We’re still celebrating the success of this year’s State of the Lakes, and we’re grateful to all who joined us.
With your support, we once again brought together scientists, community and business leaders, government officials, and representatives from the Ho-Chunk Nation to deepen our understanding of the challenges facing our lakes and build momentum for collaborative action.
Clean Lakes Alliance’s LakeForecast water quality monitoring program completed its 13th season in 2025. This program is entirely volunteer implemented, with more than 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 condition reports were able to be tracked in real-time on Lakeforecast.org or our free app, allowing the general public to stay up to date on current lake conditions.
May 13 @ 7:30 am – 9:30 am
Clean Lakes 101
Please join us for our State of the Lakes, on Wednesday, May 13, at The Edgewater. This year, we’re excited to feature the State of the Lakes — an annual health synopsis of Greater Madison’s five Yahara lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa).
We’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support and shared commitment to the health of the Yahara lakes. We can’t wait to welcome a full house at The Edgewater next week!
Missed out on tickets? You can still join the waitlist. Email info@cleanlakesalliance.org or call 608-255-1000, and we’ll let you know right away if any seats become available before Wednesday, May 13. Thank you to our sponsors, partners, and this amazing community for making it all possible!
Save the date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 7:30 – 8 a.m. coffee and conversation, 8 – 9:30 a.m. continental breakfast and program
Location: The Edgewater (1001 Wisconsin Ave., Madison)
Please join us for our State of the Lakes, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026! This year, we’re excited to feature the State of the Lakes. The report is an annual health synopsis of Greater Madison’s five Yahara lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa). Focusing on major drivers and indicators of water quality, the analysis summarizes lake and watershed health factors, trends, and the likely causes of observed conditions.
We will continue the tradition of bringing together our watershed’s premier scientists, business and organizational leaders, heads of government, and officials from the Ho-Chunk Nation to learn more about the lakes (originally known as Teejop) and new opportunities for continued collaboration and progress.
Clean Lakes Alliance and its fellow Renew the Blue Council members will highlight the latest science and Renew the Blue stakeholder guidance that will direct future cleanup actions.
Table sponsors receive name recognition on promotional materials, email marketing, and the Clean Lakes Alliance website. A table seats 8 people. Please contact Executive Director, James Tye, to sponsor a table at 608-255-1000 or james@cleanlakesalliance.org. Learn about all 2026 sponsorship opportunities.
This event will be held at The Edgewater (1001 Wisconsin Place, Madison, WI 53703). Event parking will be available at The Edgewater. Parking spots fill up quickly and may be limited depending on capacity.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support in ensuring that this year’s Clean Lakes Community Coffee was a resounding success! This cherished event, held every other year, serves as a platform to foster unity within our community, provide educational opportunities, and enhance awareness about the significance of our lakes. Your participation has truly made a difference in highlighting the importance of preserving and protecting this vital natural resource for current and future generations.
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.
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.
May 3, 2023 @ 7:00 am – 9:30 am
Date: Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023
Time: 7 – 8 a.m. coffee and conversation, 8 – 9:30 a.m. breakfast and program
Location: Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center (1 John Nolen Dr., Madison)
Please join us for our Clean Lakes Community Breakfast on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023! We will continue the tradition of bringing together our watershed’s premier scientists, business and organizational leaders, heads of government, and officials from the Ho-Chunk Nation to learn more about the lakes (originally known as Teejop) and new opportunities for continued collaboration and progress.
Clean Lakes Alliance and its fellow Yahara CLEAN Compact members will highlight the latest science and Renew the Blue stakeholder guidance that will direct future cleanup actions.
Samantha Skenandore is a Federal Indian and Tribal Law-experienced attorney for Quarles, and an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation. She previously served as an elected Associate Justice for the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court. As a rights-of-nature proponent, she supports advocating for laws that protect land and water.
Presented by: Foley and Lardner LLP
Major sponsors: Alliant Energy, CG Schmidt, Lands’ End, Hovde Properties, Johnson Financial Group, Madison Gas and Electric, UW Health, WKOW 27 News
The Yahara Clean Strategic Action Plan for Phosphorus Reduction (2012) includes 14 actions designed to meet a UW Center for Limnology recommendation for a 50% reduction in the average annual phosphorus input to each of the lakes. The recently released phosphorus report card shows total phosphorus reduction progress for 2018.
MADISON, Wis. — Today at the sixth annual Save Our Lakes community breakfast, Clean Lakes Alliance released the 2016 State of the Lakes Annual Report. The report looks at phosphorus reduction efforts through the 2016 calendar year. It shows as a community, progress is being made. Phosphorus is the root cause of algae – just one pound of the nutrient is capable of producing 500 pounds of algae.
“2016 was a great year. The water was as clear as it’s been in a long time in our lakes, but we got lucky,” said Clean Lakes Alliance Executive Director James Tye. “A slow spring melt and fewer intense rain events meant phosphorus-rich runoff to our lakes was down, but it shows us if we control runoff regularly, we can impact our lake clarity.”
