begin the program in Token Creek.

In this month’s Yahara Lakes 101 talk, we’ll hear from Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Assistant Director of Land & Water Resources John Reimer about the project expansion. Attendees will get to see the phosphorus-laden sediment islands firsthand and learn about the removal process. Ultimately, this project will divert thousands of pounds of phosphorus from entering our lakes.

About our Speakers

County Executive Joe Parisi has called Dane County home his entire life. Parisi sought out public service as a way to give back to a community that has given so much to him. Parisi was first elected as County Executive, the chief elected leader of Dane County, in 2011 after 6 years in the State Assembly and 8 years as Dane County Clerk.

Parisi’s priority is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to the opportunity to succeed. He believes investing in people pays big dividends. Parisi knows this can work because he experienced it. As a teenager, Parisi dropped out of high school. He was encouraged to return to education through a community program by people who believed in him. So he worked to earn his GED and went on to MATC (now Madison College) and graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in sociology. Now Parisi believes it is his turn to give back to ensure that our children’s generation has access to the same opportunities that were available to him.

John Reimer is the Assistant Director of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department. His technical background has focused on modeling and analysis of watersheds, rivers, and lakes. Reimer is responsible for lake level management including aquatic plant harvesting and operation of the three dams in the Yahara Chain of Lakes.

Event Details: Field Trip Edition!

This event is held at Token Creek County Park on Token Creek Lane (see map below). Check in will open at 4:30 p.m. with a presentation and walking tour from 5 – 6:30 p.m.

The event will be held outdoors on grassy terrain. Walking will be required. Attendees should dress for the weather and bring bug spray. Parking is available at multiple parking lots along Token Creek Lane but may require some walking to the event site.

Admission is FREE for all attendees. Online registration is requested.

Yahara Lakes 101 Lecture Series

Yahara Lakes 101 is a series of educational events open to the public and a great chance for residents to learn more about the science behind the issues that affect our lakes. Each month we feature a different expert to make the science accessible and interesting to non-technical audiences.

The series is produced in partnership with the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, with presenting sponsors First Weber Foundation and Johnson Financial Group, monthly sponsor PCI Dredging, hosting sponsor The Edgewater, supporting sponsor National Guardian Life Insurance Company, and media partner the Isthmus.