Paul Dearlove joined Clean Lakes Alliance in 2014 and is the organization’s Watershed Initiatives Senior Director. His primary focus is on advancing community-based phosphorus reduction actions, and to empower citizen participation by creating opportunities for people to become more informed and involved as donors, advocates and volunteers.
Paul’s work includes overseeing the organization’s education and engagement programs, including citizen water quality monitoring, Renew the Blue Volunteer Days, State of the Lakes reporting, Lake Explorer Camp, Yahara Lakes 101, and the Yahara Watershed Academy. He also plays a lead role in promoting initiatives related to the Yahara CLEAN Strategic Action Plan.
Prior to joining Clean Lakes Alliance, Paul spent 15 years as Lake Manager for the Lake Ripley Management District (Jefferson County, WI). His work included directing the completion of a 13-year Priority Watershed Project through the Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Abatement Program. He also worked as a consultant preparing comprehensive lake and watershed management plans for Wisconsin lake organizations.
Paul earned his M.S. in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. He has also served on the boards of Wisconsin Lakes and the Friends of Lake Wingra.
Paul is an avid angler who lives within a short walking distance of Lake Wingra. He grew up exploring lakes and has always been fascinated by the unique underwater worlds they support. One of the primary reasons for choosing Madison as a place to live is because it is surrounded by water.