News

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August 3 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Join us lakeside for Liquid Assets!

We’re celebrating our 63Club monthly donors with a special appreciation event at Christy’s Landing on Sunday, August 3rd from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy a free Beach Bum, Mango Cart, or Kona Big Wave beer (courtesy of Wisconsin Distributors) and enter our 50/50 raffle to support lake health.

Not a donor yet? There’s still time! Join the 63Club today and show this email or your confirmation at the event to claim your beer.

Stick around after for live music from Toco Beach Steelpan starting at 2 p.m. — we hope to see you there!

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Liquid Assets details

Date: Sunday, August 3rd
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Christy’s Landing (2952 Waubesa Ave, Madison)
What: Celebrating our 63Club monthly donors

Clean Lakes Alliance

(608) 255-1000

View Organizer Website

Christy’s Landing

2952 Waubesa Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53711 + Google Map
6082551000

Shoreline Monitoring (Melissa Michaud) on Lake Waubesa July 2023 - Courtesy Carolyn Betz 2

Lake Waubesa Conservation Association primed to take action

By Carolyn Betz, Project Manager and Lead Author of the Lake Waubesa Management Plan

Lake Waubesa Conservation Association and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a comprehensive lake management plan in late 2024. The plan presents an up-to-date analysis of historical and current water quality data, the unique wetlands, and phosphorus inputs from rural and urban land uses. The plan presents dozens of recommendations to protect and improve the lake.

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LakeForecast water quality monitoring in 2024

Clean Lakes Alliance’s LakeForecast water quality monitoring program completed its 12th season in 2024. This program is entirely volunteer-implemented, with over 100 trained monitors assessing water quality conditions from nearshore and offshore locations across all five Yahara lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa). From Memorial Day through Labor Day, volunteers recorded water clarity, air and water temperature, waterfowl presence, the extent of floating plant debris, and the severity of green algae and cyanobacteria at public beaches, lakeside parks, and private piers. Submitted data can be seen in real-time on Lakeforecast.org or our free app, allowing the public to stay up to date on current lake conditions.

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Image 3 - Offshore monitor training

LakeForecast water quality monitoring in 2023

Clean Lakes Alliance’s LakeForecast water quality monitoring program completed its 11th season in 2023. This program is entirely volunteer implemented, with 90 trained monitors assessing water quality conditions from nearshore and offshore locations across all five Yahara lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa). From Memorial Day through Labor Day, volunteers recorded water clarity, air and water temperature, waterfowl presence, extent of floating plant debris, and the severity of green algae and cyanobacteria at public beaches, lakeside parks, and private piers. Submitted data can be seen in real-time on lakeforecast.org or our free app allowing the general public to stay up to date on current lake conditions.

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Photo courtesy Dane County Land & Water Resources Department
Lake Wingra and Henry Vilas Park
Lake Wingra and Henry Vilas Park

Henry Vilas Park (Lake Wingra)

Henry Vilas Park is one of Madison’s oldest lakeside parks, and provides a gathering place along Lake Wingra for swimming, fishing, and even ice skating when the lagoon freezes over. The park was created from a 1904 donation from Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator, William Freeman Vilas (1840-1908), to the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, an organization committed to the development of parks and scenic drives in the Madison area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Vilas also served as U.S. Postmaster General and Secretary of the Department of the Interior under President Grover Cleveland. Henry Vilas Park is named in memory of William’s son who died in childhood.

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2022 Clean Boats, Clean Waters
Download a pdf of the 2022 Clean Boats, Clean Waters Season Report

Overview

In 2022, Clean Lakes Alliance received a Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Grant to participate in the Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program. CBCW is a state-wide aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention program. The program increases awareness and education to boaters, anglers, and general lake users on best practices to prevent the further spread of AIS at our local boat landings. 

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Nine days of Frozen Assets

We had so much fun throughout the nine days of Frozen Assets 2023 and we hope you did too! More than 8,000 lake enthusiasts from near and far joined us for science demonstrations, musical performances, ice skating, food and drinks, ice sculpture carving, a chance to try new winter activities, face painting, networking, a chance to run or walk in the only 5K on a frozen lake in North America, and more! We THANK YOU for supporting lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa!

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Lake enthusiasts from near and far joined us at Frozen Assets 2023 for science demonstrations, music, a 5K on a frozen lake, and more!

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May2022 Training with FOLKS

LakeForecast water quality monitoring in 2022

 In 2022, our volunteers embarked on the 10th season of LakeForecast water quality monitoring. This work involved collecting nearshore condition reports at piers, beaches, parks, and access points around the five Yahara lakes. From May through September, volunteers measured water clarity, recorded air and water temperature, identified the presence of green algae and cyanobacteria, and noted additional visual observations. Reports are entered into the LakeForecast app where all data are updated in real time.

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Aquatic plant transport barge on Lake Mendota

By Pete Jopke, Water Resources Planner with the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department
Article first published in the 2022 Greater Madison Lake Guide, a Clean Lakes Alliance publication

Aquatic plant harvesting on the Yahara lakes

The Dane County Land & Water Resources Department manages an aquatic plant harvesting program with much of the harvesting occurring on lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa. Occasionally, other smaller waterbodies are harvested to aid in recreation and invasive plant management. The program dates to the early 1980’s when five harvesters were in operation. In those years, harvests totaled over 300 tons of plant material. In 2021, the existing fleet of 12 harvesters recorded plant harvests of more than 12,000 tons!

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