Many hands make light work. And for volunteers collecting and processing native seeds, it can be fun work, too!
On any given fall day, you can likely find volunteers collecting native seeds from a local prairie. For years, many organizations, including Clean Lakes Alliance, have offered this volunteer opportunity and encouraged people to join us in the prairie.
BY KIM MEYER, AGRONOMIST, DANE COUNTY LAND & WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Farmers have limited opportunities — approximately 40 over their lifetime — to explore new conservation practices. This makes change inherently risky as they often must wait until the following year for another chance. This reality underscores the effectiveness of farmer-led initiatives, where farmers collaboratively share knowledge and experiences to achieve common objectives, such as enhancing soil health while safeguarding water quality and ensuring farm profitability. Farmers have firsthand insight into the challenges associated with adopting new conservation methods.
A comprehensive fish survey is an important part of maintaining healthy fisheries in any lake. In the spring of 2023, Clean Lakes Alliance Watershed Engagement Manager Caitlin McAleavey joined a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries crew on Lake Kegonsa to learn more about what goes into assessing our lakes’ fish populations. The following is her account of the trip.
