2021 Greater Madison Lake Guide

FEATURING THE STATE OF THE LAKES GreaterREPORT Madison Lake Guide

| Summer 2020 1

Hire us because your home should

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Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 3

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CONTENTS 8

A Message from Clean Lakes Alliance

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Become a Clean Lakes Alliance Lake Partner

14 UW Capstone Project 16

Climate Change and the Lakes

Lake Mendota flooding in 2018

16 Picnic Point, courtesy Samuel Li

20 Connecting with Our Past 22 Yahara CLEAN Compact 24 Hidden Gems 27 Message from Dane County 28 Clean Swimming for Everyone

20 Lake Mendota, courtesy Robert Bertera

29 Message from City of Madison 30 2020 State of the Lakes Report 35 Learn About the Lakes with Billie the Bluegill Photo: Picnic Point, courtesy Samuel Li

37 Beautiful Lakes Make it Easy to Sell Madison 38 Help the Lakes at Home 41

A View of Our Watershed

44 Lake Maps 48 Lake Directory 58 The Bounty of Open Spaces

Cover: View from Wyldhaven Park of Lake Monona, courtesy Kenton Fowler

41 Clean Lakes Alliance 150 E Gilman St, Suite 2600, Madison, WI 53703 608.255.1000 | cleanlakesalliance.org Thank you to Foley & Lardner LLP for the donated office space since 2012.

The Gialamas Company donated office space for Clean Lakes Alliance's first two years.

The Greater Madison Lake Guide is an official publication of Clean Lakes Alliance and published annually. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without permission. Every effort is made to make this guide accurate. Some information is subject to change without notice. Thank you to Royle Printing for covering a portion of the costs associated with this Greater Madison Lake Guide.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 5

Dreams do come true.

Can you imagine waking up every morning and walking into your dream kitchen? It’s a beautiful thing. All the amenities and features sparkle and seem to be waiting for your command. The smile on your face is wide and it never goes away. Everything tastes better, smells better, sounds better. Your friends and family love coming over, especially during the holidays.

When you’re home you spend most of your time in the kitchen so why not make it the kitchen of your dreams? dreamdesign

dreamclosets

dreamremodel

5117 Verona Road | Madison, WI 53711 | 608-204-7575

www.dream-kitchens.com

6 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2020

dreamtile

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2020 7

A MESSAGE FROM CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE Our lakes and parks were used more than ever in the past year. As we all stayed closer to home, these outdoor escapes were rediscovered by some, and became new experiences for others. We used our lakes and parks for recreation activities with friends and family; but also, and maybe more importantly, to improve both our physical and emotional well-being. We hope staying closer to home has made everyone realize even more that our lakes are the true center of our community.

In this sixth edition of the Greater Madison Lake Guide, we have some great feature stories for you to enjoy, such as an in-depth look at five photographers from our area (pg. 41), and a great piece from my friend and respected journalist, John Roach (pg. 58). Along with the fun stuff, we’ll also take a deeper look at some of the issues that our lakes face, like climate change (pg. 16), and get an update on the Yahara CLEAN Compact (pg. 22) – a roadmap for clean and healthy lakes being developed by a group of 19 partners and collaborators.

When you’re out using the lakes, we hope this Lake Guide will serve as a resource to help you not only find the best places to swim or fish, but also the best places to eat and drink (even takeout!). Paired well with this Lake Guide is our free app, LakeForecast. Available in both the Apple and Android stores, the app reports water quality conditions, beach closures, and any reported cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) blooms at more than 70 points around all five lakes. Our volunteer monitors report data at these points at least twice a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I want to thank our Friends of Clean Lakes and Lake Partner donors, and the advertisers in this Lake Guide for supporting the work we are doing. Many of you support us through donation dollars and sponsorships, and continue to engage with us through virtual events, like our monthly Clean Lakes 101 Science Café or our popular Loop the Lake Bike Ride, which for a second year can be done anywhere in the world! If you’d like to join our growing alliance of businesses and community members, you’ll find an envelope in this guide. Your donation will be used immediately to fund lake improvement projects, community-wide educational programs, and advocacy work pushing for clean and healthy lakes.

I hope you will enjoy the lakes this summer and remember that every time our community is named a “best place to live," the lakes are often mentioned in the description. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you want to partner with us to help improve our greatest assets.

In partnership,

James Tye, Founder & Executive Director

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Photo: Lake Monona

CLEA

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 BOARD MEMBERS

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Clean Lakes Alliance boards represent the many government, business, nonprofit, and community members working to make healthy lakes a reality.

Executive Board

Community Board

James Gallegos, Chair Alliant Energy Corp.

Paul Barbato CUNA Mutual Group

Hollie Kemmer, Treasurer Baker Tilly US

Daniel Chovanec CG Schmidt

Paul Wrycha, Secretary Foley & Lardner LLP

Bryan Dow Understory

James Tye, Executive Director Clean Lakes Alliance

Brenda González University of Wisconsin Madison

Pam Christenson Madison Gas & Electric David Fahey Monona Bank Colleen Johnson Wealth Enhancement Group Linda Nedelcoff CUNA Mutual Group Angie Rieger Lands' End Courtney Searles Johnson Financial Group Lloyd Eagan, Director Emeritus Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Retired Jeff Endres, Director Emeritus Endres Berryridge Farms Nathan Fagre, Director Emeritus Corporate Advisor Matthew Frank, Director Emeritus Murphy Desmond S.C. Jim West, Director Emeritus Town Bank

Mark Guthier University of Wisconsin Madison & Wisconsin Union Dr. Jana Gyurina Oak Park Dental Chris Henderson M3 Insurance Tamara Knickmeier Lake Waubesa Conservation Association Courtney Kruger Fiore Companies Andy Kurth Weed Man Lawn Care Dan Lee First Weber, Inc. Gregory Levesque American Transmission Company Chasidey Martin Sprinkman Real Estate Jessica Niekrasz Clean Fuel Partners, LLC Tina Noel Community Advocate

Darren Port Tota Vita Financial Associates Jason Potter FarWell

Christie Baumel, Ex Officio City of Madison, Office of the Mayor Dave Merritt, Ex Officio Dane County Department of Administration

Carin Reynen Mad-City Ski Team Mark Riedel Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

D. Michael Mucha, Ex Officio Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

Sam Robertson von Briesen & Roper, S.C.

Lyle Updike, Ex Officio Dane County Towns Association

Senator Kelda Roys Wisconsin State Senator, 26th District & OpenHomes

Staff

Michael Rupiper Capital Area Regional Planning Commission

James Tye Founder & Executive Director Paul Dearlove Deputy Director

Scott Seymour Yahara Lakes Association Sopen Shah Perkins Coie LLP

Becky Mitchell Annual Giving & Administration Senior Manager

Trey Sprinkman Sprinkman Real Estate

Brian Shorey Finance Specialist

Jake Vander Zanden University of WisconsinMadison Center for Limnology

Adam Sodersten Marketing & Communications Director

Alex Vitanye Badger Sports Properties

Karin Swanson Marketing & Communications Manager

Tom Wilson Town of Westport Peter Foy, Director Emeritus Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society

Luke Wynn Watershed Initiatives Specialist

Amy Supple, Director Emeritus The Edgewater

SUSTAINING FOUNDERS

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 9 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 9

First Weber is proud to support

CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE

Audra Geldmacher 608-577-8318

James R. Imhoff, Jr. Chairman Emeritus, First Weber, Inc. Friend of Clean Lakes

Friend of Clean Lakes

Julie Larson 608-516-1716

Friend of Clean Lakes

Dan Lee

VP/Commercial Division First Weber, Inc. Friend of Clean Lakes Community Board

Kathrin Judd 608-843-2937

Friend of Clean Lakes

Friend of Clean Lakes

Cathy & Craig Ostrom & Yvonne Gern 608-358-9018 608-219-8959

Perch Properties Marilee, Laura, Conrad 608-220-6294

Friend of Clean Lakes

Mardi Stroud 608-469-5555

Founders Council Friend of Clean Lakes

Robert R. Weber

Senior VP of Operations First Weber, Inc. Friend of Clean Lakes

www.firstweber.com

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Kitty Kuhl 608-220-1188

Founders Council Friend of Clean Lakes

Bob Winding 608-692-9400

Friend of Clean Lakes

Focused on helping others For over a century we’ve been passionate about people and serving others through connection, collaboration and compassion. Our focus is on elevating and empowering our customers and members in our community so we can all thrive and lead engaging lives.

888.239.7047 | www.nglic.com | Madison, WI Insurance provided by National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL). National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a.k.a. The Guardian or Guardian Life. CICLG 03/21 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 11

CLEA

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BECOME A 2021 LAKE PARTNER Mendota • Monona • Wingra • Waubesa • Kegonsa • Yahara River

A healthy community needs healthy lakes. Become a Lake Partner and join Clean Lakes Alliance as we work for healthy waters.

Annual donations (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31) made by Lake Partners (business, municipality, government agency, or community development organization ‘members’) directly benefit efforts to protect our lakes independent of events, sponsorships, or programs. As a Lake Partner, your annual contribution will support on-the-ground projects, educational programs, and water quality monitoring.

Lake Partners may also choose to demonstrate their commitment to clean lakes by making improvements on their properties, educating staff about watershed sustainability, and participating in volunteer opportunities.

LAKE PARTNER BENEFITS 1 2 3

Free admission to our monthly Clean Lakes 101 Science Café for all employees Early access to tickets and discounted rates to events like Frozen Assets and the Community Breakfast Marketing recognition and opportunities to sponsor events and programs

YES, I’D LIKE TO BECOME A LAKE PARTNER! Support our lakes and make a tax-deductible donation today!

q $75 - Small Nonprofit, suggested for 0-25 employees

q $750 - suggested for 100-249 employees

q $100 - Small Business, suggested for 1-10 employees

q $1,000 - Yahara Society, suggested for 250-499 employees

q $250 - suggested for 11-50 employees

q $2,500 - Yahara Society, suggested for 500-999 employees

q $500 - suggested for 51-99 employees

q $5,000 - Yahara Society, suggested for 1,000+ employees

Business Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please list as you would like name to appear in all materials and acknowledgments

Primary Contact_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City, State_______________________________________________________________________________________ Email__________________________________________________________________________________________ Payment Options (please check one) Credit Card Information

q Card provided

q Check enclosed

ZIP________________________________________ Phone _______________________________________

q Invoice me

q Pay online

q I authorize Clean Lakes Alliance to bill the card listed below

Cardholder Name____________________________________________________________________________

Cardholder ZIP____________________________

Card #_________________________________________________________________________________________

Exp. Date____________ CVV Code___________

MAIL TO: CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE • 150 E Gilman Street, Suite 2600 • Madison, WI 53703 PHONE: (608) 255-1000 • EMAIL: becky@cleanlakesalliance.org • WEB: cleanlakesalliance.org/lake-partner

GreaterMadison MadisonLake LakeGuide Guide| |Summer Summer2021 2020 1212Greater

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Thank you to the following Lake Partner businesses and organizations for their generous support in 2021!

Current Lake Partners as of January 1 - May 6, 2021

Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective

Meister's K&M Tree and Landscaping

Nowicki

4Pillars4Health EcoSpace

Four Lakes Yacht Club

Mendota Rowing Club

Friends of Cherokee Marsh

Mendota Yacht Club

Town of Westport

ActionCOACH Business & Executive Coaching of Madison

Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society *

Middleton Boat House

Alliant Energy Corp. *

Friends of Lake Wingra

American Transmission Company *

Friends of Olin-Turville (F.O.O.T.)

Monona Bank *

Architectural Building Arts * Argent Capital Inc.

Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Monona Motors

Associated Housewrights

Friends of Starkweather Creek

Baker Tilly US *

Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve

barre3 Madison Blain's Farm & Fleet of Madison * Buck & Honey's - Monona Buye Law Office * C4 Insurance Camp Randall Rowing Club Capital Area Regional Planning Commission Capitol Boat Club Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. Carrington Lawn & Landscape CG Schmidt * City of Madison * City of Monona Compass Properties Cresa * Crown Point Resort Culver's - Cottage Grove CUNA Mutual Group * D.L. Anderson Marine Contractors

General Heating & Air Conditioning/Hooper Foundation * gThankYou Henry Farms Henry Farms Prairie Spirits Highway 51 Liquor and Bait Hovde Properties * Hy Cite Enterprises * In Business Magazine * IPM Institute of North America JD Hellenbrand Piers and Lifts Joan Collins Publicity, Inc. * Johnson Financial Group * Josh Lavik & Associates Kari Hvam Homes Kwik Kill Pest Control, Inc. Lake Effect HR & Law * Lake Monona Sailing Club Lake Waubesa Conservation Association

Dairy Business Association

Lakeshore Apartments *

Dane County Conservation League

Lakeview Research Lokre Development Co.

Destination Madison

Lands' End *

Dixon Shoreline/Landscaping

Madison Area Antique & Classic Boat Society - Glacier Lakes Chapter

Don's Marine LLC DORN True Value Hardware

Tota Vita Financial Associates * Trei-Four Aces

Mohs, MacDonald, Widder & Paradise Monona Lakeview Apartments

Waubesa Sailing Club

National Veterinary Associates (NVA)

Weed Man Lawn Care *

North American Stormwater and Erosion Control of WI (NASECA)

Wisconsin Alumni Association *

Off Broadway Drafthouse

Wisconsin Environmental Initiative

Omni Technologies

Wisconsin Memorial Union *

OpenHomes Paragon Place Communities Perkins Coie LLP *

Yahara Lakes Association Yahara Software *

Pharo Marine * Premier Cooperative

Robertson Cosmetic Center

Lake Partners who donate at the $1,000 level or more are also recognized as part of the Yahara Society

Shive-Hattery

*Denoted with asterisks above

Quam's Marine & Motor Sports ResTech Services

Singlewire Software SkipperBud's Spencer Real Estate Group * Springers on Lake Kegonsa Sprinkman Real Estate * Stark Company Realtors * State Line Distillery Stewart Angevine Projects Strand Associates * Summers Christmas Tree Farm

Madison No Fear Dentistry

T. Wall Enterprises

Madison School and Community Recreation (MSRC)

TDS Custom Construction

Fiore Companies *

Madison Veterinary Specialists *

The Creative Company

First Weber, Inc. *

MaSa Partners *

Foley & Lardner LLP *

Mazanet Marina

Fontana Sports

MCV Salon

Fields Auto Group *

William Thomas Jewelers *

Wisconsin Distributors *

Sweeney's Aquatic Weed Removal

FCS Partners LLC

Wealth Enhancement Group *

Oak Park Dental *

Madison Gas and Electric *

EZ Office Products

Village of Waunakee

National Guardian Life Insurance Company *

Madison Dentistry

Endres Berryridge Farm, LLC

Village of McFarland

Walden Bay Single Family Condo Association

Moren Investments

Susi Haviland Homes *

Edinger Surgical Options

UW Health, UnityPoint Health Meriter & Quartz *

von Briesen & Roper, S.C. *

Moran Aviation

Madison Boats *

Dream House Dream Kitchens *

Understory

The Biergarten at Olbrich Park The Buckingham Inn

WHO WE ARE Clean Lakes Alliance is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving the water quality of the lakes, streams, and wetlands of the Yahara River Watershed.

WHAT WE DO We aim to reduce phosphorus concentrations in our waters and increase the community’s engagement with our lakes. We do this through on-the-ground lake improvement projects, water quality monitoring, and educational programming.

HOW TO HELP

The East Side Club The Edgewater * Thrivent Financial - Michael

Learn more about our work at cleanlakesalliance.org.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 13 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 13

UW CAPSTONE PROJECT CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS TO IMPROVE MADISON'S PARKS & BEACHES In this year’s annual partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Civil & Environmental Engineering capstone design cohort, Clean Lakes Alliance advised senior students in two unique projects aimed to improve placemaking for our public spaces.

Since 2017, Clean Lakes Alliance has served as professional mentors to student engineers completing their capstone design class required for graduation.

By providing strategic input, Clean Lakes Alliance guides students toward developing designs that prioritize our lakes and green spaces.

At the end of the semester, students presented their design proposals to professors, mentors, and peers. Capstone projects serve to inspire designs for future planning and enhancements to our parks and beaches.

PROGRAM SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

Rendering of a possible John Nolen Drive land bridge

JOHN NOLEN DRIVE LAND BRIDGE John Nolen Drive is a major lakeside artery into the City of Madison and can benefit from features that enhance the City’s reputation as a green and resilient city. Students are developing proposals for the design of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge across John Nolen Drive to link Olin Park with the Alliant Energy Center Campus. These two areas draw large gatherings and would be significantly enhanced, in terms of accessibility and safety, with the construction of a bridge across this busy gateway to downtown Madison.

The students must balance feasibility, safety, and accessibility in creating an aweinspiring design that enhances the community’s connection to Lake Monona.

Clean Lakes Alliance will prioritize creative use of green space through the implementation of benches, viewing points, trees, native vegetation, and green infrastructure.

Student team members: Emma Pezza, Nathan Rullman, Timothy Bodart, Lingkun Chen, Daniel Suhadolnik

PLAENERT DRIVE ALTERNATIVE ROAD DESIGN This creative project is located along Wingra Creek, which flows east from Lake Wingra to Lake Monona. Students must evaluate and design an alternative that removes Plaenert Drive and converts the south side of the creek to something other than street use.

These uses might include providing shoreline areas for a more extensive park setting or local businesses. The shorelines of Wingra Creek are unnecessarily constrained by two streets but have the potential to be transformed into a desirable waterfront destination that welcomes visitors.

Student team members: Jared Vahrenberg, Abigail Cripps, Andrew Evenson, Adam Hartzheim, Holland Foelker

14 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Rendering of an alternative Plaenert Drive design

WE’VE BUILT A LOT IN MADISON OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS

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LIKE OUR REPUTATION AS A BUILDER YOU CAN TRUST. Just like UW Madison’s Union South, a reputation isn’t something that’s built overnight. It’s built over a lifetime of hard work, kept promises, and by acting with integrity. At CG Schmidt, we’ve been building our reputation as a construction company our clients can trust since 1920, through four generations of family leadership. Whether it’s the schools where our children learn, the office buildings we work in, the hospitals where our loved ones heal, or the lakes we enjoy daily, we’re proud to be Wisconsin’s Trusted Building Partner and are proud to be a continuing supporter of the Clean Lakes Alliance.

MADISON // MILWAUKEE // CGSCHMIDT.COM

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 15

Flooding at James Madison Park on Lake Mendota in 2018

Flooding at Governor's Island on Lake Mendota in 2018

CLIMATE CHANGE HOW IS IT AFFECTING THE YAHARA WATERSHED?

By DR. STEPHEN VAVRUS Average Annual PRECIPITATION by Decade Madison, WI 1940s - 2010s

Climate change is unquestionably upon us, and there are many ways it will likely affect the Yahara Watershed. By influencing lake levels, ice cover, water quality, and aquatic biota, our warmer and wetter climate is having a tangible impact on area lakes.

Greater Madison has experienced a distinctly upward trend in temperature and precipitation during the past several decades (see figures at right and on the following page), such that the 2010s were our warmest and wettest decade since weather records began at the Dane County Regional Airport. These changes have been accompanied by more extreme rainfall, such as the August 2018 deluge that set an unofficial Wisconsin record for intensity.

The shift toward warmer and wetter conditions will very likely continue far into the future, with the largest changes expected during winter and spring.

Annual Precipitation (Inches)

OUR LOCAL CLIMATE IS CHANGING

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE YAHARA WATERSHED There are a few obvious ways that higher temperature and precipitation will affect the Yahara Watershed. Warmer lakes favor thermal stratification and thus less mixing of dissolved oxygen deep into the lakes, which will threaten some fish species such as cisco.

POSSIBLE IMPACTS

A more visible impact is from degraded water quality (including algal blooms), due to more stormwater runoff of phosphorus and E. coli that sometimes leads to beach closures. Another striking effect of the warming climate is on lake ice cover, which has been shrinking in thickness and duration since records began on Lake Mendota in the 1850s. Climate models suggest that Mendota’s first verifiable ice-free winter will occur within the next few decades.

Our changing climate will also promote many other impacts that are likely but far less certain. For example, Madison’s expected wetter future with more intense rainfalls favors higher lake levels, such as those that plagued the city in 2018. However, surface evaporation increases as water temperature rises, and this change helps to lower lake levels. In addition, climate models differ on whether our summers will become wetter or drier in the future, adding another element of uncertainty.

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Decade

Average Annual TEMPERATURE by Decade Madison, WI 1940s - 2010s

Many of these actions come with co-benefits that lead to improved public health, more profitable farming operations, and lower carbon emissions. Achieving these kinds of successes for the watershed requires acknowledging the scope of the climate crisis, in concert with strong community partnerships among urban and rural residents and organizations.

Decade Higher temperatures will almost certainly affect the composition of fish species, and it stands to reason that warmwater species will be favored over their coldwater counterparts. For instance, recent research indicates that largemouth bass will greatly benefit over walleye from warmer conditions throughout the year.

A wildcard is how climate change will affect the presence of invasive species, such as spiny water flea and zebra mussels, which can greatly influence water quality but involve complicated interactions with aquatic biota as well as non-climatic effects from human activities.

ACTION TO REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE Although the consequences of climate change on the Yahara Watershed will likely be dramatic, there are a number of proven remedial actions that can blunt the impacts. Nutrient runoff, which includes phosphorus, in both urban and rural parts of the watershed can be reduced through strategies such as green infrastructure, agricultural management practices, and protecting and restoring wetlands.

Number of Events Per Decade

Annual Temperature (F)

Number of Heavy Precipitation Days Madison, WI 1940 - 2019

Decade Steve Vavrus is a Senior Scientist in the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He serves as co-director of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) and is a member of its Climate Working Group.

Vavrus uses computer climate models to understand how climate is changing across the Earth, including Wisconsin.

Extreme weather events are an important theme of his research, particularly how they might be affected by climate change.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 17

M A V H I R KA S E M O H AD

18 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

It’s not just about more megawatts of wind or solar.

It’s about a cleaner energy footprint for years to come.

Each step toward renewable energy and away from fossil fuels saves water and curbs emissions. That’s why we’re eliminating all coal from our generation fleet by 2040.

It’s one more way we’re powering what’s next.

Learn more at alliantenergy.com/poweringwhatsnext.

© 2020 Alliant Energy 100462

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 19

CONNECTING WITH

OUR PAST

By AARON BIRD BEAR, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON TRIBAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR What is the cultural meaning of the words Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa? When we think of our connections to place, to land, and to water, the first question we should ask ourselves is, what does the name mean to us culturally? How do names represent our relationships to the land, water, and air?

The Ho-Chunk and other Indigenous Nations often held a compact with nature to ensure a high quality of life for all living beings, plant and animal. Today, while Indigenous people are less than 5% of the world’s population, Indigenous people protect and steward 80% of the world’s biodiversity. Respect means something entirely different for many Indigenous Nations, as the word respect includes all living beings, including water, and our teachers and relatives, the animals and plants.

Many Indigenous cultures view water as alive and animated with spirit, and when I was married, our Indigenous wedding required “live water” borrowed from a lake and returned to the lake to complete the wedding. At the 2021 Water Week event in Wisconsin, a Ho-Chunk educator shared their wisdom, “Our Grandmother, the Earth, and every living thing that lives beneath her waters, upon her bosom, the land, and those of the air, are given life through the very sacredness of water.”

CONSCIOUS CULTURAL CONNECTION TO PLACE Incredibly, the vast majority of humans living in this region today have ancestors who are not from this continent or from the Western Great Lakes. Hence, our knowledge of this place remains limited and superficial, a colonial veneer. Indigenous cultures and languages reflect a conscious cultural connection to place, and Native American Nations each have their own Creation Stories that reflect thousands of years of living in reciprocity with the land, water, and living world.

Settler colonial societies, like the United States, are organized around one principle: replacement; in our case a vigorous, fortyyear, failed attempt to replace the Ho-Chunk and other Indigenous Nations in Wisconsin.

This central organizing principle included the replacement of the names of this place and these bodies of water, and replacement obscured the human connection to the rivers, lakes, and springs developed over time immemorial. The current lake names are gibberish derived not from the Ho-Chunk language but from Ojibwemowin, the language of the Anishinaabe, so even the source used by colonizers is inaccurate by not being of this place.

CULTURAL HUMILITY Before the rapid gibberish renaming of the four lakes region for a land speculation brochure in the mid-1800s, the Ho-Chunk called this place Teejop, or Four Lakes. Let us remember the names and 20 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

View of Picnic Point, courtesy Samuel Li

spirits of the water, springs, rivers, and lakes of our place: Mąą'ii yahara (Catfish River, now Yahara River), Waksikhomikra (Where the Man Lies, now Lake Mendota), Čihabokihaketera (Great Tipi Lake, now Lake Monona), Sahu Xetera (sp.) (Tall Reed Lake, or Lake Waubesa), and Nąsąkučitera (Hard Maple Grove Lake, now Lake Kegonsa).

The original name of Lake Mendota, Waksikhomikra, is a reference to water spirits, and prior to colonization, there were many massive water spirit effigy mounds built around the Four Lakes, including one we can still see today on Observatory Hill in Madison, Wisconsin, the double-tailed water spirit built more than 1,000 years ago. Let us practice cultural humility in understanding the springs, river, and lakes around us. Let us celebrate their enormous power by caring for and loving them as they provide for us.

In 2019, Aaron Bird Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Diné, citizen of Three Affiliated Tribes) was appointed as the inaugural Tribal Relations Director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Over the last two decades, Bird Bear has worked to support the retention and graduation of American Indian and Alaska Native students at UWMadison, and has assisted historically underrepresented students in the UWMadison School of Education.

Partnership for the Environment Foley values our continuing partnership with the Clean Lakes Alliance. We look forward to improving and expanding upon decades of progressive efforts to maintain and rebuild the lakes, rivers and wetlands in our areas.

For more information about Foley, please contact: Paul Wrycha | Madison | pwrycha@foley.com

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150 East Gilman Street, Suite 5000, Madison, WI 53703-1482 | 608.257.5035 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 21

YAHARA CLEAN COMPACT MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER FOR CLEAN AND HEALTHY LAKES What we are doing to protect the lakes is working, but more needs to be accomplished and at a faster pace. In the 2020 State of the Lakes Report starting on page 30, you will read that the concentration of phosphorus per gallon of water in rivers and streams is trending downward.

Unfortunately, the amount and intensity of precipitation is increasing, resulting in more overall streamflow and phosphorus being delivered to the lakes.

Clean Lakes Alliance recognized we needed a larger coalition to update our roadmap for healthier lakes. In 2019, we initiated an effort with Dane County and City of Madison to reconvene and grow the Yahara CLEAN (Capital Lakes Environmental Assessments & Needs) partnership, with a goal of generating more community involvement.

Together, we are working to identify more effective ways to accelerate and better target the actions needed to achieve cleaner lakes and open beaches.

are busy updating and strengthening the recommendations of a shared implementation plan. A critical part of that endeavor is to bring more stakeholders and voices to the table. Rooted in our own mission is the belief that, to be successful, any plan of action must be inclusive and reflective of the larger community’s hopes and aspirations. This means your involvement and support are absolutely critical, and Clean Lakes Alliance is committed to funding additional opportunities for your voices to be heard.

A PLAN FOR RECOVERY In 2010, following a long and storied history of management interventions, a multi-level government partnership released A CLEAN Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today to begin charting a more effective path forward. Among its proclamations: “Given the way people feel about the Yahara lakes, simply continuing current efforts while still dealing with cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms,

fish kills, non-swimmable beaches, and poor water quality overall, is less and less acceptable to more and more Dane County residents.” Additionally, it set forth 70 action opportunities believed to be achievable and capable of generating the following five outcomes within 10 years: >>Water clarity: Algae blooms will be less dense and less frequent. Near shore, algae growth is fading and being replaced by native lake plants. >>Shorelands: All public shoreline and up to one in five private shoreline properties incorporate native plants, shrubs, and trees.

The community will see these plantings as increasingly desirable. Odor from decaying lake weeds will be greatly reduced.

Signaling a new era of cooperation and participation, coalition members

YAHARA CLEAN COMPACT PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS Preston D. Cole, Secretary WI Department of Natural Resources

James Tye, Executive Director Clean Lakes Alliance

Chad T. Vincent, CEO Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Joseph T. Parisi, County Executive Dane County

Randy Romanski, Secretary WI Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection

Gurdip Brar, Mayor City of Middleton

Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor City of Madison

22 Greater GreaterMadison MadisonLake LakeGuide Guide | | Summer Summer2021 2021 22

Rebecca M. Blank, Chancellor University of Wisconsin-Madison

Chad M. Lawler, Executive Director Madison Area Builders Association Jerry Derr, President Dane County Towns Association

>>Recreational safety and access: There will be half as many (or fewer) beach closures. Illness from contact with algal toxins is very rare. The full range of lake users is able to access and enjoy the lakes year-round. >>Fishery health and consumption: While mercury levels are likely to remain high from global sources, we are maintaining a good overall fishery. Rough fish populations are held steady or reduced. >>Litter and debris: Less debris, trash, and litter are getting into the lakes. Natural woody habitat for fish, birds, and land animals has increased, especially along publicly owned shorelines.

Turned into a 14-action strategic recovery plan in 2012 by Clean Lakes Alliance and the original Yahara CLEAN partners, a renewed effort was kicked off to wrestle control over the phosphorus runoff that was fueling the often unusable, pea-soup conditions for which our lakes have become known.

THE BIRTH OF A NEW COMPACT Fast forward to today. Nine years into plan implementation and lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa are still “impaired” under the Clean Water Act for failing to meet basic water quality and use standards. Why is this? Are community actions missing the mark? Are a wetter climate and other headwinds masking progress? These questions prompted Clean Lakes Alliance to reconvene and expand the original lake-cleanup partnership, now called the Yahara CLEAN Compact, beginning in 2019.

Today’s Compact of 19 community partners and collaborators represents state and local government, nonprofit watershed groups, trade associations, research institutions, and other interests. Together, it is a collaboration that promises to cooperatively deliver the needed answers, along with a bold and updated suite of action recommendations to double the number of days our lakes are clear and free of algal blooms.

WHAT WE KNOW • We all derive economic and quality-of-life benefits from healthy lakes • Our lakes and beaches should be cleaner and more usable

• Phosphorus is the main source of our water quality problems • Management actions are having an effect, but those effects are being overwhelmed by more climate-driven runoff

WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS The Yahara CLEAN Compact now needs your support and participation. With a goal of rolling out an updated, communityadopted roadmap to cleaner lakes by spring of 2022, it is imperative that your voice is heard and represented in the final recommendations.

LEARN MORE & GET INVOLVED • Visit our webpage and share your opinions and perspectives by taking an online survey: cleanlakesalliance.org/yahara-clean • Watch Clean Lakes 101, "Yahara CLEAN Compact: State of the Science," cleanlakesalliance.org/clean-lakes-101 • Watch the WKOW special, "The State of Our Lakes," cleanlakesalliance.org/state-of-thelakes • Contact us at info@cleanlakesalliance. org to sign up for our monthly Lake-OGram newsletter

YAHARA CLEAN COMPACT PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS D. Michael Mucha, Director & Chief Engineer Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

Jake Vander Zanden, Director UW-Madison Center for Limnology

Karl J. Martin, Dean & Director UW-Madison Division of Extension

Martin Griffin, Executive Committee President Yahara Watershed Improvement Network

Paul Robbins, Dean UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Madison's Isthmus, courtesy Robert Bertera

Larry Palm, Executive Chairperson Capital Area Regional Planning Commission

Ruth A. Hackney, CEO Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin Scott Seymour, President Yahara Lakes Association Robert Wipperfurth, President Dane County Cities & Villages Association Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 2323 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

JAEGER PARK, YAHARA RIVER Named after prominent McFarland resident Conrad Jaeger who had a passion for conservation, this small, peaceful park is the perfect spot to launch a kayak or canoe for a trip on the Yahara River. The public dock is great for watching wildlife in the nearby Thurn Marsh.

RAYMER'S COVE, LAKE MENDOTA Accessible from Mendota Drive near the Eagle Heights Community Center, Raymer’s Cove provides a lake overlook perfect for an afternoon stroll or viewing an evening sunset any time of year. Visitors can take a staircase down to the water’s edge and get an up-close view of the sandstone cliffs where Raymer’s Ravine meets the lake.

“Working with a group of 19 collaborators across government, business, and education, I can see the updated plan coming into focus. Clean lakes will not only be better Close to and half healthy of the Yahara Watershed's shorelines include for all of us who already live here, but public lands and parks. Here are LAKE MENDOTA they also become GOVERNOR'S a hugeISLAND, selling point a few of Clean Lakes Alliance's favorite spots to enjoy our to families and individuals looking to waters! relocate to the Greater Madison area.”

HIDDEN GEMS

First off, it’s not really an island thanks to a human-made land bridge from the Mendota Mental Health Institute. The 60-acre “island” has walking paths and a very enjoyable 3/4 mile loop. In addition to being able to launch a kayak or canoe from the island, it also provides fantastic views of Maple Bluff, the University of Wisconsin Campus, and the Wisconsin State Capitol Building.

Ruth Hackney, CEO, Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin WYLDHAVEN PARK, LAKE MONONA Blink and you’ll miss the entrance to this small, recently renovated, quarter-acre park located on Tonyawatha Trail at the intersection of Wyldhaven Avenue. The small beach with a pier and permanent seating is a fantastic place to watch the sun disappear behind the downtown cityscape. In fact, Wyldhaven Park is the spot where the cover photo of this Lake Guide was taken!

Photo courtesy Kenton Fowler 24 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

BOAT RENTALS Madison, Wisconsin 3 locations - 3 Lakes

Photo courtesy Kylie Thomasen, Badgers Branch Out

OPEN 8:30am-8:00pm everyday (Limited hours in May and sept)

FISH CAMP COUNTY PARK, LAKE KEGONSA Fish Camp County Park is where the Yahara River enters Lake Kegonsa.

Located on the eastern shore, this long park offers great fishing near the dam, as well as great sunset views over Lake Kegonsa. The picnic area, paved trail, and large trees make it a great family destination.

There is also a shoreline buffer garden, monarch waystation, and informational signs sharing the history of Fish Camp.

WINGRA BOATS

MARSHALL BOATS

(Monroe St.) 824 Knickerbocker St. (608) 233-5332

(Westside) 2101 Allen Blvd.

(608) 228-8333

BRITTINGHAM BOATS (Downtown) 701 W Brittingham Pl. (608) 250-2555

how TO book go to

www. MADISONBOATS .com

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 25

CLEAN ENERGY · ENERGY EFFICIENCY · ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Visit Madison Gas and Electric online. · Learn about our clean energy projects. · Find energy-saving tips. · Explore the benefits of electric vehicles.

mge2050.com

26 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

A MESSAGE FROM

DANE COUNTY

By DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE PARISI

This past year, perhaps more than any other, we saw firsthand the direct benefit of Dane County’s hard work protecting our lakes and preserving lands for people of all ages to enjoy. Since the very early days of the COVID pandemic, Dane County lakes, parks, and trails have been some of the busiest places to be. Because of what we have accomplished, thousands of acres of land and water will be protected for generations to come.

The work of our Department of Land & Water Resources staff on our successful programs highlighted below has continued unabated during the pandemic, and I thank them for all their perseverance and dedication to enhancing our quality of life here in Dane County.

SUCK THE MUCK

Yahara River sediment removal

Breakthrough research by Dane County discovered that phosphorus concentrations in the stream bed sediments flowing into Lake Mendota are up to seven times greater than nearby crop fields. To reduce phosphorus concentrations and improve water quality, Dane County has extracted 31,000 tons of sediment (about 2,500 dump truck loads) containing more than 100,000 pounds of phosphorus from Dorn and Token Creeks. The next phase of sediment removal from Sixmile Creek will begin this summer between Waunakee and Westport.

YAHARA RIVER SEDIMENT REMOVAL Currently, water comes into the Yahara lakes faster than it goes out, and after a few heavy rainfalls, rising lake levels can lead to flooding. The efficient movement of water through each lake is undermined by sediment build-up in the Yahara River. Today, two inches of rain takes over two weeks to leave the Yahara lakes system. Dane County’s multi-year project removed 40,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment and improved water flow by deepening the Yahara River two to four feet between lakes Monona and Waubesa last year. Dane County has purchased dredge equipment that will be used in Phase ll this year to remove sediment downstream of lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa.

Ceremonial seeding at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

CONTINUOUS COVER INITIATIVE This program’s goals are simple - improve water quality, preserve lands from the ongoing pressures of development, reduce runoff, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. We have protected close to 700 acres in 22 townships in just two years. Converting to grasses and pollinator habitat has reduced phosphorus runoff into our waters by more than 1,700 pounds a year. Since interest in this program by farmers and rural property owners continues to grow, Dane County increased funding this year to $1.75 million to help landowners preserve our landscape and better protect our valuable waters.

PHEASANT BRANCH CONSERVANCY RESTORATION Community partners are coming together to help Dane County complete a 160-acre addition and restoration to the Pheasant Branch Conservancy that the County purchased in 2019 for $10 million. Thanks to funding from Clean Lakes Alliance, Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin, Meringoff Family Foundation, and Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, restoration work on the

expanded Conservancy is moving forward. This work will reduce the flow of floodwaters during heavy rain events, and help capture sediment and phosphorus, improving water quality in the Lake Mendota Watershed.

MANURE TREATMENT SYSTEM Dane County joined representatives from Aqua Innovations and GL Dairy Biogas last fall to open a new community nutrient concentration system at the digester in the Town of Springfield.

The County-purchased $1.6 million manure filtering system turns a portion of the manure into drinkable water before being discharged into Pheasant Branch Creek. The system removes nearly 100% of the phosphorus, meaning less phosphorus-laden manure spread on fields prone to runoff.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 27

Swimming enclosure Goodland County Park Beach

Warner Park Beach shelter Rendering by Destree Architecture & Design

CLEAN SWIMMING

FOR EVERYONE CREATING SAFER LAKES THROUGH THE CLEAN BEACH INITIATIVE

By ANN SHEA, MADISON PARKS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OUR GREATEST ASSETS Arguably one of Madison’s greatest assets is its lakes. If we are not enjoying the view from one of Madison’s many lakefront parks, we are on the water boating or swimming. For some, the thought of swimming in a Madison area lake leaves them a bit hesitant. The ongoing concern of bacteria and algae levels in the water has not gone unnoticed by City and County officials. Unfortunately, there is no overnight solution. The good news is we are making progress toward cleaner lakes for everyone through the Clean Beach Initiative.

POSITIVE RESULTS In 2019, Dane County approached the City of Madison to partner in making our lakes cleaner. Pooling resources, the County will fund capital costs associated with purchasing and installing the “Clean Beach Treatment System” and the City will fund the maintenance and operations. The long-term initiative, announced in August 2019, calls for five additional locations in addition to the City’s Bernie’s Beach Park, and the County’s Mendota Park and Goodland Park. Since the first system was 28 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

installed in 2012 at Bernie’s Beach, there have been just 10 beach closures in nine swim seasons.

approximately 745 square feet of covered space and looks similar to the recently constructed shelters at Esther Beach Park and Olbrich Park.

CLEAN SWIM SPACE Clean beach treatment systems pump and treat an average of 144,000 gallons of water per day, keeping algae blooms and E. coli out of the designated swim areas. A five-sided underwater curtain that floats on the water’s surface, creates an “exclosure” and acts as a barrier. Dirty lake water is pumped to an onshore treatment facility which cleans the water using a strainer, sand filter, and UV disinfection. Clean water is then returned to the designated swimming area, creating chemical-free, safe, clean water for swimmers.

WHAT'S AHEAD IN 2021?

The first installation as part of the initiative is located at Warner Park Beach and is anticipated to open in summer 2021.

What makes the Warner Park location unique is the system’s pump equipment is housed in a new reservable shelter with accessible public restrooms and outdoor shower towers. The new shelter, designed with assistance from the public, offers

Over the next few years, additional clean beach treatment systems are anticipated at: • • • •

Tenney Park Esther Beach Park James Madison Park Vilas Park

Look for updated information and a grand opening in 2021. cityofmadison.com/parks/ projects

Porous pavers on a City of Madison street

A MESSAGE FROM

CITY OF MADISON

By CITY OF MADISON MAYOR SATYA RHODES-CONWAY In this 2021 edition of the Lake Guide, I am pleased to share some of the work the City of Madison has been doing to improve waterfront access and improve water quality. If we didn’t already know it, COVID-19 made it abundantly clear that people rely on our waterfront parks for both their physical and emotional wellbeing. It heightened our awareness that equitable access to our lakefront parks and trails is essential. And we are continuing to work to make Madison’s lakefront inviting for all. We’re completing our first “Clean Beach Initiative” project in the swim area at Warner Park in partnership with Dane County (pg. 28), and are planning to do the same at Tenney Park. We also started redesigning Vilas Park with a goal to make it more accessible for all Madison residents.

We have continued to move forward on numerous efforts to improve water quality through programs like Clean Lakes Clean Streets, which helps keep phosphorus-rich leaf debris from entering our lakes, and by carefully reducing salt use on our roads.

An effort I am particularly excited about is the increased use of green (versus grey) stormwater management systems. This year saw the construction of the first set of public streets in Madison that were designed from the beginning with green stormwater infrastructure features in the Westmorland neighborhood. The features included: permeable pavements and sidewalks, terrace

rain gardens, and underground rock cribs to store rainwater. The green redesign of these streets is happening as part of a study we are conducting with the United States Geological Survey to study the impacts of green stormwater infrastructure on the water quantity and quality that eventually travels to our lakes through storm drains.

Alongside these public investments in the right-of-way, we are piloting a grant program to encourage private property owners to construct green stormwater systems like rain gardens in their yards. This is the second year of our pilot grant program in the Westmorland neighborhood. If the pilot is successful, we hope to launch a citywide grant program of this type. Green stormwater infrastructure can be very successful at treating runoff for water quality improvements, supporting pollinators and other wildlife, reducing urban heat island effects, and for general education about our urban ecosystem.

We look forward to continuing our work to improve Madison’s lakes and everybody’s access to them. We are thankful for the partnership with Clean Lakes Alliance in our work.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 29

(PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION REPORT COMING THIS SUMMER) Clean and healthy lakes are truly the benchmark of a healthy community, which is why Clean Lakes Alliance created a one-of-a-kind State of the Lakes Report and prioritizes the tracking and public reporting of Greater Madison's five lakes’ overall condition each year. Additionally, we provide progress snapshots on phosphorus-reducing actions occurring across a 384-square-mile watershed, ensuring that we remain accountable to our lake-cleanup goals.

Considerable investments in conservation practices have led to declines in sediment and phosphorus concentrations entering the lakes. These practices have laid a solid foundation for future water quality improvements. The latest analyses show these actions are making a positive difference, even though land-use change and an increasingly wetter climate are conspiring to overwhelm these impacts. The fact that we now can confirm declines in sediment and phosphorus concentrations in monitored headwater streams is a testament to the influence of conservation measures getting adopted across the landscape. If it were not for increasing storm runoff and stream flow occurring over the same time period, these actions would have likely resulted in less phosphorus delivery and better overall lake conditions (see Figure 1).

Phosphorus Levels in Streams

WETTER SPELLS TROUBLE

Stormwater runoff acts as the main delivery system for everything that ends up in our lakes. That includes most of the phosphorus that turns the lakes green, soupy, and thick with algae. Runoff occurs when rainfall is prevented from soaking into the ground or cannot be absorbed by vegetation.

As more rain falls on frozen or hardened landscapes, the flow of pollutants increases from the land surface into downstream waterbodies.

In total, 42.56 inches of precipitation fell during the 2020 “water year” (Oct. 1, 2019 – Sep. 30, 2020) based on data from the Dane County Regional Airport gauge. This continues a trend of above-average rainfall for our area, with normal being 34.48 inches. In fact, multiple recordsetting events were seen in the last several years alone, with historically unprecedented rainfall recorded during the flood of August 2018. All months of the 2020 water year, except August, exceeded the normal rainfall amounts based on 1981-2010 averages. As Dr. Stephen Vavrus describes in his article on pages 16-17, our region is not only getting progressively wetter, it is also seeing a greater frequency of larger and higher-intensity storms (Figure 2).

Number of Heavy Precipitation Days Madison, WI (1940 - 2019)

Figure 1: Illustration showing that while conservation practices are helping to reduce phosphorus concentrations in the stream tributaries feeding our lakes, increased runoff and stream flows are delivering more to the lakes in total. Figure adapted from an original image created by SmithGroup.

To this day, all five lakes unfortunately remain federally “impaired” for failing to meet basic water quality and usability standards under the Clean Water Act. These impairments are primarily caused by the excess phosphorus pollution contained in stormwater runoff that washes off surrounding lands. We see that evidence not only in the monitoring data as described above, but also in the recurring cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms and beach closures that shape the experiences we have with our lakes.

30 State of the Lakes Report

Figure 2: Number of heavy precipitation days recorded in Madison by decade (credit: S. Vavrus)

NATURE'S DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Water flows from north to south as it is funneled from the watershed and through the Yahara chain of lakes. Like arteries, the Yahara River and several tributary streams feed the lakes a constant supply of water and nutrients, including phosphorus. Gauging stations on many of these streams collect data on flow volumes and phosphorus concentrations.

The data allow scientists to estimate the mass of algaefueling phosphorus that is getting delivered to the lakes (called “loading”).

YAHARA RIVER WATERSHED

Figure 3 shows how much phosphorus Lake Mendota’s monitored streams delivered to the lakes during the 2020 water year compared to prior years. This is shown as total pounds along the left-hand, vertical axis. The goal is to get that number down to an annual average of 32,600 pounds for Lake Mendota (and 47,600 pounds for all five lakes combined). Total rainfall amounts by water year are also shown, even though timing, intensity, and frequency are better predictors of runoff conditions. These values are shown as total inches of precipitation along the right-hand, vertical axis.

Tributary Phosphorus Loading to Lake Mendota

2013-2020 Average (73,852 lbs.)

1990-2020 Average (59,150 lbs.)

Figure 3: Phosphorus loads (in pounds) delivered to Lake Mendota through its monitored stream tributaries by water year. Also shown is total precipitation (in inches) during these time periods. Loading data source: T. Stuntebeck, USGS

Sitting at the top of the chain and receiving most of the watershed drainage, the condition of Lake Mendota is a good indicator for how the downstream lakes will be impacted.

Lake Mendota is also the lake with the greatest number of monitored streams; with Pheasant Branch Creek, Dorn Creek, Sixmile Creek, and the Yahara River all being closely tracked. During the 2020 water year, the roughly 70,000 pounds of phosphorus loading to Lake Mendota exceeded the long-term average (1990-2020) by 18%. Nonetheless, it was about half of what was measured during the prior year, at which time most of the phosphorus was delivered during early-March runoff events. Typically, more than half of the total amount of phosphorus entering our lakes each year occurs during the January-March time period when rain falls on frozen, snow-covered ground.

WHAT IS A WATERSHED?

A watershed is defined by the part of the landscape that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers that flow into a single waterbody, like a lake. As the water flows over the landscape, it picks up pollutants, such as phosphorus, that cause water quality problems. Actions can be taken on the landscape to slow the water and filter out the pollutants.

LANDSCAPE ACTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Despite a widening gap between the total amount of phosphorus getting delivered to the lakes and the goal, updated analyses show that conservation practices are having a positive impact. These practices include the planting of vegetative buffers along streams and ditches, stormwater collection basins, leaf-free urban streets, lowdisturbance manure injection (see photo pg. 32), and a host of other rural and urban strategies. In fact, if climate and State of the Lakes Report 31

runoff volumes were held constant, an analysis performed

by Dane County Land and Water Resources Department showed that the amount of phosphorus delivered to Lake Mendota would have decreased by 36% over the last two decades thanks to such actions.

Photo: Low-disturbance manure injection is an example of a conservation practice farmers use to help prevent manure from washing off fields.

Unfortunately, increasing runoff volumes are effectively masking and overwhelming these impacts. As depicted earlier in Figure 1, while phosphorus concentrations in our streams have declined over time, higher stream flows due to runoff-producing climate and landscape changes are increasing the total amount delivered. According to data and analysis provided by the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, approximately 11,000 acres of the watershed were developed between 2000-2015. While conservation practices are working, much more will be needed to overcome changing rainfall and land-use patterns that are affecting the watershed. If successful, and we reach our phosphorus goal, lake-response models estimate that we can double the number of summer days when our lakes are clear and free of the types of cyanobacteria blooms that close beaches.

PHEASANT BRANCH CONSERVANCY RESTORATION Clean Lakes Alliance and other community partners are helping Dane County complete the restoration of a 160-acre addition to the popular Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Prairie- and wetland-restoration activities were initiated following the 2019 acquisition of a former dairy farm, with ongoing work designed to maintain the property’s rural Pheasant Branch Conservancy character, increase wildlife habitat, expansion north of absorb floodwaters, and help Lake Mendota capture sediment and phosphorus to protect area water quality.

At the time of its purchase, the approximately $10 million price tag represented the largest conservation investment for a land acquisition in Dane County’s history.

When the restoration is complete, nearly five million gallons of runoff water and 550 pounds of phosphorus will be prevented from entering the Yahara lakes each year.

“Our restoration project to expand the Pheasant Branch Conservancy furthers our efforts to mitigate flooding, improve water quality, and preserve this treasured outdoor space for years to come,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.

Clean Lakes Alliance volunteers have been removing invasive plants to help control runoff and improve wildlife habitat in Pheasant Branch Conservancy for the last 10 years. Recently, Clean Lakes Alliance donors and business partners, like Alliant Energy and Hy Cite Enterprises, were excited to contribute to a Seed the Need fund that we will use to support land improvement on the newly purchased land next to the Conservancy.

Ceremonial seed spreading at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Photo: Aerial view of a cyanobacteria bloom at Lake Farm County Park on Lake Waubesa in June of 2020, courtesy Robert Bertera

32 State of the Lakes Report

WHAT LAKE MENDOTA TELLS US

Our lakes are reflections of their watersheds, and phosphorus is the main driver of their overall water quality conditions. It is a natural element and critical plant nutrient found in soil, leaves, manure, fertilizers, and other material. Because it is found in short supply compared to other critical nutrients, managing sources of phosphorus can control how much algal growth is possible. While phosphorus can enter the lakes in different forms and through various pathways, it is what we put on and do to the land surface that most impact downstream waters.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, midlake phosphorus concentrations and water clarity readings could only be obtained for Lake Mendota during the 2020 season. Fortunately, this large headwater lake is a good general indicator for what is happening throughout the chain.

Figure 4 shows Lake Mendota’s summer median total phosphorus concentration for 2020 compared to the prior seven years. Phosphorus levels have recently been trending higher and are considered “fair” by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources standards.

Lake Mendota Phosphorus Concentrations

Lake Mendota Water Clarity

Figure 5: Lake Mendota median summer water clarity (in feet of transparency as measured by a Secchi disk). Data source: R. Lathrop, UW-Madison Center for Limnology Honorary Fellow

THE LAKE USER EXPERIENCE

Ultimately, we want our lakes to be safe and swimmable, and free of the cyanobacteria blooms and E. coli contamination that can close beaches. Thanks to the dedication of Clean Lakes Alliance’s all-volunteer monitoring network, a total of 71 near-shore reporting stations were active across all five lakes during the 2020 season (Figure 6). Trained monitors donated an estimated 580 hours of combined volunteer time, delivering 2,294 near-real-time condition reports from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day. All this information was made available via interactive maps at LakeForecast.org, as well as through the free Apple and Android app of the same name.

Figure 4: Lake Mendota median summer phosphorus concentrations (in mg/L). Data source: R. Lathrop, UW-Madison Center for Limnology Honorary Fellow

Figure 5 shows Lake Mendota’s summer median water clarity for 2020 compared to the prior seven years. Values represent the depth to which a transparency-measuring device, called a Secchi disk, can be seen when lowered from the water surface. Clarity readings remain in the “good” range, but are beginning to edge closer to “fair” conditions.

RED: Beaches and Parks BLUE: End-of-Pier Residences ORANGE: Mendota Research Buoy Figure 6: “LakeForecast” monitoring station locations.

Photo: Urban runoff shown on Lake Mendota at James Madison Park after a heavy rain event

The number of days when one or more monitors reported “strong evidence” of a cyanobacteria bloom is summarized for each lake (Figure 7). By comparing the number of 'algal days' to the total number of unique sampling days for each lake, we can generate a percentage that better represents the number of blooms witnessed each year.

State of the Lakes Report 33

This method eliminates over reporting in situations when different monitors report the same algal bloom. Compared to 2019, monitors documented more “strong evidence” of cyanobacteria blooms on Waubesa and Kegonsa. In contrast, lakes Mendota and Monona experienced notable declines in reports. Lake Wingra remained consistent with no reports of “strong” cyanobacteria blooms.

Percentage of Days with Report of Strong Cyanobacteria

Average clarity decreased throughout the summer with a peak decline in August (Figure 8). This phenomenon was consistent across each lake, and is somewhat typical as algal activity increases with rising water temperatures.

As for beach closures, there were 103 total “closure days” documented during the 2020 summer-recreation season (Figure 9). Closure days represent the number of days each monitored beach had to be closed due to unsafe water conditions. These unsafe conditions were usually due to the presence of elevated and potentially harmful levels of E. coli and/or toxin-producing cyanobacteria.

Beach Closure Days by Lake

Figure 7: LakeForecast monitors reporting “strong evidence” of a cyanobacteria bloom represented as a percentage of total sampling days

Near-shore water clarity reports did not reveal any consistent trends across each lake when compared to 2019 and prior years. Lakes Monona and Wingra demonstrated a marked improvement in water clarity, while lakes Mendota and Waubesa displayed similar results to 2019. Only Lake Kegonsa reported a decline in water clarity with average transparency tube readings for August and September representative of “fair” water clarity. The high rainfall total measured in July may have had lasting, negative impacts on water clarity as the season progressed.

Average Water Clarity

Figure 9: Beach closure days by lake from 2013-2020 (Data source: Public Health Madison and Dane County)

LOOKING AHEAD

Clean Lakes Alliance has convened a community coalition of 19 member organizations, called the Yahara CLEAN Compact, to build on past efforts and cultivate new opportunities to improve the condition and usability of our lakes and beaches. You can read more about the Compact on pages 22-23. With coalition members affirming that our phosphorus-loading goal and action priorities are still valid, efforts are now focused on finding improved ways to ramp up the implementation of these actions, capitalize on improved scientific understandings, and target resources where we can get the greatest bang for the buck.

We also want to hear from you! What thoughts and ideas do you have for our lakes? Visit the website below to find out how you can get involved and help shape how we move forward together.

Figure 8: Change in average near-shore water clarity by lake during the course of the 2020 season (measured in centimeters of transparency using a 120-centimeter turbidity tube; murky is 0 to 50 cm, fair is 50 to 80 cm, good is 80 to 120 cm of transparency)

34 State of the Lakes Report

Learn more about the Yahara CLEAN Compact: cleanlakesalliance.org/yahara-clean

The fictional character, Billie the Bluegill, teaches children about the lakes

LEARN ABOUT THE LAKES

WITH BILLIE THE BLUEGILL

CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE OFFERS NEW YOUTH EDUCATION LEARNING TOOLS At Clean Lakes Alliance, we recognize the significance that environmental education has on fostering sustainability behaviors.

This is why education is a cornerstone of our approach to fulfilling our vision of the lakes as the center of the community. In Greater Madison, the drinking water pulled from groundwater aquifers is linked to surface waters. It is important that our community has a robust understanding of our one-water system, concentrated on our lakes and drinking water.

AN UNTAPPED DEMOGRAPHIC Our youth are an integral and untapped demographic in regards to our education efforts to catalyze change. Clean Lakes Alliance's education currently focuses more on adults, however, we believe including youth in the conversation will complement our efforts.

We have observed the normalization and adoption of recycling partly due to youth encouraging their guardians to follow the sustainable habits they learned in school. We believe we can replicate this success, and find new ways to advance our vision by introducing kids to the same one-water concepts we teach their guardians.

LAKE EDUCATION This spring, we launched the first series of educational materials geared toward kids. Our materials currently cater to children in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Each grade level has a different focus – third grade: the water cycle; fourth grade: leaves and lakes; and fifth grade: agriculture and the lakes. Parents can download worksheets, answer keys, and books read by a University of Wisconsin athlete that correspond with each lesson.

We have worked to intentionally incorporate gender representation by framing our mascot character, Billie the Bluegill, as gender nonbinary denoted by the use of they/them pronouns in our children’s books. Additionally, the books and coloring pamphlets illustrate representative demographics of race, gender, ability, and creed.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL YOUTH Accessibility was also a priority behind the development of our phase one education project. Our goal is to provide a no-cost online education resource that is readily available to all. None of the materials are necessary to print to utilize effectively, and instructional videos guide children through most components to alleviate guardians’ need for participation. Our curriculum was constructed using easily obtainable tools, including iMovie, YouTube, and Google Slides.

The materials follow the Wisconsin Academic Standards, established by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, which provide a framework to build educational programs.

In particular, our materials are rooted in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and integrate English language from a STEM perspective.

THE NEXT PHASE In the coming months, the goal is to expand the learning tools offered, develop modules for Kindergarten through 2nd grade, and connect with local community centers and educators about incorporating our materials into their programs.

Learn more about Clean Lakes Alliance's youth education program: cleanlakesalliance.org/youth-education

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DONATED THEIR TIME TO THIS PROJECT •Creative Director – Alexandra Bogner

•Educator Liaison – Briana Kernen, Marshall Public Schools

•Additional educators who took place

•Principal Illustrator – Julie Vornholt

•Education Consultant – Greta Drane

in an anonymous survey during the

•Assistant Illustrator – Hanna Klecka

•University of Wisconsin – Madison Student Athletes

initial development phase of this youth

•Coloring Page Designer – Kyra Keenan

education program Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 35

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IRONMAN Wisconsin in Lake Monona Photo courtesy IRONMAN

BEAUTIFUL LAKES MAKE IT

Frozen Assets 5K on Lake Mendota

EASY TO SELL MADISON

By DESTINATION MADISON Madison’s lakes are responsible for so much of the city’s beauty, recreation, and culture. But did you know they are also a key differentiator in bringing visitors, media, events, and conventions to town? Even in the heart of downtown, surrounded by awardwinning restaurants, charming small businesses, and top-notch hotels, you’re mere steps away from lakes Mendota and Monona.

The accessibility of our five lakes is unparalleled and an important selling point when pitching travel media or working to secure a conference or sporting event. When bidding on the CrossFit Games, Madison Area Sports Commission emphasized the lakes as a unique opportunity to expand competition outside of the Alliant Energy Center campus. The Games' events held on Lake Monona proved to be some of the most exciting to watch, and showcased activities regularly enjoyed by residents and visitors.

For conventions and events, attendees can quickly go from sitting in a lecture at Monona Terrace to hopping aboard a Betty Lou Cruise or renting their own watercraft from Madison Boats to experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture from the water.

Photo courtesy CrossFit, Inc.

Destination Madison is the greater Madison area's official destination marketing organization. We have a passion for our amazing community - a city of inquisitive thoughts, inclusive spirit with an independent vibe. We share Madison’s story far and wide and inspire a love for our destination. Find more ways to enjoy Madison’s lakes and outdoor spaces at visitmadison.com.

National media are delighted to learn our lakes are active year-round and eager to experience the opportunities themselves. Our team promotes the variety of watersports available in the summer, but also shares how to utilize the lakes in our colder months, including ice fishing, snowshoeing, and ice kiting. And we can’t forget about Madison’s more unusual ways to enjoy the water, like log rolling, races and festivals like Clean Lakes Alliance’s Frozen Assets on the frozen lakes, and winter art exhibits. The recent ‘Winter is Alive’ event and ‘Christmas Tree Forest’ exhibit on Lake Monona were creative new ways to engage the community with our frozen bodies of water.

As one of only two U.S. cities built on an isthmus (Seattle, WA is the other city), we have a deep-rooted connection to our five lakes. From the Wisconsin Union to Monona Terrace, the State Capitol to the UW Campus, James Madison Park to Olin Park, water surrounds Madison’s most iconic locations. So, the next time you’re out enjoying our lakes, share your experience with a friend, and encourage them to visit and see what makes our lakes one of Madison’s finest selling points.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 37

helpthelakes at home Together, with our partners, we developed the following list of top 10 actions you can take at your home or business. These small actions can make our landscape more resilient and add up to big impacts for water quality. Visit cleanlakesalliance.org/top-10 to learn more.

Plant Native & Diverse Vegetation

Redirect Downspouts

Create a Rain Garden

Pick Up Pet Waste & Litter

Reduce Salt Use

Start Home Composting

Plant Home Food Gardens

Inspire a Friend or Neighbor

Install a Rain Barrel

Rake for Leaf-Free Streets

maNY small aCTIoNs = BIG ImpaCT Visit cleanlakesalliance.org/top10-survey to tell us what you are doing to help the lakes from your home or business.

PROGRAM FUNDING PROVIDED BY: 38 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Keeping Our Communities Strong As Wisconsin’s largest family-owned financial services company for the past 50 years, we’re committed to investing in the health, well-being and success of our associates, our customers and our local communities - today, tomorrow and for generations to come.

Thank you, Clean Lakes Alliance, for the opportunity to support your work in the Madison Community.

Learn more at JohnsonFinancialGroup.com/Madison.

Johnson FINANCIAL GROUP

B A N K I N G • W E A LT H • I N S U R A N C E

Celebrating

5O

YEARS

Products offered by these Johnson Financial Group companies: Johnson Bank, Johnson Insurance Services LLC and Johnson Wealth Inc.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 39

40 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Photo: Oberon Jagodinski, OVJPhotography

A VIEW OF OUR WATERSHED LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS SHARE THEIR VIEW OF OUR LAKES OBERON JAGODINSKI, OVJPHOTOGRAPHY

Oberon Jagodinski of OVJPhotography has been in love with photography since he could hold his first camera. His favorite photos to take of the Yahara Watershed showcase the beauty of Madison at first and last light.

FAVORITE TIME OF DAY TO TAKE PHOTOS "The best time of day to photograph our lakes has to be after sunset, when the city lights come on and you have about 15 minutes before it's completely dark."

LOVE OF DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE BEGINNING "I’ve always been interested in photography since I was young. Everything changed when a friend of mine bought a drone and convinced me I needed one. I almost immediately fell in love with the vantage points you could get of the Madison skyline while flying."

ADVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS "My advice for people snapping pictures of our lakes with their phones is to look for leading lines, make sure to hold your phone steady, and don't be afraid to get low and look for unique new perspectives."

CONNECT WITH OVJPHOTOGRAPHY Facebook: @Ovjphotography Instagram: @ovjphotography Tiktok: @Ovjphotography Website: ovjphotography.mypixieset.com

Oberon Jagodinski

Photo: Oberon Jagodinski, OVJPhotography John Nolen Drive at dusk Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 41

Photo: Samuel Li Isthmus from above

Photo: Kenton Fowler Photo from 2017 that got Kenton started in photography

KENTON FOWLER Kenton Fowler provided the cover photo for this year's Greater Madison Lake Guide. Kenton, who grew up a block from Lake Wingra, says it helped form a bond between himself and the water, which he now tries to capture in his photography.

FINDING A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY "It was a series of beautiful sunsets (in 2017) that convinced me to get a DSLR camera and start photographing sunsets and sunrises on a daily basis around the neighborhood. Some of my favorite photos to this day are taken with an iPhone. The quality might not be the best but the phone can go places a camera can’t, like right on top of the water for reflections."

SAMUEL LI Samuel Li is a cinematographer and photographer based in Madison, Wisconsin.

He says his goal is to get people excited about Wisconsin and see all of the beauty our state has to offer.

Samuel Li ISTHMUS FROM ABOVE "The photo above of the entire Isthmus is one of my absolute favorites because it’s an angle I had never seen another photographer take before. Another UW alum offered to take me up for a plane ride around Madison in the fall of 2020 and I ended up snapping this picture on one of our many passes over the city.

I get to see everything I love about Madison in a single photo."

FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE PHOTOS "Winter is probably my favorite time of year to photograph the lakes. When the water turns to ice, it causes these incredibly unique patterns on the lakes. Each year is unique and I’m always astounded by the natural beauty of the Isthmus."

PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE FOR OTHERS "If you want a truly special experience, wake up for sunrise or stick around for a sunset. That’s when the best phototaking opportunities are.

But also, who cares if you only have a phone?

At least you can enjoy a beautiful moment on the lake."

CONNECT WITH SAMUEL Facebook: @SamuelLiPhotography Instagram: @samuelli Twitter: @TheSamLi Website: samueljli.com

Photo: Samuel Li Madison's Isthmus and icy lakes

42 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE PHOTOS Wyldhaven Park in Monona and Babcock Park in McFarland are two of Kenton's favorite locations. "They just have a great vibe and views. Taking my thoughts and ideas, and pairing them with intentions and actions has led me to some beautiful photos and places, not to mention friendships. I like the way our lakes connect us as a community and the sense of place they provide."

CONNECT WITH KENTON Facebook: @kenton.fowler.5 Instagram: @kenton_a_fowler Kenton Fowler Photo: Kenton Fowler Wyldhaven Park and Lake Monona

Photo: Robert Bertera Lake Mendota's shoreline in Middleton

ROBERT BERTERA

Robert Bertera is a Clean Lakes Alliance volunteer water quality monitor who also has a passion for photography. Chances are, if you follow Clean Lakes Alliance on social media, you've see his drone photos showcasing all corners of the Yahara Watershed.

FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE PHOTOS "I enjoy shooting aerial images of the Madison lakes year round. I look for colorful lively settings in the summer and fall months, such as beaches, parks, forests, and boat launches. I find the best time of day for capturing vivid colors is midmorning and midafternoon.

In the winter months, I concentrate on settings that highlight the water/ice/snow interface areas, such as shorelines, canals, and the locks. Midafternoon works best for me and allows me to place my drone at the perfect angle and location to minimize reflection from

KYLIE THOMASEN, BADGERS BRANCH OUT

Kylie Thomasen is a student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is the creative mind behind "Badgers Branch Out." She developed Badgers Branch Out as a way to connect students to nature in the Madison area. Every week, she posts recommendations of green spaces around Madison to explore, with the goal of inspiring people, particularly UW-Madison students to visit new outdoor locations.

FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE PHOTOS "My favorite time of year to take photographs is during the summer, mostly because I love the weather.

However, winter provides many great photography opportunities as well."

PHOTOGRAPHY INTEREST FROM A YOUNG AGE "My interest in photography started in middle school with taking photographs of wildlife around my family's cabin in northern Wisconsin. I love animals, and I borrowed my dad's camera to take photos of them. But my interest in taking nature photos in Madison didn't start until the summer of 2020. I created Badgers Branch Out when I realized that I could combine nature photography

the snow or open water, while having ample light to achieve good depth of field in the image."

MADISON PHOTOGRAPHY IS A DREAM "For a photographer, Madison with its lakes and parks are a dream come true. I have spent hundreds of hours hiking, reviewing maps, and riding the bike trails, all the while making mental notes of 'perfect locations' to capture unique photos that document people, places, nature, events, and moments in time."

CONNECT WITH ROBERT Facebook: @RobertBerteraPhotography Website: robertberteraphotography.smugmug.com

Robert Bertera

and social media to help other UW-Madison students explore Madison."

PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE FOR OTHERS "Just go for it and don't hold back."

CONNECT WITH BADGERS BRANCH OUT Facebook: @badgersbranchout Instagram: @badgersbranchout Website: badgersbranchout.com

Kylie Thomasen

Photo: KylieThomasen Raymer's Cove on Lake Mendota Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 43

LAKE MENDOTA Three Foot Bay

MENDOTA

Mendota Research Buoy

Tenney Park Lock & Dam Yahara River

University Bay

Parks, Beaches, & Access Sites 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13 14 15

James Madison Park Tenney Park Burrow's Park Maple Bluff Beach Park Warner Park Governor's Island Governor Nelson State Park Mendota County Park Lake Street Boat Launch Marshall Park Spring Harbor Park

44 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

16 McKenna Park (Shorewood Hills Boathouse) 17 Frautschi Point 18 Picnic Point 19 University Bay Boat Launch 20 Memorial Union

Restaurants 7 Betty Lou Cruises 7 The Mariner's Inn 8 Nau-Ti-Gal 20 Memorial Union 21 The Boathouse 21 The Statehouse

Gasoline Vendors 9 SkipperBud's of Madison 10 Mazanet Marina

LAKES MONONA & WINGRA

Tenney Park Lock & Dam

Yahara River

MONONA Monona Bay Wingra Dam

Wicawak Bay

WINGRA Turville Bay

Yahara River

Parks, Beaches, & Access Sites 1 4 5 6 9 10 11 14 17 18 19 20 21

Esther Beach Park Frost Woods Wyldhaven Park Schluter Beach Olbrich Park Hudson Park B.B. Clarke Beach Park Law Park Brittingham Park Vilas (Henry) Park Wingra Boat Launch & Livery Bernie's Beach Park Olin Park

Restaurants 2 Breakwater 2 Buck & Honey's 3 Waypoint Public House 7 The East Side Club - Tiki Bar & Grill 8 The Biergarten at Olbrich Park 12 Madison Elks Lodge 13 Sardine 15 Lake Vista Café 16 Paisan's 20 Lakeside St. Coffee House

Gasoline Vendors 2 Four Lakes Yacht Club

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 45

Yahara River Gilligan's Island

W AU BE

SA

Upper Mud Lake

Babcock Lock & Dam

LAKES WAUBESA & KEGONSA

Lower Mud Lake

Yahara River

LaFollette Lock & Dam

KEGONSA Yahara River

Parks, Beaches, & Access Sites 1 3 6 8 10 11

Lake Farm County Park Goodland County Park McDaniel Park Fish Camp County Park Lake Kegonsa State Park LaFollette County Park

46 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Restaurants 2 5 7 9

Christy's Landing Green Lantern TAC's ALEment Springers of Lake Kegonsa

Gasoline Vendors 4 Barr's Resort

Oak Park Dental Named Madison’s Best Dentist and Best Dental Office!

As a cosmetic and neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Jana is passionate about helping her patients enhance their life, health, and smile.”

“Today’s patients are looking for more conservative, individualized dentistry, and require a higher level of care,” says Gyurina, who commits to 100+ hours of continuing education each year.

Dr. Jana has an amazing team of 13 women. She is proud of their dedication to continuing to evolve and grow, and to provide the best for patients.

Dr. Jana runs a state-of-the-art facility, and together, they meet all of their patient’s needs.

Oak Park Dental offers smile makeovers, prepless veneers, same day CEREC crowns, implants, orthodontics, TMD (TMJ treatment), sleep appliances (versus CPAP machines), with a focus on the oral systemic connection of a patient’s overall health.

Proud founding supporter and Community Board member of Clean Lakes Alliance.

Enhancing your life, health, and smile.

Dr. Jana Gyurina, DDS, FAGD, FICOI, LVIF Oak Park Dental

oakparkdentalmadison.com // 608.833.4466 Call for a complimentary consult today!

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 47

CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE DIRECTORY TO GREATER MADISON'S LAKE-RELATED BUSINESSES Apartments Lakeshore Apartments (608) 256-8525 122 E Gilman St Madison, WI 53703

LAKE PARTNER

Watermark Lofts (608) 575-1018 960 John Nolen Dr Madison, WI 53713 twallenterprises.com/watermark-lofts

Lake Towne Apartments (608) 255-6550 22 Langdon St, Suite 101 Madison, WI 53703 laketowne.com

Yahara Terrace (608) 949-3399 320 W Broadway Monona, WI 53716 yaharaterrace.com

Lake Edge Apartments (715) 574-1677 4033 Monona Dr Monona, WI 53716 Mendota Lakeshore Apartments (608) 257-1561 620 N Carroll St Madison, WI 53703 mendotalakeshore.com Monona Lakeview Apartments (608) 222-6911 3819 Monona Dr Monona, WI 53714

The Waterfront Apartments (608) 442-4200 633 N Henry St Madison, WI 53703 mendotawaterfront.com

Associations

LAKE PARTNER

Mullins Apartments (608) 257-2127 222 E Lakelawn Pl Madison, WI 53703 mullinsapartments.com Riverwood Apartments (608) 222-5571 6431 Bridge Rd Madison, WI 53713 riverwoodmadison.com The Current (608) 327-4021 800 W Broadway Monona, WI 53713 currentmonona.com The New Monona Shores Apartments (608) 224-1788 2 Waunona Woods Ct, #102 Madison, WI 53713 The Surf (608) 213-6908 661 Mendota Ct Madison, WI 53703

48 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Association of State Floodplain Managers (608) 828-3000 8301 Excelsior Dr Madison, WI 53717 floods.org

North American LAKE PARTNER Stormwater & Erosion Control Association of WI (NASECA) PO Box 70714 Madison, WI 53707 nasecawi.org NASECA-WI is a non-profit professional membership association which offers low-cost, high-quality education and networking programs to those in the field of erosion and sediment control and stormwater management.

Token Creek Watershed Association (608) 334-8941 PO Box 366 Windsor, WI 53598 tokencreek.org Upper Sugar River Watershed Association (608) 437-7707 PO Box 314 Mount Horeb, WI 53572 usrwa.org

Capitol Water Trails (608) 223-0995 3806 Atwood Ave Madison, WI 53714 capitolwatertrails.org

Wisconsin Alumni LAKE PARTNER Association (888) WIS-ALUM 650 N Lake St Madison, WI 53706 uwalumni.com The Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) is your connection to UW-Madison. We work to advance the University’s mission.

WAA's Alumni Park is a place where alumni stories are shared and celebrated.

Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin (IPAW) PO Box 5274 Madison, WI 53705-0274 ipaw.org

Wisconsin Wetlands Association (308) 250-9971 214 N Hamilton St Madison, WI 53703 wisconsinwetlands.org

Lake Waubesa LAKE PARTNER Conservation Association PO Box 6521 Monona, WI 53716 waubesa.org LWCA consists of people who value the Lake Waubesa ecosystem including its wetlands, springs, and creeks. We strive to keep members and the community informed and involved in current issues, activities, and events affecting Lake Waubesa.

Yahara Lakes Association LAKE PARTNER 733 Struck St PO Box #44521 Madison, WI 53744 yaharalakes.org The Yahara Lakes Association (YLA) is dedicated to representing waterfront property owners and advocating for the vitality of the Yahara chain of lakes so all citizens may enjoy them.

Black Earth Creek Watershed Association (608) 320-3243 4296 County Hwy P Cross Plains, WI 53528 BECWA.org

DIRECTORY Paddling on Lake Monona

Bait & Tackle

Boat Launch Sites - Kegonsa

D&S Bait, Tackle & Archery (608) 241-4225 1411 Northport Dr Madison, WI 53704 dsbait.com Dorn Outdoor Pro Shop LAKE PARTNER (608) 274-2511 1348 S Midvale Blvd Madison, WI 53711 dornhardware.com A complete fishing tackle outfitter. Rods, reels, lures for musky, walleye, bass, and panfish, and live bait! We service Minn Kota trolling motors and put line on your reel! Facebook: DornOutdoorProShop Harley's Liquor & Bait (608) 222-7941 3838 Atwood Ave Madison, WI 53714 harleysliquorandbait.com Highway 51 Liquor & Bait LAKE PARTNER (608) 838-1424 5714 Hwy 51 McFarland, WI 53558 51liquor.com Highway 51 Liquor and Bait is 100% locally owned and operated in the Village of McFarland, just off the shores of Lake Waubesa, providing beverages, bait, and tackle for your lake fun!

Monona Bait & Ice Cream Shop (608) 222-1944 4516 Winnequah Rd Monona, WI 53716 mononabaiticecream.yolasite.com

LAKE PARTNER

Amundson Landing & Park Quam Dr Stoughton, WI 53589 Fish Camp Launch 3383 County Rd McFarland, WI 53558 Lake Kegonsa State Park Boat Ramp 2405 Door Creek Rd Stoughton, WI 53589 Town of Pleasant Springs Boat Launch 2267 Williams Point Dr Stoughton, WI 53589 Boat Launch Sites - Mendota Governor Nelson State Park Boat Launch 5140 County Hwy M Waunakee, WI 53597 Governor's Island Boat Launch Governors Island Pkwy Madison, WI 53704 Lake Street Boat Launch 6000 Lake St Middleton, WI 53562 Marshall Park Boat Launch 2101 Allen Blvd Middleton, WI 53562 Mendota County Park Boat Launch 5133 County Hwy M Middleton, WI 53562

Tenney Park Boat Launch 1414 E Johnson St Madison, WI 53703 Veith Avenue Boat Launch 4106 Veith Ave Madison, WI 53704 Warner Park Boat Launch 2930 N Sherman Ave Madison, WI 53704 Willow Drive Boat Launch Willow Dr (Howard Temin Lakeshore Path) Madison, WI 53705 Boat Launch Sites - Monona Law Park 410 S Blair St Madison, WI 53703 Olbrich Park Boat Launch 3527 Atwood Ave Madison, WI 53714 Olin Park Boat Ramp 1156 Olin-Turville Ct Madison, WI 53715 Tonyawatha Park and Boat Launch 4600 Tonyawatha Tr Monona, WI 53716 Winnequah Trail Boat Launch 5898 Winnequah Tr Monona, WI 53716

Spring Harbor Boat Launch 5218 Lake Mendota Dr Madison, WI 53705

The Lake Partner program recognizes businesses and organizations that support Clean Lakes Alliance through donations made independent of events, sponsorships, or programs, directly benefiting our efforts to reduce phosphorus loading to our lakes.

Additionally, Lake Partners demonstrate their organizational commitment to clean lakes through one or all of the following avenues: making improvements on their properties, educating staff on watershed sustainability, and participating in volunteer opportunities.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 49

DIRECTORY Boat Launch Sites - Waubesa

Boat Launch Sites - Yahara River

Babcock County Park Boat Launch 4601 Burma Rd McFarland, WI 53558

Cherokee Marsh - South Boat Launch 5002 School Rd Madison, WI 53704

Goodland Park Boat Launch 2862 Waubesa Ave Madison, WI 53711

Lottes Park Boat Launch 400 W Broadway Monona, WI 53716

Lake Farm Park Boat Launch 4286 Libby Rd Madison, WI 53711

Boat Sales, Rental, Repair, Storage ARA Leisure Services (608) 244-2458 1831 E Washington Ave Madison, WI 53704 araofmadison.com

McConnell Street Boat Launch 4348-4398 McConnell St Madison, WI 53711

Barr's Resort (608) 838-9917 6002 Lake Edge Rd McFarland, WI 53558

Boat Launch Sites - Wingra Henry Vilas Park Boat Launch 1602 Vilas Park Dr Madison, WI 53715

Brightwork Boats (608) 849-9200 madisonboathouse.com

Wingra Park & Boat Livery 824 Knickerbocker St Madison, WI 53711

Brittingham Boats LAKE PARTNER (608) 250-2555 701 W Brittingham Pl Madison, WI 53715 brittinghamboats.com Downtown’s premier paddle destination.

Walk-in rentals of stand up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, and rowboats. Special events including group paddles and Full Moon Paddles make it a Madison must.

Capitol Boat Club LAKE PARTNER (608) 622-0205 5339 Lighthouse Bay Dr, Pier 5 Madison, WI 53704 capitolboatclub.com Capitol Boat Club is Madison's alternative to boat ownership.

D.L. Anderson Marine LAKE PARTNER Contractors (608) 249-3100 5440 Blue Bill Park Rd Madison, WI 53704 piers-lifts.com/home.aspx With 40 years of experience, we are the boatlift and dock professionals specializing in the sales/service of new and used boat lifts and piers. We are now offering Lifetime Piers. (lifetimepiers.com) Deano Dock & Lift, LLC (608) 850-4424 210 Knightsbridge Rd Waunakee, WI 53597 deanodock.com

SPECIALISTS in rainwater harvesting, rain exchange, pondless waterfalls & fountain scapes.

Rain Barrels Storm Water Runoff Member of the IBEW Containment & Control Licensed Nursery Grower • State Erosion & Sediment Inspector • Sediment & Erosion/ Control Solutions • Bio–Engineering for Shoreline & Hillsides • Shoreline Protection/ Low Energy to High Energy

Decks Docks & More (262) 593-2216 W1204 Concord Center Dr Sullivan, WI 53178 Don's Marine, LLC LAKE PARTNER (608) 592-4705 N1401 Hwy 113 Lodi, WI 53555 donsmarine.com Family owned and operated since 1936.

Dealer of Alumacraft and SmokerCraft Fishing Boats, Bennington Pontoon Boats, Skeeter Performance Fishing Boats, and Hobie Kayaks, as well as new and used boats and motors. Area's only Top 100 and Marine Industry Certified Dealer!

• • • • •

dixonshoreline.com 608.742.5657 N6780 Cty. Hwy U Portage, WI 53901 info@dixonshoreline.com

50 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Endres Manufacturing Company (608) 849-4143 802 S Century Ave Waunakee, WI 53597 endresmfg.com

DIRECTORY Gervasi Marine & Trailer Service (608) 271-4239 or (800) 240-8425 2295 S Syene Rd Madison, WI 53711 trailerrepairandpartsmadison.com

Newville Marine (608) 220-7918 541 Lake Drive Rd Edgerton, WI 53534 newvillemarine.com

JD Hellenbrand Piers LAKE PARTNER and Lifts (608) 513-0690 N1792 Ryan Rd Lodi, WI 53555 bluecraneboatworks.com jdhellenbrand.com We sell, install/remove, and adjust or repair docks, piers, and boat lifts in central Wisconsin. We are currently focusing on servicing the following Lakes: Monona, Kegonsa, Waubesa, and Wisconsin.

Outdoor UW (608) 262-1630 800 Langdon St Madison, WI 53706 union.wisc.edu/outdoor-uw

Mad City Marine/RV Sales (608) 846-9329 N827 Hwy 51 Arlington, WI 53911 madcitymarinervsales.com Manke Enterprises (608) 592-4022 N1558 Sunset Dr Lodi, WI 53555 manke.com Marine Tops Unlimited (608) 246-3979 219 N Fair Oaks Ave, Suite B Madison, WI 53714 marinetops.com Marshall Boats LAKE PARTNER (608) 228-8333 2101 Allen Blvd Madison, WI 53562 madisonboats.com From a quiet paddle to the entire family on a pontoon boat—this is your destination for summer memories. Access Lake Mendota from this west side location with kayaks, SUPs, canoes, and pontoon boats for rent and a lakeside café!

Mazanet Marina LAKE PARTNER (608) 249-9316 5320 Blue Bill Park Dr Madison, WI 53704 mazanetmarine.com Full service marina on Lake Mendota for 60 years. Services include gas on the pier, wet boat slips, dry dock spaces, food concessions, boat accessories, service mechanics, and winter storage.

Peters Exteriors and Services (608) 220-8654 530 S Academy St Stoughton, WI 53589 Pharo Marine LAKE PARTNER (608) 849-5950 5341 W River Rd Waunakee, WI 53597 pharomarine.com Platinum sales and service center carrying brands of Lund, Godfreya, and Mercury. Sales, service, storage, and accessories.

Quam's Marine & Motor LAKE PARTNER Sports (608) 873-3366 1896 Barber Dr Stoughton, WI 53589 quamsmotorsports.com Full-service dealership on Lake Kegonsa for over 50 years. Services include wet slips, winter storage, service, sales, parts, and accessories.

Redline Watersports (608) 838-0838 4805 Voges Rd Madison, WI 53718 redlinewatersports.com Rock River Marina (608) 884-9415 520 Richardson Springs Rd Edgerton, WI 53534 rockrivermarina.com Rutabaga Rentals - Olbrich Park (608) 513-1308 3527 Atwood Ave Madison, WI 53714 rutabaga.com

SkipperBud's LAKE PARTNER (608) 246-2628 5381 Westport Rd Madison, WI 53704 skipperbuds.com SkipperBud’s Boating Super Center offers boaters many options to fit any budget or lifestyle. New & used boats, service, storage & boat rentals. Visit our showroom anytime! Virtual showroom tours.

TAC's ALEment (608) 512-9442 2466 County Hwy AB McFarland, WI 53558 tacsalement.com The Harbor at Newville (608) 884-6007 807 Harbor Rd Milton, WI 53563 theharboratnewville.com The Undercover Shop (608) 868-4089 305 E Madison Ave Milton, WI 53563 Wickcraft (608) 244-9177 2317 Daniels St Madison, WI 53718 wickcraft.com Wingra Boats LAKE PARTNER (608) 233-5332 824 Knickerbocker St Madison, WI 53711 wingraboats.com Up-north beauty in downtown Madison.

Surrounded by nature, this quiet lake is a mecca for paddling and the perfect place for the whole family to SUP, kayak, canoe, row, or paddle boat. Fish, paddle, and play.

Boat Tours, Group Rental Badger Pontoon Rentals (608) 421-2355 badgerpontoon.com Betty Lou Cruises (608) 246-3138 Mariner's Inn on Lake Mendota and Machinery Row on Lake Monona bettyloucruises.com Capital Lake Pontoons (608) 571-4889 410 S Blair St Madison, WI 53703 capitallakepontoons.com Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 51

DIRECTORY

Lake Waubesa's shoreline, courtesy Robert Bertera

Jet Ski Madison (608) 259-6007 Madison, WI jetskimadison.com Madison School and LAKE PARTNER Community Recreation (MSCR) (608) 204-3000 3802 Regent St Madison, WI 53705 mscr.org Offers a variety of recreation programs for all ages including arts, camps, fitness, sports, swimming, afterschool, and more.

Check out paddling and pontoon boat drop-in rides, specialty trips, and group rentals.

Midnight Splash - Houseboat Charter (608) 628-0730 Madison, WI Pontoon Porch (608) 284-8727 1 John Nolen Dr Madison, WI 53703 pontoonporch.com Community & Convention Centers Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center (608) 261-4000 1 John Nolen Dr Madison, WI 53703 mononaterrace.com

The East Side Club LAKE PARTNER Tiki Bar & Grill (608) 222-9131 3735 Monona Dr Madison, WI 53714 escmadison.com Social Club, events facility, and lakeside Tiki Bar on Lake Monona with beautiful views of downtown Madison.

Community Education / Advocacy Clean Wisconsin (608) 251-7020 634 W Main St #300 Madison, WI 53703 cleanwisconsin.org Ripple-Effects Wisconsin ripple-effects.com River Alliance of Wisconsin (608) 257-2424 345 W Washington Ave, Suite 304 Madison, WI 53703 wisconsinrivers.org Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Network wiatri.net/cbm/ Fishing Guides A Big Fish Guide Service (414) 779-0479 wibigfish.com Blue Ribbon Outdoors (608) 698-3332 blueribbonoutdoors.com Finseekers Guide Service (847) 707-1827 finseekers.com

52 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Fishing Guide Service with Lee Tauchen (608) 444-2180 leetauchen.com Fishing Thrills Guide Service (608) 921-8980 fishingthrills.com Get the Net LLC (608) 220-3406 Klus Fishing & Hunting Guide Service (608) 469-1867 klusfishandhunt.com Madison Angling Guide Service (608) 210-9350 madisonangling.com Madison Fishing Charters (608) 575-8597 Madison, WI 53711 joeokada.com Madison Musky Guide Service (608) 848-3906 madisonmuskyguide.com Millenium Guide Service (608) 695-9703 Pike Pole Fishing Guide Service (608) 290-3929 pikepolefishing.com Spring Creek Specialties (608) 206-5951 springcreekspecialties.com Friends Groups Friends of Badfish Creek Watershed (920) 650-0966 rockrivercoalition.org/chapters/badfish

DIRECTORY Friends of Capital Springs Recreational Area friendsofcapitalsprings.org Friends of Cherokee LAKE PARTNER Marsh (608) 215-0426 PO Box 14536 Madison, WI 53708 cherokeemarsh.org We work to protect, preserve, and restore the beauty, value, and health of Cherokee Marsh, Dane County's largest wetland located at the head of the Yahara chain of lakes.

Friends of Edna Taylor Conservation Park facebook.com/friendsofetcp Friends of Hoyt Park PO Box 5542 Madison, WI 53705 hoytpark.org Friends of Lake Kegonsa LAKE PARTNER Society (FOLKS) PO Box 173 Stoughton, WI 53589 kegonsa.org FOLKS is a nonprofit organization established in 1988 to provide the manpower and financial resources to improve the ecology, water quality, fishing, and recreational use of Lake Kegonsa. Our more than 450 members are proud to be strong partners with Clean Lakes Alliance.

Friends of Lake View Hill Park (608) 249-9449 PO Box 3272 Madison, WI 53704 lakeviewhill.org Friends of Lake Wingra LAKE PARTNER PO Box 45071 Madison, WI 53744 lakewingra.org Friends of Lake Wingra promotes a healthy Lake Wingra through collaborations with those who live, work, and play in the watershed. You’ll find us doing outreach, research, and projects during every season!

LAKE PARTNER

Friends of Monona Bay friendsofmononabay.blogspot.com Friends of Olin-Turville LAKE PARTNER (F.O.O.T) (608) 239-4299 olin-turville.org Preserving & enhancing Olin and Turville Parks. Facebook: FriendsofOlinTurvillePark Friends of Pheasant LAKE PARTNER Branch Conservancy PO Box 628242 Middleton, WI 53562 pheasantbranch.org A nonprofit whose mission is to restore, preserve, and promote the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Watershed through education and collaborative restoration and management with the City of Middleton and Dane County.

Friends of Starkweather LAKE PARTNER Creek PO Box 8442 Madison, WI 53708 starkweatherfriends.org Friends of Starkweather Creek (est.

2002). Nonprofit citizen’s group dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of our creek and watershed through stewardship, education, advocacy and fun!

Friends of Stricker's Pond (608) 836-5898 Friends of the Kettle Ponds kettleponds.org Friends of the Lakeshore LAKE PARTNER Nature Preserve PO Box 5534 Madison, WI 53705 friendslakeshorepreserve.com The Friends inspire people to connect to, and care for, the UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Open to the public, this beautiful 300-acre natural area includes Picnic Point and the Lakeshore Path.

Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (608) 575-0325 PO Box 614 Spring Green, WI 53588 wisconsinriverfriends.org Friends of the UW Arboretum (608) 571-5362 1207 Seminole Hwy Madison, WI 53711 arboretum.wisc.edu/get-involved/friends Friends of the Yahara River Headwaters PO Box 139 DeForest, WI 53532 yaharariver.org Friends of the Yahara River Parkway (608) 241-1711 facebook.com/Friends-of-the-YaharaRiver-Parkway-284831311757 Friends of Wisconsin State Parks 101 S Webster St PO Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921 friendswiparks.blogspot.com Stewards of the Southwest Pathway (608) 255-4195 Gasoline Barr's Resort (608) 838-9917 6002 Lake Edge Rd McFarland, WI 53558 Four Lakes Yacht Club LAKE PARTNER (608) 222-1401 6312 Inland Way Monona, WI 53713 The Four Lakes Yacht Club is a boating club located on the Yahara River promoting boating safety for all boaters.

Our private clubhouse is available for our members along with unlimited use of the boat ramp and a discount per gallon savings on gasoline. Our gas pumps are open to the general public.

The Lake Partner program recognizes businesses and organizations that support Clean Lakes Alliance through donations made independent of events, sponsorships, or programs, directly benefiting our efforts to reduce phosphorus loading to our lakes.

Additionally, Lake Partners demonstrate their organizational commitment to clean lakes through one or all of the following avenues: making improvements on their properties, educating staff on watershed sustainability, and participating in volunteer opportunities.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 53

DIRECTORY Mazanet Marina LAKE PARTNER (608) 249-9316 5320 Blue Bill Park Dr Madison, WI 53704 mazanetmarine.com Full service marina on Lake Mendota for 60 years. Services include gas on the pier, wet boat slips, dry dock spaces, food concessions, boat accessories, service mechanics, and winter storage.

SkipperBud's LAKE PARTNER (608) 246-2628 5381 Westport Rd Madison, WI 53704 skipperbuds.com SkipperBud’s Boating Super Center offers boaters many options to fit any budget or lifestyle. New & used boats, service, storage & boat rentals. Visit our showroom anytime! Virtual showroom tours.

TAC's ALEment (608) 512-9442 2466 County Hwy AB McFarland, WI 53558 tacsalement.com Lake Sports & Recreation Retail Cabela's (608) 478-4100 1350 Cabela Dr Sun Prairie, WI 53590 cabelas.com Dick's Sporting Goods (608) 829-1313 237 West Towne Mall Madison, WI 53719 dickssportinggoods.com Fontana Sports LAKE PARTNER 216 N Henry St Madison, WI 53703 fontanasports.com Established on family values, a deep respect for nature and a passion for outdoor pursuits, Fontana Sports has been providing Wisconsin with the best in outdoor apparel & equipment since 1949.

Isthmus Sailboards 5495 Catfish Ct Westport, WI 53597 isthmussailboards.com Machinery Row (608) 442-5974 601 Williamson St Madison, WI 53704 machineryrowbicycles.com

54 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Madison Log Rolling (608) 305-4564 madisonlogrolling.com REI (608) 833-6680 7483 W Towne Way Madison, WI 53719 rei.com Rich's Boardsports (608) 244-6838 411 N Fair Oaks Ave Madison, WI 53714 richsboardsports.com Rutabaga Paddlesports (608) 223-9300 220 W Broadway Madison, WI 53716 rutabaga.com West Marine (608) 221-8708 2455 W Broadway Madison, WI 53713 westmarine.com Lodging Crown Point Resort LAKE PARTNER (608) 873-7833 2030 Barber Dr Stoughton, WI 53589 crownpointresort.com Rustic modern 1-3 BR cedar cottages on Lake Kegonsa. Located 15 minutes from Madison, near Stoughton. Kitchens, decks, grills, wifi, cable TV, ac, fireplaces (2). Paddleboards, kayaks, and pontoon rentals for our guests. Piers to fish or tie up your boat. 5 star Tripadvisor and VRBO ratings, 35 yrs in business.

Governor's Mansion Inn & Café (608) 571-2866 130 E Gilman St Madison, WI 53703 governorsmansioninn.com Hilton Madison Monona Terrace (608) 255-5100 9 E Wilson St Madison, WI 53703 hilton.com/en/hotels/msnmhhf-hiltonmadison-monona-terrace Mendota Lake House Inn (608) 620-3760 704 E Gorham St Madison, WI 53703 mendotalakehouse.com

The Edgewater LAKE PARTNER (608) 535-8200 1001 Wisconsin Pl Madison, WI 53703 theedgewater.com Located in the heart of downtown on beautiful Lake Mendota! Award-winning resort with 202 guest rooms, public pier, and 40 boat slips, Grand Plaza with free community programming, several dining outlets, full-service spa, and winter ice skating.

The Livingston Inn (608) 238-6317 752 E Gorham St Madison, WI 53703 livingstoninnmadison.com Mooring/Slips Brittingham Boats LAKE PARTNER (608) 250-2555 701 W Brittingham Pl Madison, WI 53715 brittinghamboats.com Downtown’s premier paddle destination.

Walk-in rentals of SUP's, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, and rowboats. Special events including group paddles and Full Moon Paddles make it a Madison must.

Goodspeed Family Pier LAKE PARTNER 650 N Lake St Madison, WI 53706 uwalumni.com/goodspeed-family-pier Hoofer Sailing Club (608) 262-1630 800 Langdon St Madison, WI 53706 hoofersailing.org Lake Monona Sailing Club LAKE PARTNER lakemononasailing.com We manage two piers for sailboats on Lake Monona: one at Olin Park in Madison, and one at Stonebridge Park in Monona. Please see the website for details, pricing, and membership information.

Maple Bluff Marina (608) 244-3048 1321 Farwell Dr Madison, WI 53704 villageofmaplebluff.com/ourneighborhood/marina

DIRECTORY Marshall Park 2101 Allen Blvd Madison, WI 53562 Mazanet Marina LAKE PARTNER (608) 249-9316 5320 Blue Bill Park Dr Madison, WI 53704 mazanetmarine.com Full service marina on Lake Mendota for 60 years. Services include gas on the pier, wet boat slips, dry dock spaces, food concessions, boat accessories, service mechanics, and winter storage.

McKenna Park Boathouse (608) 267-2680 3400 Lake Mendota Dr Madison, WI 53705 shorewood-hills.org/marina Monona Docks (608) 251-8777 400 Interlake Dr Monona, WI 53716 Quam's Marine & Motor LAKE PARTNER Sports (608) 873-3366 1896 Barber Dr Stoughton, WI 53589 quamsmotorsports.com Full-service dealership on Lake Kegonsa for over 50 years. Services include wet slips, winter storage, service, sales, parts, and accessories.

Shorewood Hills Marina (608) 267-2680 3700 Lake Mendota Dr Madison, WI 53705 shorewood-hills.org/marina SkipperBud's LAKE PARTNER (608) 246-2628 5381 Westport Rd Madison, WI 53704 skipperbuds.com SkipperBud’s Boating Super Center offers boaters many options to fit any budget or lifestyle. New & used boats, service, storage & boat rentals. Visit our showroom anytime! Virtual showroom tours.

TAC's ALEment (608) 512-9442 2466 County Hwy AB McFarland, WI 53558 tacsalement.com

Westport Marine (608) 850-4774 5339 Lighthouse Bay Dr Madison, WI 53704 westportmarinemadison.com

Lakeside St. Coffee House (608) 441-7599 402 W Lakeside St Madison, WI 53715 lakesidestcoffeehouse.com

Wingra Boats LAKE PARTNER (608) 233-5332 824 Knickerbocker St Madison, WI 53711 wingraboats.com Up-north beauty in downtown Madison.

Surrounded by nature, this quiet lake is a mecca for paddling and the perfect place for the whole family to SUP, kayak, canoe, row, or paddle boat. Fish, paddle, and play.

Madison Elks Lodge (608) 255-1644 711 Jenifer St Madison, WI 53703 madisonelkslodge.org

Restaurants Betty Lou Cruises (608) 246-3138 Mariner's Inn on Lake Mendota and Machinery Row on Lake Monona bettyloucruises.com Breakwater (608) 416-5388 6308 Inland Way Monona, WI 53713 facebook.com/BreakwaterMonona Buck & Honey's LAKE PARTNER (608) 478-2618 800 W Broadway, Suite 300 Monona, WI 53713 buckandhoneys.com/monona Every effort is made at Buck & Honey’s to make you feel as though you’ve dropped by an old friend’s house. A friend that has an undeniable passion for serving some of the best & freshest food out of a scratch kitchen.

Christy's Landing (608) 222-5391 2952 Waubesa Ave Madison, WI 53711 christyslanding.com Green Lantern (608) 838-4730 4412 Siggelkow Rd McFarland, WI 53558 thegreenlanternrestaurant.com

Monona Bait & Ice Cream Shop (608) 222-1944 4516 Winnequah Rd Monona, WI 53716 mononabaiticecream.yolasite.com Nau-Ti-Gal (608) 246-3130 5360 Westport Rd Madison, WI 53704 nautigal.com Paisan's (608) 257-3832 131 W Wilson St Madison, WI 53703 paisansrestaurant.com Sardine (608) 441-1600 617 Williamson St Madison, WI 53703 sardinemadison.com Springers of Lake LAKE PARTNER Kegonsa (608) 205-9300 3097 Sunnyside St Stoughton, WI 53589 springersonthelake.com Springers is a true WI supper club located on the shores of Lake Kegonsa, with nightly specials and of course, Friday fish fry. Visit our website for hours & menu. We offer piers for boat docking & outdoor lakeside seating.

TAC's ALEment (608) 512-9442 2466 County Hwy AB McFarland, WI 53558 tacsalement.com The Barge Restaurant (608) 669-8422

Lake Vista Cafe (608) 261-4000 1 John Nolen Dr Madison, WI 53703 mononaterrace.com/experience-mononaterrace/shop-and-dine

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 55

DIRECTORY The Biergarten at LAKE PARTNER Olbrich Park (608) 237-3548 3527 Atwood Ave Madison, WI 53714 olbrichbiergarten.com Enjoy the view of Lake Monona and the downtown skyline with friends and family all around and a cold drink in your hand.

Bring your own picnic or enjoy our local sausage, soft pretzels, and more.

The Boathouse LAKE PARTNER The Edgewater (608) 535-8232 1001 Wisconsin Pl Madison, WI 53703 boathousemadison.com A Madison favorite offering casual lakeside dining like burgers, brats, the best cheese curds in town, craft beer, and ice cold margaritas. Accessible by land or by water.

The East Side Club LAKE PARTNER Tiki Bar & Grill (608) 222-9131 3735 Monona Dr Madison, WI 53714 escmadison.com Social Club, events facility, and lakeside Tiki Bar on Lake Monona with beautiful views of downtown Madison.

The Mariner’s Inn (608) 246-3120 5339 Lighthouse Bay Dr Madison, WI 53704 marinersmadison.com The Statehouse LAKE PARTNER The Edgewater (608) 535-8320 1001 Wisconsin Pl Madison, WI 53703 statehousemadison.com Madison’s signature restaurant overlooking Lake Mendota offers a little something for everyone—tavern fare, steaks, pasta, and seasonal specials.

Features thoughtfully sourced ingredients and creative twists on the classics—and— sunset seating offering incredible views and a casual atmosphere both indoors and out on the lakeside terrace.

The Tasting Room (608) 223-1641 800 W Broadway, Suite 100 Monona, WI 53713 tastingroomofmonona.com

56 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

Waypoint Public House (608) 222-0224 320 W Broadway Monona, WI 53716 waypointonthewater.com Wisconsin Memorial Union LAKE PARTNER (608) 265-3000 800 Langdon St Madison, WI 53706 union.wisc.edu/visit/memorial-union Known as the ‘living room’ of the UW-Madison campus, the Wisconsin Union connects students, faculty/staff, members, and visitors through shared cultural, social, and recreational events and experiences at Memorial Union and Union South.

Shoreline Landscaping & Ecological Restoration Adaptive Restoration, LLC (608) 554-0411 8864 Offerdahl Rd Mount Horeb, WI 53572 adaptiverestoration.com Dixon Shoreline / LAKE PARTNER Landscaping (608) 742-5657 or (608) 432-0078 N6780 County Hwy U Portage, WI 53901 dixonshoreline.com thelakesaver.com Professionally certified in rainwater harvesting, rain exchange, pondless waterfalls, and fountain scapes. We specialize in stormwater runoff issues with the revolutionary, easy to install Lake Saver Bag. EC3 Environmental Consulting Group, Inc. (608) 497-0955 PO Box 44281 Madison, WI 53744 ec3grp.com Ecological Restoration Services, LLC (608) 335-7250 5110 Juneau Rd Madison, WI 53705 Good Oak, LLC (608) 250-0513 4606 Pflaum Rd, Suite A Madison, WI 53718 goodoak.com

Meister's K&M Tree and LAKE PARTNER Landscaping Inc. (608) 592-5244 W 11924 County Rd V Lodi, WI 53555 meisterskandm.com Meister’s K&M Tree and Landscaping specializes in shoreline restoration, landscaping, and tree services. Free estimates insured.

Email: info@meisterskandm.com Olson Toon Landscaping, Inc. (608) 827-9401 3570 Pioneer Rd Verona, WI 53593 olsontoon.com SCS Engineers (608) 224-2830 2830 Dairy Dr Madison, WI 53718 scsengineers.com Strand Associates, Inc. LAKE PARTNER (608) 251-4843 910 W Wingra Dr Madison, WI 53715 strand.com As a local, full-service engineering firm celebrating our 75th anniversary, Strand Associates, Inc. is dedicated to helping our clients succeed through excellence in engineering.

Sweeney's Aquatic LAKE PARTNER Weed Removal (262) 501-0431 850 N Golden Lake Rd Oconomowoc, WI 53066 aquaticweedremovers.com Sweeney's Aquatic Weed Removal is your full-service lakefront care company. We specialize in lakeweed removal, shoreline restoration, leaf & debris removal, and algae & muck control. Contact us today!

Weed Man Lawn Care LAKE PARTNER (608) 824-0043 2211 Eagle Dr Middleton, WI 53562 madison.weedmanusa.com Weed Man Lawn Care has been a strong advocate of clean water and reducing sediment runoff since the inception of the company. In creating high quality turf, we are reducing urban sediment runoff while creating beneficial filtering to our lakes and the Yahara Watershed.

DIRECTORY Sporting Outlets & Clubs 4 Lakes Bassmasters (608) 695-7595 Badger Flyfishers (608) 233-7480 badgerflyfishers.org Badger State Boating Society bsbs.org Camp Randall Rowing LAKE PARTNER Club (571) 455-3177 617 N Shore Drive Madison, WI 53703 camprandallrc.org Nonprofit offering junior competitive, senior, development camp and learn to row programs. Primary purpose is to develop national/international competitive rowing and develop amateur athletes.

Fishing Has No Boundaries - Madison Chapter (608) 417-3474 fhnbmadison.com Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (608) 347-3513 iceboat.org Four Lakes Yacht Club LAKE PARTNER (608) 222-1401 6312 Inland Way Monona, WI 53713 The Four Lakes Yacht Club is a boating club located on the Yahara River promoting boating safety for all boaters.

Our private clubhouse is available for our members along with unlimited use of the boat ramp and a discount per gallon savings on gasoline. Our gas pumps are open to the general public.

Hoofer Sailing Club (608) 262-1630 800 Langdon St Madison, WI 53706 hoofersailing.org Lake Kegonsa Sailing Club PO Box 75 Stoughton, WI 53589 lksc.org

LAKE PARTNER

Lake Monona Sailing Club LAKE PARTNER lakemononasailing.com The Lake Monona Sailing Club is a volunteer based organization that welcomes sailors of every skill level who want to enjoy Lake Monona. LMSC has been sponsoring sailboat races since 1969 and has fleets of C-scows, Flying Scots, Multihulls, and One Designs. Our club maintains two piers with slip rentals available at Stonebridge Park in Monona and Olin Park in Madison.

Mad City Paddlers (608) 833-1734 madcitypaddlers.org

Muskies, Inc. - Capital City Chapter (608) 577-3184 PO Box 8862 Madison, WI 53708 capitalcitymuskiesinc.org Stoughton Country Club 3187 Aalseth Ln Stoughton, WI 53589 stoughtoncountryclub.com

Mad-City Ski Team 6516 Monona Dr, #193 Madison, WI 53716 madcityskiteam.com Madison Area Antique & Classic Boat Society Glacier Lakes Chapter glacbs.org

Mendota Yacht Club LAKE PARTNER PO Box 2062 Madison, WI 53701 mendotayc.org Founded in 1903, our mission is to encourage the sport of sailing among young and old.

LAKE PARTNER

Madison Bass Club madisonbassclub.org Madison Fishing Expo (262) 305-1907 wifishingexpo.com Madison Sail and Power Squadron madisonsquadron.org Madison Sailing Center madisonsailingcenter.com Madison Youth Sailing Foundation madisonyouthsailing.com Mendota Rowing Club LAKE PARTNER (608) 257-2739 PO Box 646 Madison, WI 53701 mendotarowingclub.com Mendota Rowing Club welcomes people of all ages and levels of experience who wish to become involved in the sport of rowing. We offer Learn to Row classes May through August.

Trout Unlimited - Southern Wisconsin Chapter (262) 470-1775 swtu.org Waubesa Sailing Club 2867 Bible Camp Rd McFarland, WI 53558

LAKE PARTNER

Wisconsin Bass Federation wisconsinbass.com Wisconsin Bowfishing Association wibfa.com Wisconsin Fishing Team (612) 747-0933 wisconsinfishingteam.com Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance, Ltd. PO Box 45555 Madison, WI 53744 wisconsinsmallmouth.com Yahara Fishing Club (608) 212-2506 yaharafishingclub.org

The Lake Partner program recognizes businesses and organizations that support Clean Lakes Alliance through donations made independent of events, sponsorships, or programs, directly benefiting our efforts to reduce phosphorus loading to our lakes.

Additionally, Lake Partners demonstrate their organizational commitment to clean lakes through one or all of the following avenues: making improvements on their properties, educating staff on watershed sustainability, and participating in volunteer opportunities.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 57

Aerial view of Madison and the surrounding lakes Photo courtesy Robert Bertera

THE BOUNTY OF OPEN SPACES

By JOHN ROACH As always, tough times teach us lessons.

This is certainly true of the COVID pandemic. One of the lessons we learned was how the bounty of the natural world served as balm and refuge from a global health calamity.

During COVID, sales of recreational vehicles surged. Remote work meant that millions abandoned cities and sought out quieter places to engage in endless Zooms. Some have chosen never to return to their city homes.

Across the country and world, participation in safe outdoor activities surged. We walked. We biked. Golf courses saw more rounds played than ever in history, including during the reign of Tiger.

There are reasons the natural world offers us solace; the kind of peace Madison and its lakes possess in abundance. First, nature is timeless. We were able to take an antidote to the aching currency of a fearful pandemic with a dose of the enduring constancy of nature.

To gaze on our lakes is to understand that the waves continue to lap against our shores despite world wars, pandemics, and political strife.

58 Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021

The waters of our lakes are there to remind us that foolish human drama will eventually pass, but the lapping of the waves will not, for they operate on geologic time, not the digits displayed on our Apple watch.

There are other more practical aspects of our lakes and parks as well.

First, they are convenient. Dane County has miles upon miles of shoreline near most every neighborhood in the city.

There is bounty in our lakes, beaches, and parks. They act as an observation deck from which we can behold all that our lakes gift to us, from birds, full moons, sunrises, coming thunderstorms, lightning bolts, sailboats, and that lucky angler who just got a bite.

Our beaches and parks are also free to all. You can visit them at any time, as our family would when I was young so long ago. One day it would be Vilas Beach on Lake Wingra. Another time it might be an outing to The Willows on Lake Mendota, or Tenney Park with its exotic locks and sandstone beach steps that lead down to the water.

By being so abundant and available our lakes, beaches, and parks are communal.

By visiting and sharing their beauty we bond ourselves as community.

And finally, our lakes, parks, beaches, and shorelines are just flat out beautiful. They make Madison what it is.

Ask anyone who visits our town and they will speak of our lakes. Few small cities, if any, have as many lakes and as much lakeshore as we have in Dane County.

For as long as humans have been here, our lakes and shorelines have been gracious hosts to all of us. And our only obligation is to be good guests. To treat our lakes as they deserve to be treated.

It is such an incredibly small price to pay for the wonders they have provided us all.

Born and raised in Madison, John Roach started in broadcast at ABC and CBS stations in Chicago where he wrote and produced Emmy award-winning shows.

He also co-wrote the screenplay for the David Lynch film "The Straight Story". He is the founder of Roach Projects and writes a monthly column in Madison Magazine.

Greater Madison Lake Guide | Summer 2021 59

Clean Lakes Alliance 150 E Gilman St, Suite 2600 Madison, WI 53703-1441

by

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Madison, WI Permit No. 1424

BOAT

by

LAND

Join us in the heart of downtown Madison on The Edgewater Grand Plaza and Pier, a waterfront destination offering one of the only public access points on beautiful Lake Mendota.

Cruise up and enjoy a casual lakeside menu and sunset dining at The Boathouse. Or, pop up to The Statehouse Terrace for the best view in town. At Madison’s Place, you’ll find 40 public boat slips, pop-up pier parties, live music, customized boating excursions, boat rentals and complimentary boat ride nights.

MADISON’S PLACE

The Edgewater 1001 Wisconsin Place Madison, WI I 608.535.8200 I theedgewater.com