Healthy lakes start with healthy land. Much of the Yahara Watershed is agricultural, and the way soil and nutrients are managed on agricultural lands plays a critical role in protecting water quality. Rain and snowmelt can carry soil, manure, phosphorus, and other nutrients from fields into nearby streams and lakes. This can contribute to algae blooms and degraded water conditions in local lakes and waterways.
The good news? Farmers across our region are leading the way with proven conservation practices that keep soil in place, reduce runoff, and improve long-term farm resilience. From cover crops to nutrient management planning, these best management practices help protect both working lands and the waters we all depend on.
