Today, we’re highlighting how Lands’ End has given back to our lakes over the years.
Sponsor feature: Lands’ End
Waubesa Wetland Feature
Wetlands provide many services to our communities: they protect us from flooding, clean and filter water, recharge our groundwater, protect our shorelines and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. They also provide opportunities for education and outdoor recreation, an important driver for tourism in Wisconsin.
Invasive Species Highlight: Spiny Water Flea
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.”
Being Salt Wise
In the Yahara Watershed, salt applied to roads and sidewalks ultimately makes its way into our lakes and our drinking water. Road salt has been used as a deicer on streets in Dane County since the 1950s, and over the last 50 years, average concentrations of chlorides from salt in our lakes have steadily increased.
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.
Forward Farmer: Tapping the Hidden Benefits
Did you know groundwater levels are actually rising in the northern end of the Yahara Watershed? This video by UW-Madison’s Water Sustainability and Climate Project taps into the benefits of groundwater in agriculture. How does groundwater affect yields? Can we achieve “more crops per drop”? In what ways is crop production affected by changes in weather, land use and farming practices?
Turns out the benefits of higher groundwater can outweigh the costs – and groundwater could even be dynamically managed to benefit crops. Watch the video above to learn more.
Forward Farmer: On Frozen Ground
In Wisconsin the harvest is wrapping up, but a farmer’s job doesn’t stop when the crops come off. Milking, feeding and caring for animals is a constant, regardless of the season. This also means manure to manage and store.
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.
