2015 State of the Lakes

2015 STATE OF THE LAKES & CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT

2015 Partners

Community Board

SUSTAINING FOUNDERS

above $50,000

SUSTAINING PARTNERS

starting at $20,000

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

starting at $10,000

STATE OF THE LAKES SPONSORS

Lauren Azar Azar Law LLC Timothy Baker Friends of Cherokee Marsh Roger Bannerman USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center Stefanie Brouwer Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Roy Carter Yahara Lakes Association Dea Larsen Converse Friends of Starkweather Creek Sharon Corrigan Dane County Board of Supervisors Katie Crawley City of Madison Mayor, Designee Mary Elvekrog Badgerland Financial Leslie Even American Family Insurance Joseph Ferreri Lands’ End Peter Foy Friends of Lake Kegonsa Matthew Frank Murphy Desmond S.C. Thomas Groth CUNA Mutual Group Bob Karls Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Fred Klancnik UW-Madison Woody Kneppreth Lake Waubesa Conservation Assoc.

Tyler Leeper Wingra Boats & Brittingham Boats Dave Merritt Dane County Executive, Designee Bob Miller City of Monona D. Michael Mucha Madison Metropolitan Sewerage Dist.

Michael Nowicki Mad-City Ski Team Rebecca Power Dane Co. Lakes & Watershed Commn.

Paul Robbins UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Michael Rupiper Capital Area Regional Planning Commn.

Eric Schmidt CG Schmidt, Inc. Greg Searle Wisconsin DNR Scott Smith Alliant Energy Corporation Amy Supple The Edgewater Lyle Updike Dane County Towns Association Robert Weber First Weber, Inc. Jim Welsh Natural Heritage Land Trust Executive Board members (see right) also serve on the Community Board

1

Stacey Neu, Chair Spectrum Brands Brian Potts, V. Chair Foley & Lardner LLP Jim West, Treasurer Johnson Bank Marilee Gorman, Secretary First Weber, Inc. Lloyd Eagan Wisconsin DNR, Ret. Jeff Endres Endres Berryridge Farms LLC Mike Gerner Gerner Consulting LLC John Kothe Kothe Real Estate Partners Randy Peterson LRP Consultants James Tye, Exec. Director Clean Lakes Alliance

MESSAGE FROM THE ALLIANCE

Friends of Clean Lakes Board Marilee Gorman, Chair First Weber, Inc. Trey Sprinkman, V. Chair Sprinkman Real Estate Rich Lepping, Secretary Border Patrol of WI, Inc. TJ Blitz Cresa Madison Cory A. Buye Buye Law Office Jennifer Kuehn Community Advocate Andy Kurth Weed Man Lawn Care Glenn Reinl Shared Medical Life, Ret. Jon Standridge WI State Lab of Hygiene, Ret. Mardi Stroud First Weber, Inc. Russ Tieman Kelly Financial, Inc

“

As part of the ongoing efforts to clean up our Yahara lakes, known as Yahara CLEAN, scientists studied the impact that precipitation has on the lakes. Less rain and snow reduces the amount of algae-fueling phosphorus that runs into our lakes, which translates to more days when the water is clear and our beaches are open.

It goes without saying that we can’t rely on the weather to save our lakes. The Yahara CLEAN Strategic Action Plan, published in 2012, detailed a path towards a real fix – 14 cost-effective actions and a 46,200-pound phosphorus reduction by 2025. With concerted efforts in our cities and on our farms, we have reached 18% of that goal in 2015! In this report we detail our need for an accelerated push towards this goal, which means doing everything we have done in the past, plus adding many more projects, in order to achieve our target.

While we’re making progress on the ground, our community must face very real “headwind” issues. Climate change means more frequent and more intense rainstorms that wash more phosphorus into our lakes. Invasive species like the spiny water flea throw lake ecosystems for a loop. Increasing urbanization and intensified agriculture mean more demand on less available land, often at a cost to our lakes.

The good news is, with accelerated efforts, we can combat these headwinds and we can improve water quality over time. In this State of the Lakes annual report, you will read how your support and actions have made a difference already. Working together, we can make the necessary changes that will lead to clean and healthy lakes. We thank you for all you have done and look forward to continuing to work with city, county, business, and community leaders towards our goal of healthy lakes.

In partnership, James Tye Executive Director

Stacey Neu Mike Gerner Chair, Exec. Board of Directors Chair, Community Board

“

Executive Board

TABLE OF CONTENTS

People 01-06

Science 07-26

Action 27-42

Engagement 43-62

Meet Clean Lakes Alliance and our board of community leaders

Explore lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa and Kegonsa

Learn about projects and progress in the watershed

See the impact of healthy lakes, healthy community

2

Message from the County Executive and Mayor of Madison

Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive From putting the finishing touches on a new system to convert countless gallons of waste and manure into clean water to investing in proven technologies, Dane County has been and will continue to be a leader in our efforts to clean up our lakes.

The challenges our lakes face today accumulated over decades and there is no cheap, simple, short term fix. Like all of the important work we do, sustained partnerships and a shared will to implement effective solutions will incrementally bring improvement and progress.

That progress is worth noting. Over the past five years, Dane County-led efforts -- digesters, our storm water grants, and farm by farm conservation practices -- have prevented over 12,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering our local

waters. In more tangible terms, one pound of phosphorus is enough to grow 500 pounds of mucky green algae.

While miles of buffer strips are being planted separating fields from waterways and other important work happens on a regular basis with our partners in agriculture, innovation offers us incredible opportunity. We are beginning work on a nutrient concentration system, which will turn a brown watery by-product of the manure digestion process into clear potable water and remove 100% of the phosphorus.

Our incredibly popular stormwater outflow replacement program replaces decades-old sewer pipes that direct runoff from rains right into our lakes. The county’s Urban Water Quality Grant program has partnered with dozens of local municipalities on these projects. At the end of 2016, with financial assistance from the county, local municipalities will be stopping the flow of over 607,000 pounds of sediment, equivalent to 30 dump truck-loads

and over 2,700 pounds of phosphorus, from getting into our lakes each year. We will continue to invest in this proven tactic.

While it’s imperative we continue to invest in long term solutions to address the root causes of what challenges our lakes, short-term strategic improvements ensure families can better enjoy these waters while our hard work progresses. That is why we are constructing “Clean Beach Corridors” at two Dane County beaches, one at Lake Mendota County Park, the other at Goodland County Park.

The concept behind these corridors is quite simple; it sets up a protected, clean pool of water within a lake.

We must continue our investment, our work and our partnerships to clean our lakes. They are an imperative part of what makes Dane County such a wonderful place to live and visit.

Paul Soglin, Mayor of Madison The year 1973 is notable for a couple of firsts. The same year that I was first elected Mayor, we adopted the City’s original salt reduction resolution.

Another environmental milestone was achieved ten years later, in 1983, when the City passed one of the region’s first storm water ordinances.

Our city’s commitment to stormwater quality and the belief of its significant importance to our residents has held steady for the last 43 years. Over the years, we have adopted a variety of state-of-the-art programs for water quality - retention ponds, rain gardens and porous pavement.

3

On average, the city annually spends approximately $3.3 million on water quality projects. This does not include our commitment to work with the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and other partners on the adaptive management process, Yahara WINs. Capital projects that hold exciting promise for significant improvement in urban water quality discharging to the lakes include construction of a sediment capture system on Willow Creek and construction of a chemical stormwater treatment system for the East Branch of Starkweather Creek. Meanwhile we receive and share information with the public in new and exciting ways such as the lakeforecast.org website where we partner with Clean Lakes Alliance, citizen monitors, UW-Madison

Center for Limnology, the Space Science Engineering Center, Public Health Madison Dane County, and MIOsoft to provide real time data on the condition of our beaches.

Just as the systems have evolved over the years, so have our partners. None of these projects would be possible without cooperative relationships with both the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Dane County. These and similar projects, combined with the work on Yahara WINs, offer the possibility of realizing improvements in the quality of our lakes. However, it will take time and continued efforts. We all look forward to the challenge.

Message from Municipalities

Village President Judd Blau, Village of DeForest

A WATERSHED EFFORT Clean Lakes Alliance is privileged to support local county and municipal governments as they work towards cleaner lakes and streams. For highlights of projects completed in 2015, please see pages 33-38.

The 2015 leaf management pilot project with Clean Lakes Alliance heightened our community awareness on the water quality impact of leaves in storm drains. When communities establish a connection behind the “why” we ask people to participate in any program, we all benefit.

Mayor Kurt Sonnentag, City of Middleton Mayor Rick Arnold, Fitchburg Fitchburg is at the headwaters of seven different creek systems. While we don't have any Yahara lakes within our boundaries, we've been learning and teaching our residents that our stormwater runoff has a direct and lasting impact on the Yahara lakes. We recognize that the chain of lakes is one of our region's most valuable natural assets, and that we have a responsibility to keep our water clean, for ourselves and our downstream neighbors.

To uphold this responsibility, Fitchburg has adopted some of the highest water quality performance standards in the state for new development and redevelopment.

We have been working to identify and implement new stormwater practices, while refreshing and maintaining current practices with the intent of cleaning our water even more.

We've been a strong proponent of the Yahara WINs Adaptive Management program with Clean Lakes Alliance and over thirty other partners over the past several years, which has shown that groups from different backgrounds and viewpoints can work collaboratively on the common goal of achieving 'clean water' for our region.

Middleton is proud to affiliate with Clean Lakes Alliance because clean water is critical to our area for recreational and environmental reasons. Over the past 16 years, the City of Middleton has made a major financial commitment of about $10 million to cleanse the water that passes through Middleton from agricultural areas as well as from our own stormwater runoff. I’m pleased to say that those commitments have paid off with a 45% decrease in sedimentation and 48% decrease in phosphorus, despite increases in precipitation. As the Good Neighbor City, we are dedicated to being Good Neighbors to our lakes.

Mayor Bob Miller, City of Monona Although Monona is confined to less than 3.5 square miles of total land size, we are blessed with more than four miles of waterfront on Lake Monona and the Yahara River. This waterfront represents one of the crown jewels of our community. We work closely with Clean Lakes Alliance on water-related projects from the annual Loop the Lake bike ride to promoting our brand new, stateof-the-art Lottes Park boat ramp. Clean Lakes Alliance has been very responsive in supporting our aggressive stormwater treatment programs, where we replaced a number of old and decaying stormwater outlets with baffle systems to remove sediment and pollutants.

Looking south towards Lake Mendota.

Photo by UW-Madison Water Sustainability and Climate Project.

4

Who we are People & Objectives

AN ALLIANCE OF PARTNERS Clean Lakes Alliance is a partnership of diverse stakeholders who are building on and expanding upon decades of ongoing efforts to preserve and restore our waters. We work closely with state, county and local government agencies, waterway user groups, businesses, farmers, and nonprofits, because our partners ARE the Alliance.

CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE: SMALL STAFF, BIG TEAM 8 staff 801 volunteers 120 board and committee members 713 Friends of Clean Lakes 243 business donors 6,800 event & program participants

James Tye Executive Director

Becky Mitchell Office Administrator

Theresa Vander Woude Communication & Outreach Coordinator

Luke Huston Marketing & Graphic Design Specialist

Paul Dearlove Watershed Program Manager

Katie Nicholas Watershed Coordinator

Justin Chenevert Water Resources Specialist

Adam Sodersten Director of Marketing & Development

Consultants: Joanna Burish, Chris Caple, Michelle Dunn, Dea Larsen Converse, Randy Peterson, Kim Straka

5

WHAT WE DO:

BUILD ALLIANCES

EDUCATE

CREATE AWARENESS

FOCUS PRIORITIES

SECURE FUNDING

TAKE ACTION

REPORT PROGRESS

A COMMON GOAL: HEALTHY LAKES

Photo by UW-Madison Water Sustainability and Climate Project.

6

THE SCIENCE OF OUR LAKES

Five iconic lakes, 370,000 people, 170,000 acres of farmland, one state capitol, and a research university that happens to be the birthplace of freshwater science: welcome to our watershed.

AUTHOR: DEA LARSEN CONVERSE

Frosty sunrise on Lake Monona. Photo by David Giroux.

INTRODUCTION TO THE YAHARA WATERSHED

T

he Yahara Watershed begins in the headwaters of the Yahara River in Columbia County and flows south through Dane County for 62 miles, connecting lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa, before emptying into the Rock River in Rock County. The Yahara Watershed is home to a fast-growing population and some of the most productive farmland in the United States. This intersection of productive farms and growing urban areas poses a unique challenge as residents and government work together to protect and improve water quality in the chain of lakes.

7

CHALLENGES

Before settlement the region contained a mix of wetlands, prairie, oak savannah, and forest. Early residents commented on white sandy lake bottoms that they could see through the clear, clean lake waters. Fast-forward to today and the lakes are no longer clear. There are days in the summer when algal blooms cloud the water and close beaches.

Why does this happen? Today the rain no longer flows just through grasses and trees into the lakes and streams. Instead it falls on farms and streets, parking lots and construction sites, washing whatever is there into our lakes and streams. The soil and sediment that washes in muddies the water and contains nutrients that fuel algae growth.

Traditionally, urban areas were designed to drain rainwater efficiently into storm sewers, which prevents flooding. In the Madison area, however, most of our storm sewers drain directly to nearby lakes or streams. Today, municipalities are putting in structures that slow down and treat stormwater, rebuilding waterway banks, cleaning streets, and testing innovative ways to protect urban water quality.

In rural areas, rainwater that flows over cropland, especially during intense rain events, also needs to be slowed down. Bare earth is especially vulnerable to erosion. Farmers can address the potential erosion of valuable topsoil by planting cover crops, using low-tillage practices, and creating buffer strips along field edges and waterways.

Science State of the Lakes in 2015

THE YAHARA WATERSHED Our lake ecosystems are also facing new challenges.

Non-native animals and plants, like the spiny water flea, Eurasian water milfoil, and carp have been introduced to the Yahara lakes by design and by accident. Invasive species have had a big impact on water quality and clarity.

Clean Lakes Alliance and our many community partners are working to promote existing solutions and to find new ways to manage runoff. This work will mean more days when our lakes are clear and our beaches are open. Clean Lakes Alliance is engaging the community in the fight for healthy lakes.

CASCADING IMPACT

The Yahara system of lakes is one of the most studied in the world. Through that research, scientists have determined that phosphorus pollution that flows into Lake Mendota is a major source of pollution to the lower lakes. This is because Lake Mendota sits at the top of the chain of lakes and receives runoff from the biggest area of land. Improvements to the water quality of the lower lakes in the chain depend on land use management practices in the Mendota watershed. In addition, actions by businesses and residents who live and work around each lake will also be crucial for the long-term health of the Yahara lakes.

DIFFERENT LAKES, DIFFERENT RESPONSES

Lakes Mendota and Monona are larger, deeper lakes; and Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa are shallower lakes. In this report, we use criteria adapted from the Department of Natural Resources to characterize the water quality and clarity levels in both the deeper and shallower lakes in the system (see table below).

Lake Wingra, the smallest Yahara lake, is not part of the chain that connects the other Yahara lakes.

Water flows from Lake Wingra into Lake Monona via Wingra Creek. The lake is located entirely within the City of Madison, has the most natural shoreline of all the Yahara lakes, and is fed by many springs. Wingra is a popular spot for boating and swimming and is mostly surrounded by the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and public parks.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Criteria Phosphorus (milligrams per liter)

Water Clarity (feet)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Deeper Lakes

> 0.059

0.055 - 0.034

0.032 - 0.020

< 0.020

0 - 2.7

2.9 - 4.6

5 - 8.1

> 8.1

Shallower Lakes

> 0.103

0.096 - 0.055

0.052 - 0.030

< 0.030

0 - 1.5

1.6 - 2.9

3.1 - 5.3

> 5.3 Rendering by Justin Chenevert

8

AT A GLANCE: 2015 REPORT CARD Lake Water Quality

Mendota

Monona

Wingra1

Waubesa

Kegonsa

LAKE-BY-LAKE SNAPSHOT

Phosphorus (July-August, milligrams per liter) 2015 Median total phosphorus

0.030

0.026

0.031

0.054

0.073

Total phosphorus, median of years 2000-2009

0.030

0.034

0.056

0.053

0.070

0.02-0.032

0.02-0.032

0.03-0.052

0.03-0.052

0.03-0.052

2015 Visibility depth

4.9

4.6

5.2

3.0

2.6

Secchi visibility, median of years 2000-2009

5.7

4.9

2.0

3.0

3.0

5-8.1

5-8.1

3.1-5.3

3.1-5.3

3.1-5.3

PHOSPHORUS

2015 Water temperature maximum

78

77

79

80

80

Water temperature, median of years 1980-2014

78

79

79

79

80

Precipitation carries sediment and phosphorus-enriched runoff to the lakes.

The past few years of average precipitation was preceded by drought in 2011 and 2012. Less rain during the drought meant less polluted runoff reached the lakes. Phosphorus levels in the lakes responded quickly and decreased during the drought. Since a return to normal precipitation over the past few years, phosphorus levels have been creeping back up to long-term median values. In 2015, phosphorus levels in the lakes were close to the long-term median. The lake water quality and clarity metrics were generated from samples taken in the middle of each lake; the near-shore conditions can be very different.

Range for good water quality2 Water Clarity (July-August, feet)

Range for good water clarity2

Mendota

Monona

Wingra

Waubesa

Kegonsa

spiny water flea has worsened water clarity

phosphorus levels are slightly better

clarity levels remain high after 2008 carp removal

hovers between good and fair, Goodland beach closed 1/3 of summer

high phosphorus, low clarity persists; carp removal could bring hope

Water Temperature (July-August, °F)3

Beach Closures (days) 2015 beach closures

49

35

2

33

N/A

E.coli/BGA4

E.coli

E.coli

E.coli/BGA

-

27

37

11

12

-

2015 Aquatic plant harvesting

318

870

168

75

16

Harvesting, median of years 2010-2015

243

436

80

53

7

2015 reason for closures Closures, average of years 1996-2014 Aquatic Plant Harvesting (harvester loads)

Lake Levels (feet about sea level) 2015 summer maximum

850.43

848.93

N/A

845.32

843.93

Date of 2015 maximum

09/30/2015

03/27/2015

N/A

10/02/2015

09/19/2015

Historic maximum

852.74

847.86

N/A

847.22

845.72

06/06/2000

06/16/2008

N/A

06/17/2008

06/16/2008

62

62

69

65

65

Ice on dates

01/11/2016

01/11/2016

12/30/2015

01/05/2016

01/05/2016

Ice off dates

Date of historic maximum

Summer phosphorus levels indicate good water quality in Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Wingra. Lake Kegonsa continued to experience fair water quality. The water quality criteria is different for deeper lakes like Mendota and Monona and the shallower lakes (see table on page 8).

Ice Conditions (days) 2015-2016 ice duration

3/13/2016

03/13/2016

03/08/2016

03/10/2016

03/10/2016

Median Freeze Date

12/20

12/15

11/29

N/A

N/A

Median Opening Date

04/04

03/30

03/25

N/A

N/A

104

104

115

N/A

N/A

Median Duration of Ice Cover

1 Phosphorus and Secchi for Lake Wingra is 1996-2007 median and temperature is 1996-present median 2 Range for good water quality is from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Criteria 3 Maximum temperatures averaged for 0-10 foot depths 4 Blue Green Algae Sources: Phosphorus, temperature, and Secchi data from Dr. Richard Lathrop, UW Center for Limnology; beach closures data from Public Health - Madison & Dane County and Governor Nelson State Park, aquatic plant harvesting data from Dane County Parks, lake levels data from Dane County Land & Water Conservation; historic highs data from Yahara Lakes Association, ice on/off data for Mendota, Monona, and Wingra from Wisconsin State Climatology Office, Madison Lakes Ice Summary page; Lake Waubesa Conservation Association and Christy’s Landing; and Friends of Lake Kegonsa

9

WATER CLARITY Water clarity is measured by lowering a Secchi (sekē) disk into the water and recording the lowest depth at which the disk remains visible. Water clarity continued to be good in Mendota and Wingra. Monona clarity was fair. Waubesa water clarity improved slightly from fair to good. Kegonsa continued to show fair water clarity.

Science 2015 Report Card

Tenney Park. Photo by Jordan Richmond.

WATER TEMPERATURE

AQUATIC PLANT HARVESTING

Water temperature can impact summer water quality because blue-green algal blooms tend to proliferate in warmer temperatures. Maximum water temperatures in 2015 were close to the long-term median in each lake.

Dane County continued to harvest aquatic nuisance plants to help provide for reasonable use of the lakes for boating, fishing, and swimming, while preserving the health and balance of the lake ecosystem. Once again, Monona had the highest level of plant harvesting.

BEACHES In this report we record closures due to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and blue green algae. In general, high phosphorus levels fuel algal blooms and can create conditions that lead to blue green algae growth and to beach closures. Beach water quality is also adversely impacted by heavy rain events. On its way to storm drains, rainwater can pick up fecal matter from dogs, geese, and other urban animals and lead to closures due to E. coli. In some cases, beaches are closed due to both causes.

In 2015, for all the Yahara lakes, over half of the beach closures were due to high E. coli. Monona and Wingra closures were all due to high E. coli. In contrast, Goodland County Park beach on Lake Waubesa, which had the highest number of closures of all the lakes, was closed almost entirely due to blue green algae or both blue green algae and E. coli. For more detail on beach closures, see the lake-by-lake summaries.

LAKE LEVELS Dane County controls the water level in Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa though the Tenney locks at the outlet of Lake Mendota on the Yahara River, and at the Waubesa and Kegonsa dams.

ICE COVER The last decade has seen the shortest duration of ice cover on the lakes since record keeping began in 1852. The lakes are freezing later and breaking up earlier. Within this trend, there is still year-to-year variability. In the 2015-2016 winter season, Lake Mendota officially froze about three weeks later and opened about two weeks earlier than the median dates: a 43-day loss. In 161 years of recording ice cover, Mendota has only frozen later 8 times. Since the 1850s, the winter ice season has been shortened by 25%, or about a month.

10

Science Lake Trends

LAKE TRENDS PHOSPHORUS LOADING

In 2015, we were fortunate because snowmelt runoff was well below normal. Rainfall events were spaced out relatively evenly, which allowed the rain to soak into the ground. Both of these factors made for less phosphorus-enriched runoff.

According to the USGS, 2015 was a good year for water quality in our lakes. This is in contrast to 2014, when rain events stacked on top of each other and phosphorus loads to Lake Mendota were more than double.

Phosphorus loading is a measure of the amount of phosphorus transported by a river over a period of time. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measures the phosphorus loading into Lake Mendota by monitoring at locations on its four major tributaries.

In 2015, nearly half of the annual phosphorus load occurred in the April-June period. This is in contrast to historical long-term data showing that January-March is typically the period in which most phosphorus is transported to the lake. The phosphorus loads from the four major tributaries to Lake Mendota totaled about 25,000 pounds for the 2015 water year.

The timing of snowmelt and rain events can make a difference in the amount of runoff that reaches our streams and lakes. Snowmelt runoff typically occurs January through March, when the ground is frozen and the melting snowpack doesn’t have a chance to soak in. When the ground is thawed, soil moisture is an important factor that influences runoff. When rain events are particularly heavy or spaced closely together, there is less time for the rain to soak in, the ground becomes saturated, and excess rainfall becomes overland runoff.

Photo by The Edgewater.

Annual Phosphorus Loads for Mendota’s Monitored Subwatersheds Yahara River @ Windsor

Pheasant Branch @ Hwy 12

Phosphorus load (lbs/year)

Phosphorus load (lbs/year)

Median

10,500

8,100

Min (1995)

6,300

3,300

Max (1993)

38,600

26,300

Median

17,200

8,700

Min (2003)

3,300

1,800

Max (2009)

Years 1990 - 1999

2000 - 2009

37,300

16,200

2010

15,100

3,700

2011

13,500

3,600

2012

6,300

1,300

2013

24,900

10,800

2014

19,300

7,400

2015

7,700

3,100

Source: USGS monitoring data for Oct-Sept Water Year; annual values rounded

11

The USGS has been monitoring phosphorus and sediment loads in the Yahara River and Pheasant Branch Creek, both tributaries to Lake Mendota, for more than 20 years (see table). These longterm data sets allow us to see how changes to our landscape – like farming practices and urbanization – have an impact on water quality.

For example, the land around Pheasant Branch is seeing increasing urbanization, which usually increases runoff and potentially increases phosphorus loads. However, a 2012 study by the USGS shows the City of Middleton has been successful in using a large detention pond, along with other urban conservation practices, to decrease phosphorus loads into Lake Mendota.

The loads to Mendota were decreased by almost half, from 12,200 to 6,300 pounds per year, after this pond was put in place in 2001.

Science Lake Trends

Land use in the Yahara River watershed has remained primarily agricultural, and data from the Yahara River will be the subject of a USGS study in 2016 that could answer how increased agricultural management practices have impacted phosphorus and sediment loads into Lake Mendota.

FOOD WEB TRENDS

since the removal of carp from the lake in 2008.

In Cherokee Marsh, 142,000 pounds of carp were removed in 2015 and 77,400 pounds were removed in 2014. A similar carp removal study is now being conducted in Lake Kegonsa. Carp removal is a low investment, low risk strategy to control phosphorus, but there are no guarantees in terms of lasting water quality benefits.

Collecting macroinvertebrates using plankton nets.

Photo by Bryce Richter, UW-Madison.

In addition to phosphorus levels, water clarity is also impacted by complex food web interactions.

Invasive organisms are introduced into the Yahara lakes from other lakes in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes. These organisms disrupt the balance of life and can impact water quality in complex ways. For example, in Lake Mendota, the invasive spiny water flea is present and can have a great impact on water clarity by preying on Daphnia, a native organism that eats a tremendous amount of algae in our lakes.

Zebra mussels, another invasive organism, has been found in Lake Mendota, but the population has not yet gotten a foothold.

In smaller lakes like Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa, carp have a big impact on water quality. By feeding on the bottom of the lake, carp stir up phosphorusladen sediment that mixes into the water column and leads to algae growth. Dane County has worked with the Department of Natural Resources to study and remove the carp population in Lake Wingra and in Cherokee Marsh upstream from Lake Mendota.

Commercial anglers are contracted to remove the carp in large numbers. In Lake Wingra, we have seen a tremendous improvement in lake water quality

Photos by Danielle Gries.

Top: Daphnia Bottom: Spiny Water Flea

12

Science Climate & Precipitation 2015 Madison Area Climate Statistics

2015 Monthly Precipitation vs Normal 6

6

5.9

Mean temperature

48.2

46.5

Total rainfall

39.61

34.5

Greatest 24 hour total

2.15

-

11

7.4

36.8

50.9

Heavy rain days (≥ 1 in.)

Total snowfall

4 3 2

Source: NOAA

Days ≥ 90°

5

Normal (1981 - 2010)

Inches

2015

1

Source: NOAA

0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Month Normal Precipitation

CLIMATE TRENDS

2015 rainfall in Madison was greater than normal, by about 5 inches, and there were 11 days with greater than 1-inch storms, 3 days more than normal.

Fortunately, the rain days were spaced out enough to allow the water to soak in between rain events.

The snowfall was below normal by about 13 inches.

Both the time between rainfall events and the lack of a big snowmelt in the spring helped bring less polluted runoff into the lakes.

13

2015 Average Monthly Precipitation

Longer term, overall precipitation has increased 10% in the last 30 years. There are also an increasing number of intense storm events (greater than 1 inch storms) over the past 3 decades. This increase in intensity has the potential to overwhelm the many practices that we are putting in place to prevent phosphorus-enriched runoff. The changing climate means we must be willing to put even more emphasis on urban and rural practices – pushing our elected officials, producers, and community members to put even more practices in place so that we can protect and improve our lake quality.

Lightning over Wingra Park. Photo by Richard Hurd.

Science Beaches Bernie’s Beach on Lake Monona.

Looking at beach closures over time, it is hard to see any long-term trends. Dr. Kirsti Sorsa of Public Health Madison & Dane County has been tracking beach closures and their causes for many years.

She explains, “Each year is a surprise. It’s like the weather, it’s easier to predict what will happen in the next week than to predict what will happen over the next season.”

Boom wall being unloaded from barge. Photo by Richard Lathrop.

BEACH TRENDS

In 2015, Clean Lakes Alliance staff and volunteers expanded our beach-monitoring program from James Madison beach to 24 beaches throughout the Yahara lakes. These monitoring data were reported to Public Health Madison & Dane County and are included in the beach totals in this report. The beach closings were up this year because of this increased testing.

In 2014, Clean Lakes Alliance found high E. coli counts after significant rain events at James Madison beach. In 2015, our staff confirmed this finding after coordinated sampling events at 24 beaches within 3 to 7 hours of significant rain events. After one intense rainstorm in July, 61% of the beaches tested high for E. coli. Clean Lakes Alliance will continue to monitor beaches in 2016 and share information with the public and our community partners.

There are some management experiments that give us good news for the beaches. From 2010 to 2012, researchers deployed boom deflector systems on four Madison beaches: B.B. Clarke, Bernie’s, Olin, and Warner. The booms have proven to be inexpensive measures that work to keep algal blooms and other floating debris from the beaches and to reduce beach closures. The most successful experiment was at B.B. Clarke beach. Strong water currents and high waves impaired boom functions at Warner beach. In 2015, the boom systems were in place at B.B. Clarke, Warner, and Bernie’s.

In 2014, Clean Lakes Alliance initiated a partnership with Madison College to design, fabricate and test an algae vacuum at Warner Beach. The partnership is continuing this year. If the “algae vac” works, it could be another tool to maintain clear and usable beaches.

How are the beaches tested?

Most of the Yahara lakes beaches are tested by Public Health Madison & Dane County at least once a week for E. coli bacteria and when bluegreen algae concerns are reported. This report only includes the beaches tested regularly by Public Health.

Find up-to-date closure information at: www.lakeforecast.org

14

Science Lake Mendota 2015 Water Clarity

2015 Phosphorus Levels

Good

Good

LAKE MENDOTA Lake Mendota is the largest of the lakes in the Yahara chain. The land surrounding the lake is primarily agricultural and is experiencing rapid urban growth. The sediment and nutrients that flow into Lake Mendota from its tributaries are carried down the chain of lakes via the Yahara River and represent the largest source of excess nutrients in the lower lakes.

Lake Mendota Watershed area (acres)

72,094

Surface area (acres)

9,842

Shoreline (miles)

22

Maximum depth (feet)

82

15

Mean depth (feet)

42

Flushing rate

.23/year

Good

0.03

Excellent

0.02 0.01

1980-89

1990-99

2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Lake Mendota Median Clarity 1980-89

1990-99

2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2015

Fair

2 4 6

Good

Clarity (feet)

2014

Poor

0

BEACHES

Lake Mendotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beaches were open most of the summer, 93% of the possible beach days. There were a total of 49 beach days lost out of a total 792 possible days (99 days times 8 beaches). Most of the closures, 28 days, were due to high E. coli levels, 20 days were lost due to blue green algal blooms, and one to both. The beach that lost the most days was Tenney Park beach, mostly due to high E. coli.

0.04

0.00

Summer phosphorus levels in Lake Mendota in 2015, 0.030 milligrams per liter (mg/L), indicated good water quality. The water clarity level in Lake Mendota, 4.9 feet, indicated good water clarity.

Fair

0.05

8 Excellent

2015 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY

Lake Mendota Median Phosphorus

Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

In the urban areas of the Mendota watershed, most of the phosphorus reductions will come from better controls on construction erosion, leaf management, and stabilizing waterway banks to reduce erosion, (5,500 pounds per year). In the rural areas, most phosphorus reduction will come from improving cropping and other agricultural practices, and through nutrient management (24,200 pounds).

10 Source: R. Lathrop, UW Center for Limnology

Science Lake Mendota

FRIEND GROUPS Friends of Cherokee Marsh Friends of Pheasant Branch cherokeemarsh.org pheasantbranch.org

UW-Madison crew team on Lake Mendota.

INVASIVE SPECIES HIGHLIGHT: SPINY WATER FLEA Average Closures 2005-2014

Governor Nelson

0

1

0

1

N/A

Marshall

0

1

0

1

5

James Madison

1

3

1

5

7

Mendota County

7

0

0

7

6

Tenney

4

12

0

16

5

Warner

3

2

0

5

7

Memorial Union

1

0

0

1

N/A

Spring Harbor

4

9

0

13

7

Total

20

28

1

49

27*

Source: PHMDC

*Average of the total closures from 1996-2014

The spiny water flea (see page 12), which likely came to the Great Lakes from Russia via ballast water, is a predator of Daphnia. Daphnia is a tiny crustacean that is a voracious eater of algae.

The spiny water flea population exploded in Mendota in the fall of 2014 and ate most of the Daphnia. That means 2015 did not have a spring â&#x20AC;&#x153;clear water phaseâ&#x20AC;? because there were no Daphnia to eat the algae that cloud the water. The Daphnia finally returned in late May, but in much fewer numbers. According to the UW-Madison Center for Limnology, Lake Mendota has lost almost a month of clear water conditions since the spiny water flea was detected in 2009.

flea. In contrast, Lake Monona is managed for pan fish, which help keep the spiny water flea population under control. Spiny water fleas also favor cooler water temperatures found in Mendota compared to the warmer lower lakes.

Water Clarity Levels for Lake Mendota Since 1995 20

2015 Total Closures (of 99 beach days)

Clear water phase

15

High E.coli & BGA

10

High E.coli

1995 - 2008

2009 - 2014

Mendota Rowing Club at James Madison Park.

Photo by Somsamay2015 Hompothichak.

5

Blue Green Algae

Why is spiny water flea such a problem in Lake Mendota? Scientists hypothesize that the fish population in Lake Mendota is part of the answer. Lake Mendota is managed for large game fish such as walleye and northern pike, which do not prey on the spiny water

0

Lake Mendota Beaches

Water Clarity (feet; Secchi)

Lake Mendota Beach Closures

r y n l g p t v Ap Ma Ju Ju Au Se Oc No

Month Source: Jake Walsh, UW-Madison Center for Limnology

16

Science Lake Monona 2015 Water Clarity

2015 Phosphorus Levels

Fair

Good

LAKE MONONA Lake Monona is the second lake in the Yahara chain. The land surrounding the lake is mostly urban and is fed by the Yahara River, Wingra Creek, and Starkweather Creek. Over the years, Starkweather Creek has faced significant water quality issues from urban runoff and from point source discharges from industrial sites.

Current point source discharges in the watershed include the Dane County Regional Airport and MadisonKipp Corporation (to Starkweather Creek); Madison Gas & Electric Company (to Lake Monona); UW-Madison at Charter Street (to Lake Monona via storm sewers); WDNR Nevin Fish Hatchery (to Nine Springs Creek), and Kraft-Oscar Mayer (to the Yahara River).

Lake Monona Median Phosphorus

Fair

0.05 0.04

Good

0.03 0.02

Excellent

Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

Besides the Yahara River (24,900 pounds per year on average), the largest source of phosphorus coming into Lake Monona is from Starkweather Creek (16,500 pounds). Most of the phosphorus entering the lake from the Monona watershed comes from urban sources, primarily from leaves. Construction erosion presents another significant opportunity for phosphorus reduction.

0.01 0.00

Lake Monona water quality is not as impacted by the invasive spiny water flea as Mendota in part because the smaller fish in the lake help keep the population under control. The invasive aquatic plant Eurasian milfoil has a larger impact because it piles up on beaches and in nearby streams and decays.

Lake Monona Watershed area (acres)

61,643

Surface area (acres)

3,274

Shoreline (miles)

13

Maximum depth (feet)

64

Mean depth (feet)

27

Flushing rate

1.3/year

17

1990-99

2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Lake Monona Median Clarity 1980-89

1990-99

2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Poor

0

Fair

2 4 6

Good

Clarity (feet)

Lake Monona phosphorus levels, 0.026 milligrams per liter, represented good water quality, an improvement from the long-term (2000-2009) median of 0.034. The water clarity in Lake Monona was 4.6 feet, in the fair range for water clarity and worse than the long term median of 4.9.

1980-89

8

Excellent

2015 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY

10 Source: R. Lathrop, UW Center for Limnology

Science Lake Monona

FRIEND GROUPS Friends of Monona Bay Friends of Starkweather Creek friendsofmononabay.blogspot.com starkweatherfriends.org

Above: Madison cityscape across Lake Monona from Olin Park. Photo by Richard Hurd, 2014.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: YAHARA LAKES FISHERY

BEACHES

Lake Mononaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beaches were open a total of 95% of the possible beach days. When they closed, it was due to high E. coli. Once again, Esther Beach lost the most days, all due to high E. coli.

MONONA: Popular destination for muskellunge, also known as the muskie. Management studies are underway to improve muskie stock.

The lake is also a high quality pan fishery.

Lake Monona Beach Closures Lake Monona Beaches

Blue Green Algae

High E.coli

High E.coli & BGA

2015 Total Closures (of 99 beach days)

Average Closures 1996-2014

Bernies

0

1

0

1

3

BB Clarke

0

4

0

4

7

Brittingham Park

0

0

0

0

3

Esther

0

11

0

11

9

Hudson

0

7

0

7

11

Olbrich

0

6

0

6

5

Olin

0

6

0

6

10

Total

0

35

0

35

37*

Source: PHMDC

*Average of the total closures from 1996-2014

WINGRA: Popular for bass and bluegills. Lake Wingra is also known for its tiger muskies.

Management changes are being considered to increase the size of the bass and bluegills.

Perch in Lake Mendota. Photo by Ted Bier.

MENDOTA: Popular destination for larger fish, especially northern pike and catfish.

Management changes are being considered to deal with the spiny water flea, a tiny zooplankton that is negatively impacting water clarity in this cold, deep lake.

WAUBESA AND KEGONSA: Popular for their high quality pan fishery. The lakes are fished primarily for food instead of for larger trophy fish. There are no plans to change the management of these lakes. In 2015, coarse woody debris was added along the shoreline of Lake Waubesa near McFarland to increase fish habitat.

Source: Kurt Welke, Department of Natural Resources

18

Science Lake Wingra 2015 Water Clarity

2015 Phosphorus Levels

Good

LAKE WINGRA

Good

Lake Wingra is a small, shallow lake located within the City of Madison. Because of its urban environment, the lake faces many challenges, including excess nutrients and road salt from urban runoff. In recent years, the lake has seen improvements in its water quality thanks to the efforts of a concerned and active citizen group, the Friends of Lake Wingra, and its partnership with the City of Madison. Because of that partnership, a new watershed plan is being developed for Lake Wingra.

2015 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY

Lake Wingra Watershed area (acres)

3,456

Surface area (acres)

345

Shoreline (miles)

4

Maximum depth (feet)

21

Mean depth (feet)

9

Flushing rate

.77/year

19

Fair

0.04 0.03

Excellent

0.02 0.01 0.00

1996-2007 Before Carp Removal

1996-2007 After Carp Removal

2008-2014

Blue Green Algae

High E.coli

Vilas

0

2

Source: PHMDC

High E.coli & BGA

2015 Total Closures (of 99 beach days)

Average Closures 1996-2014

0

2

11*

*Average of the total closures from 1996-2014

Good

Clarity (feet)

2 4 6 8 10

2015

Fair Poor

0

1996-2007

Lake Wingra Beach Closures Lake Wingra Beaches

2015

Lake Wingra Median Clarity

BEACHES

The Lake Wingra beach at Vilas Park was closed for only 2 days out of a total 99 possible beach days. Both closures were due to high E. coli.

Good

0.05

Excellent

Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

Lake Wingra summer water quality conditions, as measured by phosphorus concentrations and Secchi disk transparencies, are linked to the March 2008 removal of carp from the lake. Prior to the carp removal, during 1996-2007, median summer phosphorus was 0.056 mg/L and Secchi transparency was 2.0 ft. After the carp removal, during 2008-2011, median phosphorus and Secchi were 0.034 mg/L and 3.4 feet, respectively â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a major improvement for the shallow lake. In 2015, the water clarity, at 5.2 feet, was close to excellent.

The level of phosphorus, 0.031 milligrams per liter, was below the 2008-2014 median and indicates good water quality.

Lake Wingra Median Phosphorus

0.06

Source: R. Lathrop, UW Center for Limnology

Science Lake Wingra

FRIEND GROUPS Friends of Lake Wingra lakewingra.org

Sunset over Lake Wingra from Wingra dam. Photo by Richard Hurd.

BEING SALT WISE In the Yahara Watershed, salt applied to roads and sidewalks ultimately makes its way into our lakes and our drinking water. Road salt has been used as a deicer on streets in Dane County since the 1950s, and over the last 50 years, average concentrations of chlorides from salt in our lakes have steadily increased.

Yahara Lakes Annual Chloride Concentration

Source: PHMDC Road Salt Report 2015

To help reduce salt pollution in our watershed, a coalition of city and county agencies, educators, and environmental groups called the Wisconsin Saltwise Partnership is working to get the word out about responsible salt use. Partners have taken note: Friends of Lake Wingra is actively involved in salt outreach efforts and communities are taking steps to use salt wisely, by applying the correct amount of salt, using diluted salt brine ahead of storms, and paying attention to temperatures.

You can help by educating yourself on salt use, practicing safe winter driving, and by letting your municipality know that you support efforts to reduce salt use. Visit www.wisaltwise.com to learn more.

Source: Wisconsin Saltwise Partnership

Since the 1960s, salt concentrations have been steadily rising in our lakes.

The rise has been especially dramatic for a small, urban lake like Lake Wingra.

20

Science Lake Waubesa 2015 Water Clarity

2015 Phosphorus Levels

Good

Good

LAKE WAUBESA Lake Waubesa is the third lake in the Yahara chain of lakes and one of the shallower lakes in the system.

Goodland County Beach is on the lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s western shore and the Waubesa Wetlands are located along its southern shore. The Yahara River flows from Lake Monona through Upper Mud Lake to Lake Waubesa, and the lands surrounding it are a mix of urban and rural. Most of the phosphorus entering the lake is from the upper lakes (22,900 pounds per year on average).

Fair

0.07 0.06

Good

0.05 0.04 0.03

Excellent

0.02 0.01 0.00

1980-89

1990-99

2000-09

1980-89

1990-99

2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2010

2011

2012

2013

2

28,160 2,080

Shoreline (miles)

9

Maximum depth (feet)

34

21

Mean depth (feet)

16

Flushing rate

4.3/year

2014

2015

Good

4 6 8

Surface area (acres)

2015

Fair Poor

0

Lake Waubesa Watershed area (acres)

2014

Lake Waubesa Median Clarity

Clarity (feet)

Lake Waubesa experienced an increase in water clarity compared to 2014; the 2015 clarity level of 3.0 feet is considered good water clarity for such a shallow lake. This improvement puts Lake Waubesa in the range of the long-term median of years (2000-2009). The 2015 total phosphorus level of 0.054 milligrams per liter indicates good water quality and is close to the long-term median of years (2000-2009).

0.08

Excellent

2015 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY

Lake Waubesa Median Phosphorus

Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

Much of the phosphorus reduction in the Lake Waubesa watershed will come from improving agricultural practices (1,300 pounds), and from improving control of construction erosion (500 pounds).

10 Source: R. Lathrop, UW Center for Limnology

Science Lake Waubesa

FRIEND GROUPS

Lake Waubesa Conservation Association waubesa.org

Sunset over frozen Lake Waubesa. Photo by Sue Vick Finley.

WETLAND FEATURE

BEACHES

In spite of the good water quality in the center of the lake where phosphorus and clarity are tested, the Lake Waubesa beach at Goodland County Park was open only 67% of the summer. Most of the closures were due to blue-green algal blooms. Clean Lakes Alliance is piloting more frequent near-shore water clarity and temperature testing by citizen monitors on all the lakes. The hope is that the data will be useful in preparing a model that can be used to predict blue-green algal blooms, especially in shore areas where users most frequenty interact with our lakes.

Lake Waubesa Beach Closures Lake Waubesa Beaches

Blue Green Algae

High E.coli

Goodland County

21

2

Source: PHMDC

High E.coli & BGA

2015 Total Closures (of 99 beach days)

Average Closures 1996-2014

10

33

12*

*Average of the total closures from 1996-2014

Photo by Cal DeWitt.

Wetlands provide many services to our communities: they protect us from flooding, clean and filter water, recharge our groundwater, protect our shorelines and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. They also provide opportunities for education and outdoor recreation, an important driver for tourism in Wisconsin.

The Waubesa Wetlands, located on the southwest shore of Lake Waubesa, is one of

the most diverse wetland complexes remaining in southern Wisconsin. It contains springs, deep peat deposits, and high quality sedge meadow, fen, marsh and shrub carr habitats.

The springs provide cool, clean, mineral-rich water, allowing many less-common native wetland plant species to thrive. This contrasts with the nutrient-rich water that flows into Lake Waubesa from tributaries, surface runoff and from the upper lakes via the Yahara River.

In total, wetlands currently cover about 8.9% of land in Dane County, or 70,418 acres, compared to an 18.5% estimated historical coverage.

Another 8.3% of land, or 65,706 acres, has been categorized as potentially restorable wetlands.

Taking care of our wetlands, including protecting existing wetlands and restoring degraded wetlands, benefits our lakes.

Sources: Wisconsin Wetlands Association; WDNR, 2016

22

Science Lake Kegonsa

LAKE KEGONSA Lake Kegonsa is the lowest lake in the Yahara chain and is surrounded primarily by agricultural land. Like Waubesa, Lake Kegonsa is one of the shallower lakes in the Yahara chain. Lake Kegonsa State Park, which contains prairie, forest and marsh habitats, is located along its northeastern shore. Most of the phosphorus entering the lake on an annual basis is from upstream sources (26,500 pounds on average).

Lake Kegonsa Median Phosphorus

0.08

BEACHES

Lake Kegonsa State Park beaches are not routinely monitored for blue green algae.

Lake Kegonsa Watershed area (acres)

34,560

Surface area (acres)

3,210

Shoreline (miles)

10

Maximum depth (feet)

31

23

Mean depth (feet)

17

Flushing rate

3.0/year

Good

0.06

Excellent

0.04 0.02 0.00

2015 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY

1980-89

1990-99

1980-89

1990-99

2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Lake Kegonsa Median Clarity 2000-09

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Poor

0 2 Clarity (feet)

Lake Kegonsa water quality improved slightly from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level, to 0.073 milligrams per liter of phosphorus, which indicates fair water quality and is close to the to the long-term median (2000-2009) of 0.070. Lake Kegonsa water clarity was fair at 2.6 feet, which is worse than the long-term median of 3.0 feet.

Fair

0.10

Fair

Reductions to the phosphorus load entering Lake Kegonsa will come from work in the watersheds of the upper lakes and from improvements to agricultural cropping practices in the Lake Kegonsa watershed (3,600 pounds). Some improvement will also come from improving control of construction erosion in urban areas (600 pounds). In 2015, Dane County received a Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant that will include a focus on improvements to Door Creek. One project is to restore the hydrology in the Door Creek wetland, which will help trap sediment and phosphorus.

4

Good

Fair

6 Excellent

2015 Phosphorus Levels

Fair

Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

2015 Water Clarity

8 10

Source: R. Lathrop, UW-Madison Center for Limnology

Science Lake Kegonsa

FRIEND GROUPS

Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society kegonsa.org Lake Kegonsa from Lake Kegonsa State Park. Photo by McGhiever, wikimedia commons.

FRIENDS OF LAKE KEGONSA WORK TO IMPROVE WATER CLARITY The Friends of Lake Kegonsa are working with the Department of Natural Resources and the UW-Madison Center for Limnology on a study of carp in the lake. The carp feed on the bottom of the lake and stir up sediment and phosphorus, reducing lake clarity.

Carp removal projects take away the biological engine that re-suspends phosphorus. The resulting shift in the balance from mostly carp to other fish species helps keep the remaining carp under control through predation.

Tracking carp by plane. Photo courtesy of Friends of Lake Kegonsa Tagging carp in Lake Kegonsa.

plane. Tracking surveys will determine where the fish congregate in the winter and spring and will be used to capture carp.

A similar carp removal project was done in Lake Wingra and resulted in dramatic improvements in water clarity. Carp removal is also taking place in Cherokee Marsh on Lake Mendota.

The Lake Kegonsa carp removal project began in October of 2015 by tagging several carp with radio transmitters to track their movements by

24

Science Yahara Watershed

SNAPSHOT OF OUR WATERSHED Mendota | Monona | Wingra | Waubesa | Kegonsa 62-mile long Yahara River 359 square miles of land | 29 square miles of lakes 6 cities | 10 villages | 17 towns 192 billion gallons of water 58 miles of shoreline | 25 public beaches: B.B. Clarke | Bernieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Brittingham | Esther Goodland County | Governor Nelson | Hudson James Madison | Kegonsa State Park | Law Park Mendota County Park | Maple Bluff | Marshall McDaniel | Memorial Union | Olbrich | Olin Park Picnic Point | Schluter | Spring Harbor | Tenney Vilas | Warner | Willow | Wingra Park The Yahara Watershed is a part of the larger Rock River Watershed, which stretches across several counties in Southeastern Wisconsin. Both watersheds are part of the Mississippi River Basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Rock River is listed by the DNR as impaired due to excess phosphorus. Under the Clean Water Act, impaired water bodies must have a restoration plan. Our watershed is part of the Rock River plan, which will help drive actions to restore our lakes.

In the Yahara watershed, 5 lakes, 18 streams and 7 beaches are also listed as impaired. Because the Yahara River flows into the Rock River, Clean Lakes Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work in the Yahara Watershed is good for our lakes and the Rock River, too.

25

MAP OF THE YAHARA WATERSHED

Science Sources and References

Sun shining through clouds over Lake Waubesa. Photo by Eric Parton.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES Aquatic plant harvesting data from Dane County Parks Division.

Smith, Christopher and Bernthal, Tom, Potentially Restorable Wetlands of Wisconsin, WDNR, 2016.

Smith, C. & Bernthal, T. 2016. Potentially Restorable Wetlands of Wisconsin, WDNR, 2016.

Beach closure data from Kirsti Sorsa, Department of Public Health – Madison & Dane County and Governor Nelson State Park.

Clean Lakes Alliance, Strategic Action Plan for Phosphorus Reduction. 2012.

Yahara Water Trail Guide from Dane County website at http://www.danewaters.com/ yaharawatertrail.aspx.

Historic high lake levels retrieved from www. yaharalakes.org/lakes.php.

Ice on/off data from State Climatology Office at http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/lakes/msnicesum. html; Friends of Lake Kegonsa; Lake Waubesa Conservation Association and Christy’s Landing.

North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research program, (http://lter.limnology.wisc. edu), NSF, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison Summer lake level data from http://www. countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/ lakelevelsearchpg.aspx.

Weather data retrieved from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State Office of Climatology.

Gilbert, W.A., Rose, W.J., & Garn, H.S. 2012.

Evaluation of the Effects of City of Middleton Stormwater Management Practices on Streamflow and Water-Quality Characteristics of Pheasant Branch, Dane County, Wisconsin, 1975-2008. http:// pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5014/ Jones, Susan. 2008. Dane County State of the Waters Report, Dane County Office of Lakes and Waters.

Contributors Dr. Richard Lathrop, UW Center for Limnology, Dr. Kirsti Sorsa, Department of Public Health Madison & Dane County Todd Stuntebeck, United States Geological Survey Kurt Welke, Department of Natural Resources Ben Yahr and Susan Frett, Friends of Lake Wingra

Lathrop, R.C. & Carpenter, S. 2011. Phosphorus Loading and Lake Response Analyses for the Yahara Lakes.

Lathrop, R.C., Reimer. J.R., Sorsa, K.K., Steinhorst, G.M., and Wu, C.H. Madison’s Lake Beaches Results of a Three-Year Pilot Study, Lakeline, Fall 2013, pp.

31-38.

26

ACTION Many efforts. One goal.

In this section, we report on our community’s collective progress towards the Yahara CLEAN goals. We present a snapshot of the work done in 2015, and highlight examples of the actions taken by partners to improve water quality in our lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Waves on Lake Mendota. Photo by David Giroux.

CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE “VISION 2025“ This year Clean Lakes Alliance presents our “Vision 2025” – an effort to evaluate our community’s progress toward achieving a 50% reduction in phosphorus pollution to the Yahara lakes by the year 2025. Vision 2025 identifies implementation shortfalls and proposes specific course corrections to ensure we reach our water quality goals.

Ironman Wisconsin

27

HEADWINDS

We are facing strong headwinds as we move forward – intensifying rainstorms, changing lake ecology by invasive species, continuing urban development, and intensifying agriculture operations that are producing more manure. In the face of these headwinds, we will need to intensify our community efforts to reach our water quality goals.

HOW DID WE GET HERE

In 2008, Dane County was a leader in pulling together a comprehensive strategy, A CLEAN Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today, to enhance the health of the Yahara lakes. This strategy built on previous efforts by many agencies and community groups to improve the water quality in the Yahara lakes. Clean Lakes Alliance is focused on the phosphorus reduction part of that plan, specifically 14 cost-effective and practical actions that include targets for each lake. The Yahara CLEAN Strategic Action Plan for Phosphorus Reduction details the 14 actions and functions as our road map.

Action Vision 2025 View of Lake Mendota over the isthmus

ACCELERATING OUR PROGRESS

Through our annual report, Clean Lakes Alliance is documenting our progress towards meeting the 14 actions. Looking at our progress to date, we have modeled two scenarios, “Business as Usual” and “Accelerated Push.” In the “Business as Usual” track, we use the current rate of phosphorus reductions to forecast how soon we will meet our targets. In the “Accelerated Push” track, we assume significant increases in key areas and the addition of innovative technologies in both urban and rural areas.

CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE PRIORITIES AND GOALS

Moving forward, Clean Lakes Alliance will be defining strategic directions to meet the goals in our “Accelerated Push” scenario. We are considering ways to push phosphorus reductions in the areas of leaf management, construction erosion, improving cropping and tillage practices, manure storage, and nutrient management. Innovative solutions to enhance our current rates of phosphorus reduction will be a key part of how we meet our goals by 2025.

Yahara CLEAN “Business as Usual” Track

Alternative

60000

Rural

Rural

Urban

Alternative

60000

Urban

50000

Goal - 46,200 pounds Phosphorus (lbs)

Phosphorus (lbs)

50000

Alternative

Yahara CLEAN “Accelerated Push” Track

40000

30000

20000

10000

Rural

Alternative

Rural

Urban

Urban

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: YAHARA WINs Led by the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, the Yahara Watershed Improvement Network, also known as Yahara WINs, is a partnership focused on improving water quality in the Yahara River watershed through a cooperative approach called watershed adaptive management. In adaptive management, all phosphorus sources – agricultural producers, urban residents, and municipalities – work Farmland together to improve water adjacent to Lake Waubesa quality. This approach is one of the first in the nation and in Wisconsin. The partnership is expanding its efforts to the entire Yahara River watershed starting in 2017. Their cooperative efforts are crucial to the future health of the Yahara lakes.

Yahara WINs Pilot Project Partners Towns: Blooming Grove, Bristol, Burke, Cottage Grove, Dunn, Middleton, Westport

Goal - 46,200 pounds

40000

30000

Villages: Cottage Grove DeForest, Maple Bluff, McFarland, Oregon, Shorewood Hills, Waunakee, Windsor

20000

10000

0 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Current pace of progress = 18,560 lbs. by 2025 (40% of goal)

0 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Course-corrected Path = 51,740 lbs. by 2025 (112% of goal)

2025

Cities: Fitchburg, Madison, Middleton, Monona, Stoughton, Sun Prairie Others: Clean Lakes Alliance, Clean Wisconsin, Dane County, Madison Gas & Electric, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, Sand County Foundation, Stoughton Utilities, U.S. Geological Survey, Yahara Pride Farms, Wisconsin DNR

28

Action 14 Actions Chart

YAHARA CLEAN – YEAR TO DATE PROGRESS In the 14 actions chart, we summarize actions by Clean Lakes Alliance and our community partners and assess our progress in meeting the strategic goals outlined in the Yahara CLEAN plan. This is the 4th year of implementation since the plan was published and a total of 8,200 pounds of phosphorus has been diverted. That is 18% of the way towards our goal of 46,200 pounds.

It’s important to note that this goal is an annual, recurring diversion of phosphorus from our lakes.

Each year, our community must build on the progress made in the prior years.

URBAN ACTIONS

Municipalities have put in place many projects that reduce the amount of phosphorus entering our lakes. Stormwater management projects – pond construction, erosion control at construction sites, and stabilizing urban waterway banks – have diverted about 2,000 pounds of phosphorus from the watersheds around each lake.

RURAL ACTIONS

Farmers, especially in the Lake Mendota watershed, have partnered with Yahara Pride Farms, Dane County, and Yahara WINs to put in place improved cropping, tillage and field management practices to divert almost 2,000 pounds of phosphorus. Two manure digesters, near Middleton and Waunakee, account for another significant diversion of phosphorus from the lakes, over 1,700 pounds.

In total, rural actions have diverted about 6,200 pounds of phosphorus from the lakes.

29

Phosphorus Reduction Targets Actions

Mendota

Monona

Waubesa

Status

Kegonsa

Total

2014

2015

Urban (pounds of phosphorus reduced) [1]

Improve leaf management

1,900

2,200

-

-

4,100

-

-

[2]

Control construction erosion

2,100

400

500

600

3,600

420

320

[3]

Maintain permitted stormwater facilities

1,500

300

300

400

2,500

-

-

[4]

Stabilize urban waterway banks

1,500

600

2,100

760

1,230

[5]

Reduce Total Suspended Solids in stormwater

400

400

100

1,100

310

320

Alternative & Emerging Technologies

200

Construction on community digester in Springfield

5,000 Rural (pounds of phosphorus reduced)

[6]

Improve in-field agricultural practices

9,500

400

1,300

3,600

14,800

2,190

1,950

[7]

Build community digesters

7,700

-

-

-

7,700

1,120

1,660

[8]

Remove additional phosphorus at digesters

5,100

-

-

-

5,100

-

-

[9]

Manage manure and nutrients

1,900

-

-

200

2,100

1,100

1,660

[10]

Dredge drainage ditches

600

-

-

-

600

-

-

[11]

Stabilize rural waterway banks

1,000

-

-

-

1,000

-

-

[12]

Relocate or cover livestock facilities

600

-

-

-

600

130

210

[13]

Harvest wetland plants

600

-

-

-

600

-

-

[14]

Restore wetlands in key areas

300

-

-

-

300

690

720

34,700

9,300

2,300

4,900

46,200

7,330

8,200

Total

ALTERNATIVE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Innovative technology actions will be an important part of the "Accelerated Push" to reduce phosphorus in the areas of leaf management, construction erosion, improving cropping and tillage practices, manure storage and nutrient management. Clean Lakes Alliance has secured grants and consulted with experts to identify innovative technologies that will help us meet our goals by 2025.

Action 14 Actions Chart

[1] IMPROVE LEAF MANAGEMENT

[2] IMPROVE CONTROL OF CONSTRUCTION EROSION

[3] MAINTAIN PERMITTED PRIVATE STORMWATER FACILITIES

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: None reported

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: 320 pounds (9% of annual goal)

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: None reported

Annual Goal: 4,100 pounds

Annual Goal: 3,600 pounds

Annual Goal: 2,500 pounds

Communities use different methods to manage leaves, a big source of phosphorus pollution.

The U.S. Geological Survey is studying how to estimate phosphorus reductions for these practices; once the study is complete, we will include these phosphorus reductions in the report.

Improving construction site erosion control education and enforcement will result in the lowest cost per pound of phosphorus diversion in the urban category. We are working with Dane County staff to determine how to credit phosphorus reduction through different actions.

Private stormwater facilities, like ponds and drainage basins, are built to divert pollution from waterways and must be maintained to operate efficiently. Dane County staff is currently inventorying existing facilities to ensure they are working at peak capacity.

[5] REDUCE SUSPENDED SOLIDS IN MUNICIPAL STORMWATER

[4] STABILIZE URBAN WATERWAY BANKS

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: 320 pounds (29% of annual goal)

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: 1,230 pounds (59% of annual goal) Annual Goal: 2,100 pounds

Annual Goal: 1,100 pounds

Heavy rains and increasing the amount of impervious surfaces, like streets and buildings, increase the flow of water in urban waterways and contribute to streambank erosion. This erosion contributes to phosphorus loading into our lakes. Stabilizing them is an important way to reduce phosphorus pollution.

The municipal sewer districts in the Yahara River watershed have put in stormwater management projects, like ponds and wet detention basins, to reduce the level of total suspended solids going into our waterways. While these projects are comparatively expensive, they are necessary to help reach our phosphorus reduction goal for urban areas.

Photo by City of Madison.

30

Action 14 Actions Chart

[6] IMPROVE CROPPING, TILLAGE AND IN-FIELD PRACTICES

[7] BUILD COMMUNITY DIGESTERS

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015:

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015:

1,950 pounds (13% of annual goal)

1,660 pounds (22% of annual goal)

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: None reported

Annual Goal: 14,800 pounds

Annual Goal: 7,700 pounds

Annual Goal: 5,100 pounds

Farmers in the watershed are working to decrease the amount of soil erosion from their fields and reduce phosphorus loss into our waterways. They are increasing soil erosion control practices, such as contour and strip cropping, conservation tillage, planting cover crops, and constructing stream buffers.

Community manure digesters help farmers reduce the amount of manure that is applied on their fields, especially in the January to June months when the fields are frozen and the potential for phosphorus runoff during spring rains is high.

New technologies offer the potential to recover additional phosphorus at community digesters, which would further reduce phosphorus delivery to the lakes. Technologies may include nutrient concentration systems that increase phosphorus-removal efficiencies, or technologies that create products from processed manure to be sold and exported outside of the watershed.

[8] REMOVE ADDITIONAL PHOSPHORUS AT DIGESTERS

[9] MANAGE MANURE AND NUTRIENTS Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: 1,660 (79% of annual goal) Annual Goal: 2,100 pounds Farmers in the watershed are working to improve their management of manure and nutrients so that enough is applied to ensure a good crop while avoiding overapplication.

Ag Innovation Days.

31

Middleton Digester.

Action 14 Actions Chart

[10] STABILIZE RURAL WATERWAY BANKS

[11] DREDGE DRAINAGE DITCHES

[12] RELOCATE OR COVER LIVESTOCK FACILITIES

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: None reported

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: None reported

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: 210 pounds (35% of annual goal)

Annual Goal: 1,000 pounds

Annual Goal: 600 pounds

Annual Goal: 600 pounds

Heavy rains and agricultural drain tiling increase the flow of water in rural waterways and contribute to streambank erosion. This erosion contributes to phosphorus loading into our lakes. Stabilizing the banks reduces phosphorus pollution.

After suitable controls are in place on adjacent and upstream fields to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff, dredging sediment from selected drainage ditches in rural areas will remove additional sources of phosphorus-laden sediments and improve water quality.

The plan calls for relocating or covering livestock facilities in high risk, environmentally sensitive areas.

[13] HARVEST WETLAND PLANTS

[14] PROMOTE RESTORATION OF WETLANDS

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: None reported

Phosphorus Diverted in 2015: 720 pounds (240% of annual goal)

Annual Goal: 600 pounds

Annual Goal: 300 pounds

In addition to other important functions, wetland plants capture phosphorus as a nutrient for growth. Harvesting wetland plants can remove this phosphorus. Suitable urban wetlands would be harvested every three years under this action.

No harvesting has yet been reported.

Restoring wetlands in critical areas in the watershed can help slow water flow and trap sediment and phosphorus.

Farm Tour.

32

Action 2015 Project Highlights

How did our shared goal of a 50% reduction in phosphorus by 2025 translate into boots on the ground in 2015? The following section provides highlights of what Dane County, municipalities, Clean Lakes Alliance, and watershed partners did in 2015 to improve water quality in our lakes, streams, and wetlands.

URBAN ACTIONS Urban areas represent about 29 percent of the room for improvement in the Yahara CLEAN plan. Most urban land is developed, and storm sewers and pavement move water quickly. This creates narrow windows of opportunity to remove phosphorus from stormwater before it reaches the lakes, presenting both an opportunity and a challenge.

LEAF MANAGEMENT

Badger Volunteers raking leaves.

“The leaf pilot program this fall was a great partnership. Hopefully our efforts will inspire other communities to take on a leaf raking challenge and motivate residents to do their part to prevent phosphorus runoff.”

- Joleen Stinson, DeForest Parks & Natural Resources Supervisor

33

In urban areas, leaf management represents one of our biggest opportunities and biggest challenges for improving water quality. In recent years, partners have focused on outreach efforts to keep phosphorus-containing leaves out of our streets in the fall, including the following efforts: • Clean Lakes Alliance partnered with the Village of DeForest to conduct a rake-for-the-lake project, with the goal of encouraging residents to clear leaves out of street gutters in front of their homes. The project succeeded in improving participation rates among the 775 pilot households almost threefold, with participation in some areas reaching 20%.

• Friends of Lake Wingra partnered with the City of Madison engineering on the second year of a pilot, which involved testing the use of compostable bags for leaf collection.

• The U.S. Geological Survey completed the

•

third year of a five-year project evaluating leaf collection as a means to reduce phosphorus in stormwater from urban areas. Early results indicate approximately 60% of the annual phosphorus load for a residential basin comes from leaf litter and that removing organic material from streets before a storm can reduce the amount of phosphorus in stormwater by up to 80%.

Other communities are taking steps to improve leaf collection practices. The Village of Fitchburg uses streetside bagged leaf collection and The Village of McFarland does not allow residents to rake to the curb.

“We found that in the fall, leaves can be a primary source of phosphorus in residential basins. Keeping the streets clean of leaves and other organic debris can significantly reduce the amount of phosphorus and other nutrients delivered from urban areas to streams and lakes.”

- Bill Selbig, U.S. Geological Survey

Urban Actions Dane County

GLOSSARY: STORMWATER PRACTICES

Stormwater is the water from rain or snowmelt that runs off surfaces such as rooftops, fields, streets, highways and parking lots.

Stormwater facilities control the discharge of stormwater and remove pollutants. Once constructed, stormwater facilities require ongoing maintenance.

Examples: ponds, tanks, infiltration systems, biofiltration swales, constructed wetlands, ditches, and catchbasins Stormwater outfalls are points where runoff is discharged from a pipe or culvert.

Infiltration involves allowing water to soak into the ground and recharge groundwater.

Downtown Madison, WI. Photo by the UW-Madison Water Sustainability and Climate Project.

DANE COUNTY URBAN WATER QUALITY GRANTS Since 2005, Dane County has offered cost-sharing grants to communities to fund efficient, costeffective treatment of urban runoff. In 2015, Dane County and participating municipalities cost-shared $601,545 of projects, including: • In the City of Fitchburg, major improvements to Schumann Greenway, which drains water from 300 acres of urban residences to Nine Springs Creek.

• Also in Fitchburg, the conversion of a dry pond to a bioretention facility for the 33-acre Lacy Heights watershed.

• In the City of Madison, at the Cherokee Marsh •

•

South Unit, the creation of a 2.4 acre retention pond.

In the City of Monona, three stormwater treatment structures, including at the Pirate Island Road Outfall, a “top ten” priority outfall for Dane County.

In Sun Prairie, upgrades to the Liberty Square stormwater facilities, including increased stormwater capacity, better sediment trapping, and native vegetation plantings.

Retention involves collecting and holding surface and stormwater runoff.

Bioretention involves treating stormwater by collecting it in shallow depressions and then filtering it through plantings and soils.

Detention involves holding water in temporary storage, so that it is released from a site slower than it enters.

Dredging involves removing accumulated sediment from a body of water or a wetland Sources: City of Fitchburg, WI Stormwater Utility; King County, WA Stormwater Services

34

Urban Actions Madison

CITY OF MADISON In 2015, the City of Madison worked on projects and programs to improve water quality, including:

Nakoma channel before. Photo by Phil Gaebler.

Nakoma channel after. Photo by Phil Gaebler.

STREAMBANK AND STORMWATER PROJECTS

EXPANDED EROSION CONTROL ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM

The City of Madison completed two major channel restorations in 2015, including 2,000 feet of Wingra Creek and 500 feet in the Nakoma Channel, north of Lake Wingra. The city also completed stormwater pollution prevention plans for eight public work sites, and implemented control structures at two of these sites. These include a stormwater catchbasin and screen structures and separators, which trap debris and sediment from high-volume runoff.

In 2015, the City of Madison permitted 424 acres of construction sites, 92 of which fell under the new Enhanced Erosion Control Enforcement Program. The program involves increased reporting from contractors and an additional full-time City staff member to aid in compliance inspections.

According to city engineer Phil Gaebler, the program has helped â&#x20AC;&#x153;build a relationship between the city and contractors, so that they understand the importance of erosion control measures,â&#x20AC;? positively impacting all sites, not just those covered in the new program.

Madison also continues to partner on a leaf-raking pilot in the Wingra watershed; see page 33 to read more about this and other leaf management efforts.

35

Alum site, Arboretum.

Photos by Phil Gaebler.

GLENWAY ALUM INJECTION 2015 was the first full year of operation for the Glenway alum injection project, located northwest of Lake Wingra. Alum settles phosphorus out of the water, helping to improve water quality. The City of Madison continues to monitor and improve the system to optimize performance.

Urban Actions Fitchburg, Monona, Middleton

Harlan Hills East Pond.

Winnequah stormwater treatement device.

Kromrey Middle School project.

CITY OF FITCHBURG

CITY OF MONONA

CITY OF MIDDLETON

In 2015, Fitchburg dredged over 10,000 cubic yards of soil out of the Harlan Hills East and Ashbourne ponds to enlarge them for enhanced water quantity control and water quality improvement. Fitchburg is in the process of converting the current non-native vegetation to native vegetation for improved habitat for wildlife.

In 2015, Monona invested in a project in which the City installed four new stormwater treatment devices in high-priority locations. These devices are designed to prevent stormwater from carrying sediment, leaves, floatables, and some oils into Lake Monona and the Yahara River.

In 2015, the City of Middleton worked on several projects to improve the quality of water flowing into Pheasant Branch and Lake Mendota. These include dredging to remove built-up sediment in the Orchid Heights detention basins and a new developerfunded stormwater basin at Bishops Bay.

Monona also reinforced 200 feet of shoreline with medium rip-rap, replaced two large culverts connecting Sumac and Winnequah Lagoons in Winnequah Park, and upgraded three outfalls with aprons and rock bedding to prevent erosion. Monona dredged built-up sediment at the ends of the new culverts, as well as in front of the 3 outfalls that have been reconditioned.

Middleton also completed a project to relocate 480 feet of stream channel away from a steep eroded slope and and stabilize banks near Kromrey Middle School. The newly-created meanders and floodplain will improve the ability of the channel to handle stormwater flow into Pheasant Branch.

Fitchburg also applied for and received five grants in 2015 for stormwater projects to be built in 2016, from Dane County, Yahara WINs and DNR grant programs. These projects are within the Nine Springs Creek watershed, which drains to Upper Mud Lake and Lake Waubesa. Nine Springs Creek is currently listed as impaired for phosphorus and sediment and these projects will be critical in restoring it.

36

Urban Actions DeForest, Windsor, Stoughton

Marvin and Marie Schweers Natural Area.

Village of Windsor, Token Creek.

Williams Drive bioretention basin.

VILLAGE OF DEFOREST

VILLAGE OF WINDSOR

CITY OF STOUGHTON

DeForest has made efforts to improve water quality, including: • A prairie and wetland restoration project adjacent to the Upper Yahara River, for which the Village converted 15 acres of row-cropped land to prairie, converted 15 acres of willow thicket to wetland, and converted straight ditches into meandering scrapes.

• Stormwater trenches that drain to street trees instead of storm sewers, constructed in downtown DeForest.

• Four developer-funded stormwater basins • Moving forward, the Village will begin to require phosphorus modeling on all stormwater permitted projects.

The Village of Windsor, located on the Upper Yahara River north of Lake Mendota and Token Creek, requires 90 to 100% infiltration of pre-development stormwater flow in its new subdivisions, plus infiltration to account for groundwater use. These requirements are in place for Prairie Creek, Wolf Hollow, and Bear Tree Farms developments.

In 2015, Stoughton, which is located on the Yahara River below Lake Kegonsa, removed more than 1,000 cubic yards of material using street sweepers and 910 tons of material using curbside vacuum leaf pickup. Stoughton also constructed a new bioretention basin for the Williams Drive reconstruction project.

In the fall of 2015, DeForest partnered for a leaf-free streets pilot conducted by Clean Lakes Alliance; see page 33 for more information.

37

Additional stormwater infiltration structures have been put in place at the Windsor Blue Addition and the Windsor Crossing commercial and residential plats.

Urban Actions Sun Prairie, UW-Madison

SUPPORTING GOOD WORK

Let your municipality know that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen the work being done in your community and support efforts to protect water quality.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see your municipality? Contact your local government representative directly to learn about the water quality projects being completed in your community. If you live in the Yahara Watershed, encourage your municipality to share success stories with us!

Sheehan Park. Photo by Aaron Volkening.

CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE Stormwater efforts in Sun Prairie involved several developer-funded projects, which include a stormwater basin with an infiltration cell at Fox Point, rain gardens at the Ironwood Estates, and two bioretention basins at the Bank of Sun Prairie.

UW-Madison.

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON The University of Wisconsin-Madison installed stormwater facilities on its west campus including four bioretention basins, a bioswale, and a naturalized wet pond. The project, which won an engineering excellence award, utilizes a specialized soil mix to remove as much phosphorus as possible while contending with high groundwater and limited space.

Photo by UW-Madison Water Sustainability and Climate Project

38

Rural Actions Adaptive Management

RURAL ACTIONS

Around 71 percent of the potential for phosphorus reduction in the Yahara CLEAN plan lies in rural actions. Rural actions often require less costly infrastructure than urban actions and can provide a bigger phosphorus-reduction impact per dollar. That’s why local farmers are one of our biggest assets when it comes to changes on the land and in the lakes.

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT TRANSITIONING TO FULL-SCALE PROJECT 2015 was the end of the four-year pilot undertaken by the Yahara Watershed Improvement Network, known as Yahara WINs, led by Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. The pilot helped quantify the savings associated with pursuing Adaptive Management and built the business case for going towards full-scale adaptive management.

2016 is a transition year for the Adaptive Management Project as it moves from the pilot project to a full-scale project focusing on the entire Yahara Watershed. Water quality monitoring and phosphorus reduction activities will continue into 2016. In addition, Yahara WINs is finalizing an intergovernmental agreenment and an adaptive

management plan for the full-scale project.

What is adaptive management?

Adaptive management is a cooperative approach where all phosphorus sources – agricultural producers, urban residents, and municipalities – work together to improve water quality. See the box on page 28 for more information.

“It is exciting to bring together a diverse group of partners through the Yahara WINS project who are committed to reducing phosphorus loads and improving water quality throughout the Yahara Watershed.” - Dave Taylor, Director of Ecosystem Services, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

39

Photo by UW-Madison Water Sustainability and Climate Project.

Rural Actions Dane County

DANE COUNTY The Dane County Land Conservation Division helps landowners plan, design, and implement conservation practices, with the goal of protecting water quality and conserving soil in Dane County.

HIGHLIGHT: HARVESTABLE BUFFERS

In 2015, Dane County helped 1,122 landowners and assisted in implementing practices on land in the county, including: • 48 miles of harvestable buffers, grassed waterways and filter strips • 250 acres of contour farming • 127,190 acres of Nutrient Management Plans, which aid producers in applying nutrients based on crop needs Dane County also issued nine permits for manure storage structures.

Ag Innovation Days.

WETLAND RESTORATION In 2015, Dane County assisted in the restoration of 181 acres of wetlands and 58 acres of wildlife habitat. This often involves breaking existing agricultural drainage tiles, plugging ditches and creating shallow water areas, and maintenance by a combination of burning and mowing.

In addition, Dane County purchased 81 acres of farmland in the Cherokee Marsh Natural Resource Area, which will permanently protect 40 acres of wetland at the north end of the chain of lakes and improve access to the Yahara River.

Yahara River near Cherokee Marsh.

CONSERVATION PRACTICES AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Harvestable buffers are strips of perennial grass cover, often established along waterways and field edges, that can be harvested for hay or grass several times a year to provide dairy feed. A oneacre harvestable buffer can prevent 28 pounds of phosphorus runoff a year.

Farmers participating in Dane County cost-share have the option of installing buffers or field border strips to cool-season or native prairie grass mixes, for periods of five, ten or fifteen years.

Source: Dane County

Vegetated buffer.

40

Rural Actions Yahara Pride Farms

YAHARA PRIDE FARMS

Yahara Pride Farms is a farmer-led, non-profit organization working to improve soil and water quality in the Yahara Watershed. The group seeks to recognize good land stewardship and advance new ideas and technology that promote clean water and profitable farms.

Clean Lakes Alliance worked closely with Yahara Pride Farms in its founding years, providing administrative, financial and program support. In 2015 the group applied for and received independent non-profit status, allowing it to continue to do good work on behalf of the farming community.

CONSERVATION COST-SHARE Cost-share programs allow farmers the opportunity to try new conservation practices with minimum risk and a financial incentive for practices that involve an investment in time, land or seed. In 2015, thanks to a grant from Yahara WINs, Yahara Pride Farmers implemented 4,939 acres of cover crops and 1,057 acres of strip tillage. These practices help keep soil and valuable nutrients, including phosphorus, on the field and away from nearby waterways.

Pouring seeds for cover crops.

Crops and a field buffer.

MANURE MANAGEMENT In 2015, Yahara Pride Farms continued to advance options for lake-friendly nutrient management in our watershed. For the third year, Yahara Pride Farms offered cost-share equipment rentals for lowdisturbance manure injection, covering a total of 336 acres. The practice, which Yahara Pride Farms helped bring to the watershed, allows farmers to inject manure while minimizing soil disturbance and reducing runoff. Yahara Pride Farmers also continued to partner with our watershedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two community manure digesters (see opposite).

41

In addition, three Yahara Pride Farmers received a North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education grant, by which they were able to demonstrate that windrow manure composting is a feasible and potentially economical manure management alternative. Both Clean Lakes Alliance and Yahara Pride Farms have received additional grants to build on this work; Clean Lakes Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fund for Lake Michigan grant will focus on identifying potential water quality impacts for the practice.

Manure composting.

Rural Actions Digesters

COMMUNITY DIGESTERS In 2015, digesters in the Yahara Watershed processed approximately 150,000 gallons of manure daily. One digester is located in Springfield just outside Middleton and one is located in Waunakee.

Each digester processes manure from three farms.

In 2015, the Waunakee digester, which continued to fail to meet operation standards, was purchased by Clean Fuel Partners, LLP. Clean Lakes Alliance and our partners are optimistic about the transfer to new ownership. To explore how community digesters helped us work towards our phosphorus-reduction goals in 2015, see page 31.

2015 tour, Middleton digester.

WHAT ARE MANURE DIGESTERS?

Digesters use a combination of raw manure and food waste to produce clean energy and a fiber that can be used as cow bedding or for compost. In turn, farmers receive a liquid with lower phosphorus content to apply on fields.

Farms

Manure

With additional technology, digesters have the potential to separate up to 100% of phosphorus from the manure, producing clean water and a phosphorus product to be sold outside of the watershed.

In a watershed like the Yahara that is producing more manure than farmers can safely spread, digesters are one way that farmers are working to keep excess manure off the fields and out of our waterways.

Substrate

Digester

Liquid

Separator

Methane

Electricity Customers

Fiber

Compost

Source: Clean Fuel Partners

42

ENGAGEMENT Clean Lakes Alliance builds capacity in the community through targeted outreach programs and events. We believe that the more people engage with our lakes – volunteering, recreating, making personal connections – the better off our lakes (and we) will be.

2015 Businesses Lands’ End Spectrum Brands CUNA Mutual Group American Family Insurance Death’s Door Spirits National Guardian Life Insurance Company Filament Games Nordic Consulting UW- Madison Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center Partners UW-Lakeshore Nature Preserve Dane County Parks City of Madison Parks UW-Arboretum City of Middleton Public Lands, Recreation, and Forestry Holy Wisdom Monastery Friends of Monona Bay Friends of the Yahara River Parkway Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Wild Warner Bay Creek Neighborhood Association Cardno Adaptive Restoration

43

Filament Games volunteer day.

RENEW THE BLUE VOLUNTEER DAYS With 58 miles of lakeshore in the watershed, shoreline maintenance is a big job. We’re lucky to have dedicated and knowledgeable municipalities and community groups that put in many hours keeping our parks and beaches healthy. Through our Renew the Blue Volunteer Days, sustained by CUNA Mutual Foundation through a multi-year grant, we connect these organizations with businesses looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities for their employees. In turn, volunteers learn about local ecosystems and watershed health by pitching in to clean up our shorelines and beaches, remove invasive plant species and establish native plants.

2013-2015 GROWTH

2013 2014 2015 VOLUNTEERS 0

500

215 275

488

Engagement Lake Monitoring WHAT WE MEASURED

CLA staff training City of Madison lifeguards

2015 1,258

Sampling Events

48

118

E.coli Bacteria Tests

58

Volunteer Monitoring Sites Teams

463

Donated Hours

MONITORING & LAKEFORECAST.ORG At least once a week during the summer, each trained Clean Lakes Alliance volunteer monitor heads down to his or her designated beach or pier to measure water temperature and clarity and collect information about algal blooms, beach use, and even the presence of ducks and geese With our new Lake Forecast mobile tool, residents now have access to this information as it is collected at our 58 monitoring stations around each of the five Yahara lakes, as well as information from Public Health Madison & Dane County, the UW-Madison research buoy, and more.

Other collaborators that shared data and provided technical support include MIOsoft, the City of Madison, the City of Monona, Dane County, the UW-Madison Center for Limnology, UW-Madison

Morgridge Center, the Wisconsin DNR, and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.

Thanks to these partners, residents can head to the beach with even more confidence in lake conditions.

One mother shared, “I was at Tenney Park Beach last night with my son when the volunteers showed up to test the water. Thanks so much for doing this!

As a parent, it’s a huge reassurance to know you are keeping an eye on the water quality.”

Visit www.lakeforecast.org during the monitoring season to view up-to-date condition information for your favorite beach.

Thank you to our 2015 Volunteer Monitors:

Daniel Adams, Allen, Claire, and Ava Arntsen*, Rhonda Arries, Alan Ausel, Jill Ball*, Sarah Balz, George Benton*, Carolyn Betz, Brenda Bird, Kitty Brussock*, Kathy Carl*, Eric Christenson, Jim Cordray, Josie and Peter Cyffka, Debbie and Eli Durcan, Karen Faller, Robert Gilbert*, Carol Gillen, Laura Graham*, Mike Horn*, Jerry Jendrisak, Kirsten Johnson, Mark Jung*, Alexandru Kajcsaracz, Sasha Kerlow*, Joan Kirkhuff*, Woody Kneppreth, Bill Lamm, Dea Larsen Converse, Deanna Letts, Junalee Ly, Natalie Marshall, Alec McCann, Mel McCartney*, Leigh Meier*, Matthew Melvin, Madeline Murphy, Craig Ostrom, Dick Pearson*, Bowen Prince, Harmon and Nell Ray*, Zak Redding, Juliette Schick*, Silke Schmidt, David Schroder*, Carla and Glen Schubert, Tom Smith*, Caitlin Soley, Jacob Stampen*, Kirk and Betsy Swenson, John Tye*, Jan Van Vleck*, Theresa Vander Woude, Parker Waller*, Ken Walz*, Jim Wilcox, Kenneth Xavier

*Lake Forecasting Stewards made a donation to fully fund their equipment and associated costs.

44

Engagement Access & Education

LAKE EXPLORER CAMP The Lake Explorer Camp, now in its second year, seeks to increase lake literacy and access among our community’s future leaders: our kids. In the summer of 2015, nearly 200 students from the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County (BGCDC) learned about and played on Lake Wingra with Wingra Boats’ professional staff, including a bilingual instructor.

A hands-on experience: • Investigating fish biology through dissection • Reading topography maps • Identifying macroinvertebrates by microscope

“Kids that were at first afraid to get into a canoe or rowboat leave feeling confident and saying ‘I want to do this again.’”

- Debi Leeper, Wingra Boats camp director and education coordinator

• Paddling • Boat safety • Fishing

“The camp teaches kids how to navigate our waters safely and fosters excitement in kids who would not normally have these opportunities.”

- AJ Kriha, senior director of programs at BGCDC

YAHARA LAKES 101 Each month, Clean Lakes Alliance brings a different expert to present research to a broad audience of community members. By choosing timely topics and inviting experts in the field, we help get the latest research on lake issues in front of those who can apply it; from policy makers and business leaders, to engaged community members.

What we learned about in 2015: • stream restoration • lakes and the global climate • carp and restoring shallow lakes • farmer-led conservation • seasonality in sources of phosphorus • invasive spiny water flea

45

• • • • •

challenges for improving water quality aquatic plants stream flow and nutrient transport stormwater management lakeforecast.org and citizen monitoring

Engagement Access & Education

HERITAGE LAKE TOURS In 2015, thanks to a partnership with The Edgewater and generous sponsorship by National Guardian Life Insurance Company, we introduced a full program of affordable boat tours on Lake Mendota. For our inaugural season, we led 24 sold-out tours and educated nearly 350 people on the history, geology, and limnology of our lakes.

Highlights of the tours include: • Insight into the glacial origins of the chain of lakes • Stories from Ho-Chunk and early Madison history, including a history of lake recreation and commerce • Mini crash course in lake ecology, plant and animal species • Update on threats to our lakes and local cleanup efforts One woman shared that after living in Madison for decades, this was her first time on the lake. Many more shared similar stories. We anticipate the return of this highly popular program in 2016.

BADGER VOLUNTEERS The Badger Volunteer program, hosted by the Morgridge Center for Public Service, provides UW-Madison students a hands-on opportunity to become more involved in key issues in the community.

Our volunteer teams come into the Clean Lakes Alliance office once a week to complete special projects indoors and outdoors to help advance our efforts.

Daniel Adams Maxwell Albrecht Alex Bernell Brenda Bird Hailey Bussan Adrienne Fedora

Austin Gatchel Alexandru Kajcsaracz Junalee Ly Natalie Marshall Alec McCann Matthew Melvin

Madeline Murphy Bowen Prince Morgan Sanger Aaron Wilson Alissa Wilson Kenneth Xavier

46

Engagement Fundraising Events

Each year Clean Lakes Alliance works with volunteers and our dedicated Friends of Clean Lakes board to put on a variety of successful fundraising events, allowing us to continue growing our capacity and presence in the community.

FROZEN ASSETS 2016 For three days, The Edgewater on Lake Mendota hosted families from across the area for the second annual Frozen Assets Festival, presented by Lands’ End, and hosted by platinum sponsor, The Edgewater. Over the weekend, the festival drew nearly 6,000 people who were interested in “frozen fun” on our lakes and, in conjunction with the fundraiser party, raised more than $150,000 for our lakes.

FESTIVAL SNAPSHOT

1,000

100

Ice Skaters

Sleigh Rides

2,000

5,200

S’mores Made

Cups of Hot Cocoa

Photo by David Giroux.

“Our toddler has been bringing us his boots and saying ‘lake?’ constantly.”

- shared by a parent after Frozen Assets

47

Engagement Fundraising Events

SHORELINE SWIM

LOOP THE LAKE

Many people in the community rely on clean water for swimming. The 1.2 or 2.4-mile Shoreline Swim in Lake Monona, now in its second year, raises funds for lake improvement efforts while bringing the swimming community together for a fun and competitive event.

The Loop the Lake bike ride is one of the Friends of Clean Lakes’ most visible events of the year. In July, 525 riders of all ages joined us for a fun 12-mile loop around Lake Monona to support our lake cleanup efforts. Some highlights included stops for food and refreshments at lakeside parks, and the Friends signs and little “cheerleaders” along the route helping to encourage our riders!

FORE! LAKES

SAVE OUR LAKES BREAKFAST

The Fore! Lakes Golf Event has quickly become a favorite fall event for business and community leaders in Madison and the surrounding area.

Started in 2013, the goal of the event is to not only raise funds for Clean Lakes Alliance, but also to bring business leaders together and raise awareness for the health of our lakes.

The Save Our Lakes Breakfast brings our community together each year to review our progress towards cleaner, healthier lakes. At the breakfast, we assess actions taken towards our 50% phosphorus reduction goal and launch new programs and initiatives for the year ahead. Presentations include the State of the Lakes Annual Report and the Save Our Lakes video series.

48

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS 2015

Clean Lakes Alliance’s volunteers turn our small staff into one big team. From the experts and community leaders that make up our boards and committees to the business employees that put on gloves for a lakeshore volunteer day, these people make us into a bigger “we.”

Lands’ End volunteer day.

Daniel Adams John Adams Daniel Adams Patty Adamson Sandy Ager Nick Aikens Maxwell Albrecht Kristin Anderson Robin Anderson-Guernsey Maddie Angevine Jannet Arenas Pineda Allen Arntsen Ava Arntsen Claire Arntsen Kayla Arntz Rhonda Arries Alan Ausel Tim B Jill Ball Sarah Balz Kristina Bartowitz Teri Bell George Benton Alex Bernell Rachel Bero Carolyn Betz Brenda Bird

49

Oscar Bloch Janelle Bogenreif Lanie Boggs Lauren Bradshaw Kristin Braska Kelly Brown Emily Brunks Kitty Brussock Dave Burreson Hailey Bussan Sergei Capaul Kathy Carl Jady Carmichael Mackenzie Carroll Michele Casper Eric Christenson Dea Larsen Converse Jim Cordray Kim Costa Aimee Crittendon Rod Cupp Josie Cyffka Peter Cyffka Philip Deming Ken Dickson Mary Ann Doll Greg Dombrowski

Mike Donald Claire Doyle Lisa DuChateau Michelle Dunn Debbie Durcan Eli Durcan Kate Dwyer-Nuñez Kiera Dykstra Acadia Engelman Bill Engelman Corinne Engelman Dillon Engelman Carly Epping Craig Erickson Sandra Estep Karen Faller Adrienne Fedora Jessica Feiner Maggie Felker Anne Fink Dave Fink Devon Fink Nicholas Fink Susan Frett Payton Garlan Deanna Garland Austin Gatchel

Nora Gehin Nora Gehin Drew Geissbuhler Samantha Georgson John Giegel Robert Gilbert Carol Gillen Kayla Goetz Laura Graham Kelsey Greiber Alex Grzybowski Wil Guernsey Dan Haag Lauren Halweg Joy Hamele Andy Hammond Roxana Hammond Kate Hanson Sara Hanson Joyce Hardy Marsha Harnett Stacy Harnett Galen Hasler Katie Haueter Cari Hauge Matt Heilman Aubrey Hellenbrand

Annette Hellmer Madeline Horan Mike Horn Janet Hottenstein Amy Hottman Derek Hubbard Zack Huybrecht Jane Ilgen Mike Imhof Brea Imse Andy Inman Sam Inman Crystal Jackson Deb Jacobs Allan Jacobson Noah Jahn Olivia Jahn Cody Jaworski Dan Jaworski Jennifer Jaworski Jerry Jendrisak Adam Jermaine Colleen Johnson Kirsten Johnson Jennifer Johnson Kevin Julka Mark Jung

Engagement Volunteers Alexandru Kajcsaracz Jason Kasperski Sasha Kerlow Anke Keuser Eiman Khalili Joan Kirkhuff Woody Kneppreth Abby Kothe John Kothe Katie Kothe Maddie Kothe Tyson Krcma Beth Krinkey Gene Krinkey Amber Krogman Mike LaFond Gina LaLiberte Bill Lamm Heather Laroche Tiffany Leck Jeff Lee Maggie Lee Melanie Lee Mark Lenters Deanna Letts Jenny Logan Aurora Long Shannon Long Junalee Ly Molli MacDonald Spencer Mael Lindsay Manning Andrew Marcin Natalie Marshall Cali Mcatee

Alec McCann Claire McCarthy Mike McCarthy Mel McCartney Dave McEvoy Carly McGowan Marc McMerty Brad Meier Jacci Meier Leigh Meier Matthew Melvin Miranda Mendoza John Merill Terry Messmer Chelsey Metcalf Tina Metcalfe Anne Miess Rodrigo Miranda Jenni Mistretta Kaytlin Moeller Jill Monson Maria Muniagurria Madeline Murphy Kevin Murray Ann Naylor Samantha Neary Nicole Nehls Doug Neugent Lori Neugent Mya Neugent Quinn Neugent Anthony Nicholas Taryn Nicole Paul Noeldner Monika Nolan

CUNA Mutual Group volunteer day.

Jeff Noltner Mike Nowicki Michelle Okray Sam Oliver Grace Olson Craig Ostrom Eric Parton Walter Patterson Liam Patton Alisha Paul Dick Pearson Steve Peterson Jane Petzoldt Jim Pingel Bowen Prince Linda Priske-Georgeson Sarah Pyne Caroline Quinn Harmon Ray Nell Ray Zak Redding Justin Reed Cory Salzmann Chuck Salzwedel Giselle Sanchez Caden Sanderfoot Mark Sanderfoot Morgan Sanger Michelle Schernecker Juliette Schick Lisa Schluesche Silke Schmidt David Schroder Zicela Schroeder Carla Schubert Glen Schubert Andrea Schulz Eric Schulz Laura Schumann Pat Schwartz Courtney Searles Thor Sites Danielle Smith Jonathon Smith Tylor Smith Shondra Smith Tom Smith Scott Solberg

Phi Gamma Delta volunteer day.

Caitlin Soley Zoe Sprout Jean Stajich Jacob Stampen Jon Standridge Sam Starks Charles Stephens Mike Stevens Jennifer Straub Randy Straub Spencer Strong Betsy Swenson Kirk Swenson Emma Taschwer Jeff Taschwer Lori Taschwer Bryon Thompson Daniele Thompson David Thompson Ann Tieman Kristen Tracy Natalie Trueman Sara Tubbs John Tye Theresa Vander Woude Jan Van Vleck Aidan Wagner Ryan Wagner Eric Waite Parker Waller Ken Walz Dan Wang

Tony Wang Paul Webb Joe Weber Eric Wedige Karen Wedvick Heather Wheiland Dan White Kate Wiedel Matthew Wiemer Jim Wilcox Brittany Wilhorn Grant Wilhorn Shannon Wilson Aaron Wilson Alissa Wilson Bob Wombacher Kenneth Xavier Sam Zwernik Russ Tieman Brett Topham

50

Engagement Committees

Advancement Committee: Seeks to build the capacity and capability of Clean Lakes Alliance to carry out our vision and mission.

Members: Todd Carpenter Sarah Dunn Joseph Ferreri Thomas Groth Katie Stephenson Amy Supple Jim West Nominating Committee: Vets candidates for the Community Board and the Executive Board of Directors.

Members: Bob Karls Bob Miller Stacey Neu Brian Potts Amy Supple

51

Committee on Strategic Implementation: Provides guidance on integrating lake-cleanup initiatives with Clean Lakes Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources, goals and mission.

Members: Eric Booth Kevin Connors Lloyd Eagan Greg Fries Phil Gaebler Mike Gerner Dea Larsen Converse Dick Lathrop John J. Magnuson Kyle Minks Randy Peterson Mark Riedel Greg Searle Mike Sorge Dave Taylor

Economic Impact & Policy Committee: Focuses on assessing the economic value to the community of our area lakes and identifying and providing guidance on policy issues related to lakes issues.

Members: Pam Christenson Nathan Fagre Matt Frank Marney Hoefer John Kothe Kevin Little James Matson Brian Potts Glenn Reinl Sarah Slack Scott Smith Robert Weber Jim Welsh

Citizen Action Committee: Seeks to help residents take action to protect and preserve water quality through education, engagement and advocacy opportunities.

Members: Roger Bannerman Carol Gillen Andy Kurth David Liebl Steve Pomplun Rebecca Power Glenn Reinl Mardi Stroud

Engagement Calendar YEAR-ROUND

Yahara Lakes 101

The Edgewater 8-9 a.m., second Thursday of the month except December

SUMMER

Heritage Lake Tours

Paddle & Portage

The Edgewater Pier Every Saturday & Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend through September

James Madison Park July 30th

Shoreline Swim.

Madison Area Antique & Classic Boat Show UW-Madison Goodspeed Family Pier, Friday, August 5th Christyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landing, Saturday, August 6th

Loop the Lake Bike Ride Olbrich Park Saturday, July 30th

Shoreline Swim

Law Park Saturday, July 30th

FALL

Loop the Lake.

Fore! Lakes Golf Outing Maple Bluff Country Club Monday, September 19th

WINTER

Frozen Assets Festival & Fundraiser 2017 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd to 5th

Frozen Assets.

52

Business Donors 2015 $100,000 & Above Foley & Lardner LLP*** Madison Community Foundation** Spectrum Brands**

$50,000-$99,999 Lands’ End***

$25,000-$49,000 Cuna Mutual Foundation** Hy Cite Corporation** The Edgewater***

$15,000-$24,999

Colony Brands, Inc** Johnson Bank CG Schmidt American Family Insurance National Guardian Life Insurance Company Alliant Energy Corporation/Foundation** American Transmission Company** Village of DeForest

$10,000-$14,999 Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative** Hovde Properties, LLC Isthmus Partners, LLC***

$5,000-$9,999

American Girl’s Fund for Children Anonymous ** Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP Buye Law Office, LLC Cresa Partners Ideal Builders, Inc. Madison Gas & Electric Company/ Foundation** MCF Fund: Rayovac Corporation MIG Commercial Real Estate, LLC Milk Source, LLC PING*** Sprinkman Real Estate

53

DONORS 2015 Donors to Clean Lakes Alliance support our work through financial and in-kind support, and often volunteer time and expertise, recruit friends and family, and make clean lakes a priority in their lives, neighborhoods and places of work.

Middleton boathouses, northwest shore of Lake Mendota

State of Wisconsin DNR The Burish Group - UBS Financial Services The Evjue Foundation, Inc. WA & DJ Frautschi Charitable Unitrust** Wingra Boats*** WTS Paradigm, LLC** Zander’s Interiors

$1,000-$4,999

Alphagraphics* *** AnchorBank B Goll & Dunn Insurance Agency Badgerland Financial Blackhawk Country Club*** Car-X Inc. Coldwell Banker Success Comer Family Foundation** Compass Properties Cummings Christensen Family Foundation** CUNA Mutual Group Dane County Environmental Council Death’s Door Spirits, LLC*** DreamHouse/DreamKitchens Endres Manufacturing** Eppstein Uhen Architects, Inc. First Supply First Weber Foundation, Inc. First Weber Inc. Fiskars Brands, Inc.*** Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society** General Heating & Air Conditioning Gingras, Cates & Luebke, S.C. Glassroots LLC** Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. Gordon Flesch Company Hammes Sports Co Hausmann-Johnson Insurance, Inc. Haviland Homes, LLC** Hooper Foundation

J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.** Joan Collins Publicity, Inc** John J. Frautschi Family Foundation** Kayser Automotive Group LRP Consultants LLC Madison Area Antique & Classic Boat Society - Glacier Lakes Chapter** Madison Investment Advisors Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District McGann Construction Murphy Desmond S.C. Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Oak Park Dental Phoebe R. and John D. Lewis Foundation Reinen Beyler Chiropractic LLC Robert W. Baird Smith & Gesteland, LLP Stark Company Realtors** Strand Associates, Inc.** T. Wall Enterprises, LLC Tenth and Blake Beery Company*** The Community of Bishops Bay, LLC* The Craig & Kathryn Hall Foundation The LeeLee Foundation** The QTI Group The Roman Candle Pizzeria*** United Way of Dane County University Book Store** UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies W.F. Baird & Associates** Webcrafters-Frautschi Foundation Weed Man Lawn Care West County Glass** Whyte Hirschbeck Dudek S.C. Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, Inc. Yahara Lakes Association Yahara WINs

$500-$999

Acuity Consulting Services LLC Dane County Dickinson MFG. Solutions* Figures First LLC Gary Brink & Associates Inc.* Gino’s Italian Deli Goben Cars Kothe Real Estate Partners M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc Park Bank Potter Lawson, Inc. Rutabaga Paddlesports LLC Sub-Zero Wolf Foundation Inc.* Teel Plastics, Inc* The Coopers Tavern* Tri-North Builders University Audio Waddell & Reed Avisors Zerorez Madison, LLC

$250-$499

Agrace HospiceCare Avid Risk Solutions* BDO USA, LLP City of Monona Craig Recob Signature Real Estate LLC* Experience Triathlon LLC EZ Office Products* *Lake Partner **Yahara Society ***Additional in-kind support

Business Donors 2015

Hardin Design & Development Harmony Bar & Grill* Madison Country Day School Majic Productions Metcalfe’s Market Inc.* Middleton Farmers Co-op* OPN Architects Inc Psycle Sams Heady Glass Stafford Financial Consulting Group LLC Supreme Structures, Inc. The Civil Engineers The Gialamas Company, Inc. The Livingston Inn* The University of Wisconsin-Madison* Vanta Commercial Properties LLC* Warren Family Dental Wegner CPAs

$100-$249

AMPED Angus Young Associates Axley Brynelson, LLP Bank Mutual Boys and Girls Club of Dane County* Brownhouse Bunbury & Associates Realtors* Capital Area Regional Planning Commission Championship Awards Dieck Executive Search Dines Inc. Drake Wisconsin Friends of Cherokee Marsh*

Lake Waubesa. Photo by Brenda Mortenson.

West Side Garden Club* William Thomas Jewelers Wisconsin Hoofers* Yahara Software

$10-$99

Farm & Digester tour.

Geiger Realtors HotelRED Hype Communications Iota of Alpha Gamma Rho Inc.* JG Development Inc. Lizard LLC Magna Publications Inc. Maier Farms Manpower Inc. Mendota Financial Group, LLC Mid-West Family Broadcasting Middleton Boat House Co.* Middleton Community Bank Mystic Valley Dairy LLC* National Mutual Benefit* Olson Toon Landscaping, Inc. Paschke Water LLC* Preferred Title Royle Printing Stark Company Realtors** Stellar Financial Management* The Burish Group The Carlson Company, Inc. Town of Westport* Trump Tours, Inc.* USDA Forest Products Lab Valicom Corp

Alpha Gamma Rho Educational Foundation Brightwork Boats City of Madison City of Madison - Office of Mayor City of Middleton Downtown Madison, Inc Fire Light Group* Friends of Monona Bay Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts Keller Williams Realty Lauber Consulting, LLC Montgomery Associates MSA Professional Services Office of Lakes and Watersheds Sand County Foundation, Inc Sandy Oaks Foundation, Inc. Studio 88 The Mendota Group Tom Mc Hugh AIA Urban Land Interests UW-Madison Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Sunset over Wingra Creek.

Photo by Kenneth Younger III.

Wisconsin Lakes Wisconsin Water Science Center *Lake Partner **Yahara Society ***Additional in-kind support

Lake Monona.

54

Memorial Union. Photo by Thomas Klingele.

63CLUB The 63Club recognizes donors who support our efforts through a recurring monthly donation. Why 63? 1963 is the year that two CLA founding partners, the Mad-City Ski Team and Lands’ End, were founded.

2015 MEMBERS $19.63 Level ($235.56 annually)

Jennifer Alderman Chuck & Peggy Angevine Kristine Ashe Todd & Dana Asmuth Lauren Azar Julie & Rob Bauer Gerry & Vicki Benusa Jeffrey Bernstein Glen Bever & Dr. Jana Gyurina-Bever Dr. Michael & Lynn Beyler Dr. Steve & Jessie Beyler Jason & Vesa Bollig Curtis & Elizabeth Brink Cory & Jessica Buye Elizabeth Carley Laurie Chagnon James & Kelly Christensen Chris & Jane Clark David & Natalie Crain Paul & Andrea Dearlove Dan & Erin Delaney Michael Doers Brian & Beth Donley Richard & Vicky D’Orazio Marissa & Ryan Downs William & Heather Duncan Sarah Dunn Patrick & Lloyd Eagan Peter Foy Nancy Francisco-Welke

55

Matthew & Laurel Frazer Eric Fritz Desi Olson & Peter Gargano Mark Gehring & Petra Killian-Gehring Kaveh & Trish Ghaboussi Kristin Gilkes Kevin & Marilee Gorman Ben Gottlieb James & Chulee Hallick Scott Hawley Sarah & Nathan Herbst Heather Hopke Eric & Sharon Hovde Chris & Jen Hussin Colleen Johnson Keelie Jones Robb & Jennifer Kahl Robert Karls & Doug Zander Kris & Colleen Keller Steven Kincaid Michael & Karen Knetter Sue & Tim Koob Michael & Erin Kosolcharoen John & Amy Kothe Andrew & Amy Kramer Daniel & Jennifer Kuehn Andy & Nicole Kurth Dr. Tim & Gillian Lechmaier Tyler Leeper Jay & Laura Liebe Alex Lindenmeyer

Stephanie Mader Roger & Katya Maes Chas & Dave Martin Edward Matthes Kelly Maxwell Dayna May Brook McGettigan Robert J. McKee Brad & Jacci Meier Al & Karen Meyer Bob Miller & Pam Hoffman Matt & Becky Mitchell Todd & Jennifer Montgomery Stephanie & Stephen Moomjian Ron & Anna Morin Mark Murray Anne Neujahr-Morrison Peter & Nicole Newcomer Michael & Erica Nowicki Kate Nuwaysir Khanh Oberley Dan & Mary Jo O’Brien Eric & Tracy Petersen Randy & Linda Peterson Joy Pontrello Brian Potts & Abigail Wuest Beth Prochaska Aaron & Heather Reekie John Reinders & Elizabeth Katt Reinders Chad & Katie Rhodes

Timothy & Sarah Rikkers Robert Rosa & Michael Johnson Jason Rosinski Michael & Judith Rothschild Mary & John Rowe Shana Rudy Keven & Terri Schmidt Richard L Schmidt Dan & Patty Schultz Courtney Searles James Sendecke Scott & Vicki Seymour Kelly Sitkin Scott & Kathleen Smith Adam & Carissa Sodersten Trey & Shelly Sprinkman Kirsten Steinhauer Ron & Amy Stern Deborah Still Heath & Kim Straka Don and Mardi Stroud Russ & Ann Tieman Steven & Mariann Tjugum J James Tye III Eric Vieth Andrew & Megan Walker Molly Walsh Robb Warren Leslie Watkins Bob & Mary Weber James & Katie West

Stephen Bremer & Dana White Dan White Alexandra Wood Nate Zolik & Heather Clefisch

$41.63 Level ($499.56 annually) Nathan & Constance Fagre Patrick & Kate Heaney Erik & Amy Johnson Kevin & Beth Murphy Patrick & Alison Ryan Jeanne Vander Ploeg Parker & Brijetta Waller

$83.63 Level ($1,000.56 annually) Kevin & Sheila Conroy** Mary Hathaway Dilba** Bob & Julie Dunn** Aris & Marta Gialamas** Dr. Galen & Grace Hasler** Scott & Stacey Neu** Tyler & Tina Noel** Mike & Sarah Reiter** Jeff & Amy Supple** Nicole Tucker**

**Yahara Society

Individual Donors 2015 $5,000 and up

Dale Leibowitz & Amy Kastor** David & Julie Lumley** Scott & Stacey Neu** Joe & Mary Ellen Sensenbrenner** Jan B. Terry**

$1,000-$4,999

John Batson** Thomas & Martha Beach** Mark Femal** Joe & Elizabeth Ferreri** Diane & Kevin Fitzgerald** Joe Fraas** W. Jerome Frautschi** Richard & Patricia Friday** Michael & Claudia Gerner** Kevin & Marilee Gorman** William H Haight** Jedd Jones** Glenn Reinl & Sara Krebsbach** Tom & Nancy Mohs** Austin Reed** Mary Sweeney** Thomas Terry** Randy & Nancy Trachte** Sal & Judith Troia** John & Kris Tye** Enid & Jerry Weygandt** Clinton & Pamela Woodman** Catherine Zdeblick**

$500-$999

Dr. & Mrs. C.J. Anderson Bob Bond Jane Coleman Mark & Carol Cullen Charles Gates Larry Hands & Karen Kendrick-Hands Bob & Joanne Larsen David & Julie Lombardo Kevin & Beth Murphy Kevin Page

Middleton boathouses Photo

by Thomas Klingele on Lake Mendota.

Kellie Unke & Mike Paulus Randy & Linda Peterson Layton & Diane Rikkers Karl & Juliette Schick Gerald & Vicki Swedish

$150-$499

Amanda Acton Anne S Arnesen Susan Babcock Doug Bach & Muriel Nagle Craig & Abby Bartlett Herman Baumann Dave & Theresa Beck-Engel Brad & Madonna Binkowski Bob & Lynn Bolz William & Treva Breuch Kenneth Burns Brian Butler Roy & Sue Carter Melissa Cherney Eric & Pam Christenson Doran & Pat Cicchetti Jason Ann Conroy Nicholas & Rebecca Curran Meredith Degen Diane Dempsey Clifford & Joanne Dibelius Elizabeth Connor & Ben Dickey Mary Hathaway Dilba Warren & Missy Dunn Deanne Eccles-Rotar Jean Espenshade Nathan & Constance Fagre Robert Fillingame & Kathy Schlimgen J.M. Fisher Tom & Jeannie Flesch William Flesch Grant & Sarah Frautschi Caroline Fribance

Joseph Fritz Marianna Fuchs Brian & Jennifer Gabrielse Robert & Jenifer Gilbert David J. Gilles Noel & Beth Goeddel Susan Goodwin Andrew Gundlach Rea & David Gustafson Richard & Sandra Hall Frank & Gail Hansberry Terry & Mary Hanson Warren Harrington Jeff & Rana Haupt Jeffrey Hellenbrand Brian & Annette Hellmer Dr. Tom & Joyce Hirsch John & Linda Hughes John & Melanie Humphrey Daniel Hutter Anita Johnson Darrell & Candy Johnson Doug & Janet Johnson Tom Keepers Brian & Dorothy Kilgore Tom & Lois Klingele Dan & Tamara Knickmeier Jeffrey & Arlene Koziol John & Mary Kuypers Jeffrey A. & Melanie Lee Jon & Karen Lindert Peter & Jill Lundberg Dan & Carla Lynch Richard & Mary Lynch Ross & Angela Mack Robert & Ruth Martin Hal & Christy Mayer Howard Mazur Matt & Dawn Meier Al & Karen Meyer Earl Munson

Paul & Nancy Peckham Alan Penn David & Mary Quade Dr. Mark & Pam Reichelderfer Jerry & Diana Rekowski Brett & Leslie Riemen Gerald J. Ring Ray Riordan Paul Robbins Jack & Sarah Salzwedel David & Beta Joy Schroder David & Susan Schultz Richard Searer & Cathi Webrecht-Searer Benjamin Shortreed Robert Smith Lon Sprecher Marsha Lindsay & Rick Stone Kurt & Nikki Studt Jeff & Amy Supple Marie & Grant Thomas Joe & Kay Tisserand Janet & Michael Van Vleck Randy Weber - In Memoriam Gregory Whiffen Xiujuan Zhang **Yahara Society

To donate to Clean Lakes Alliance, please visit cleanlakesalliance.org

56

Individual Donors 2015 $50-$149

Ann Pryor & Steve Ackerman Mark Walters & Jane Adams Dick & Virginia Adler Kay Altfeather Mike & Diane Anderson Michael Philip Ash Todd & Dana Asmuth Kristi Austin Kathleen Bailey Katherine Bartels Kathleen Baus Sean & Amanda Baxter John & Mary Beattie George & Susan Benton Michael & Kim Bentz Michael Bernhard & Nancy Doll-Bernhard Ron & Sharla Bilchik Dr. Robert Blank Daniel & Nancy Boe Jason & Vesa Bollig Heidi Bowe David Boyer Philip & Helen Bradbury Paul Brown Dan & Julie Brummel Jeanne Burns-Frank Joe Campshure Mark Cantrell Gwenola Caradec Jane Carlson Steve & Susan Carpenter Thomas & Patricia Carroll Timothy Casper Douglas & Sherry Caves Dennis & Lynn Christensen

Aquatic plant harvester. Photo by Adam Fagen.

Photo by Brenda Mortenson.

Christopher Coates Barbara Constans Daniel Burkhalter & Sharon Corrigan Lowell & Virginia Corwin Tom & Barbara Crozier Timothy Crummy Richard & Vicky Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Orazio Daniel & Barbara Danahy Richard Davis Jerry Derr Alex Devaux Scott & Linda Dicks Christine Dillon Steve Doran James & Lois Downing Robert Duxstad Thomas & Winifer Eckert Deborah Tieritz Mary Elvekrog Ken & Kathy Fellerson Herman Felstehausen Beverly Fergus Kristen Fish Jim & Maria Fitzpatrick Tamara Flarup George Frank Matt Frank

Richard & Erika Frohmader Shane Fry Keith Furman Erica & Mark Gehrig James & Yvonne Gern Deborah Gilpin Bob & Sharon Gilson Goellner Marcia Goldberg Robert Golden Charles Gonzales Wil Guernsey Jeffrey E Gunderson Ronald & Sharyn Gussick Robert Hansis Hanson Shawn Healy Ellen Henningsen Kevin & Ellen Hess Nancy Hilton Jane & Jon Hisgen Leslie Ann Howard Mortimer & Susan Huber David Silverberg & Elizabeth Huebel Chauncey Hunker & Mike Schmidtke Michael & Mary R. Jensen Harmony Art Show Mike Kafka Paul & Anne Karch Mary Keenan Paul & Peggy Kent Tim Kiefer Robert & Kim King Fred & Wendy Klancnik Scott & Mary Kolar

2015 Lake Explorer Camp.

57

Photo by Richard Hurd.

Janie Krohmer Patty & Tom Kuehn Jeff Kuhl Kathryne Kuhl Eric Kurz John Kyle John & Susan Lamb William Lamm & Connie Hagen David & Ann Landwehr Grant & Lori Laplant Don Last Don & Susan Lauffer Amy Lee Dan & Peggy Lee Matt & Rachel Lee Madelyn Leopold & Claude Kazanski Rita Lloyd Richard & Margaret Lofgren Bridget Lucas Don Lukes Tom & Melody Lynch Gretchen Macht John Magnuson Chris Mahvi Tracy Maloney Mark Markel Darren & Dawn Marsh

Individual Donors 2015

Lake Mendota. Photo by Phil Roeder.

$50-$149 (continued)

Mike Massoth Richard & Marlene Mastenbrook Mather Family Mark McCarthy Carol & Mel McCartney Maureen McCarville Tom & Mary McGinnis William & Sheryl McGowan Eugene McLinn Tom & Kate McMahan Walter & Stacey Meanwell James & Lynn Metz Greg & Allison Meyer Mark Miller Jarrett Misch Nicholas & Elaine Mischler Jeff Moore Michael Moore Stephen Morton Michael & Jeanne Mraz David Ende & Kathleen Murphy-Ende Dan & Karen Newcomer Tyler & Tina Noel Ann O’Brien Mary O’Connor Vince & Linda Baldwin O’Hern Ron Ohlsen Thomas & Susan Olander Irene Olson Peter & Cheryl Olson Amy Onofrey Michelle Oster Craig & Cathy Ostrom

Jerry & Rose Pasdo Ward Paxton Timothy & Tamara Peyton William & Robin Pharo William Polzin Lewis & Vicki Posekany John Powell Belinda Prahl Fritz Ragatz William & Marcia Rameker Craig & Ann Recob Lindsay Resenhoeft Daniel Resnick Joseph & Susan Rhodes Jane Richard David Falk & Jo Anne Robbins Mary Ann Roberton Annette Roder-Zulawski Scott & Georgia Roeming Sheri Rose Bernie Saley - in memoriam Mike & Mary Schlageter Carol & Dean Schroeder LaVerne Schwengel Louis Scrattish Shaun Scullion Paul & Lesta Searles Michael Sherry James Shropshire Kelly Sitkin Kane & Rani Sivesind Wrede Smith II & Melissa Smith Doug Soldat Thomas Solheim Chad Speight

Susan Springman Jon Standridge Becky Steinhoff Vern & Kallie Stenman Joseph & Jamie Steuer Thomas & Marian Stevens Lee & Becky Stillwell Janet Streiff Peter Taglia Cathie & Emerson Taylor Richard & Margaret Thomas Deborah Thomassen Amelia & Trent Thompson John & Susan Thomson Rick Thorstad Joh & Barbara Townley Daniel & Cecelia Van Lanen Michael Vilbrandt Benjamin Walker Douglas & Susan Ward Chuck Mitchell & Sally Weidemann Frank & Mariana Weinhold Lisabeth Weirich Jason Wellford Jim Welsh Frederick Wenzel James & Joan Wilcox Judy Wilson Andrew Winterstein Dan & Laura Wyatt Edward Young Loraine Zeier Mary Zillman James B. Zimmerman

$1-$49

Anonymous Saïd & Sharon Abdel-Khalik Scott Allen Jane Allen-Jauch Rebecca Altenhoff Bob Armstrong Sue Astorga Kenneth Axe Michael Bacsi John Baldus Tony & Kristin Balistreri Nancy Battist Janet Battista Laura Zimmerman & Renee Bauer Teri Bell Michael Benish Kent & Lynn Berton Gabrielle Blood Caitlin Blue John & Karen Bottorff Margaret Brauer Jonathan Breunig Charles D. Brokopp, Dr. P.H. Bill & Tracy Buglass Frank & Cindy Byrne Michael Cain Joan Calkins David Casey Michael Casey Jeri Casper Justin Chenevert Thomas Christensen Marcus Cohen

58

Individual Donors 2015

WDNR and CLA water lettuce removal.

$1-$49 (continued)

Travis Collings Kevin & Anita Connors Chris Cook Ann Corneille John Darling Dan Dieck Lindsey Dieter Rich & Gayla Divelbiss Mary Ann Doll Michael Donald Griffin & Janis Dorschel Elizabeth Douma John C Drury Martha Eberle Julie Eckenwalder Jerilyn Endrizzi Phyllis Ermer Kristine Euclide & Douglas Steege Kevin & Leslie Even John Evenson Michael & Beth Fiore Michael & Susan Fox Joannah Szymczak & Jason Frankhouser Frankie Fuller Stephen Gaffield & Heather Curnutt John Gaffney David Gebauer

59

Craig Gerlach Patrick Gorski Lance Green Susan Gruber Ned & Dolores Gruca Laura Haak Theodore & Sandy Halbach Michael Hammers Jim & Marsha Harnett Dean & Mary Hein Jessica Helmers Roberta Herschleb Laura Hicklin Carrie & Adam Hinterthuer Susan & Les Hoffman Randall Jackson James & Susan Jefferson Carl Johansson Clark E. Johnson & N. Hill Judy Karofsky Sam & Kay Keller Gillean Kitchen Rick Kludt Woody Kneppreth Kenneth & Carol Koscik Gina LaLiberte Carl Landsness William Lane Alex & Dea Larsen Converse Renee Lauber Josh Lavik John Lee & Mireille Raby David & Deb Leeper

Madison College algae vacuum.

Ag Innovation Days, manure injection.

Allan Levin Reva Everhart & WIlliam Liebl John Lorimer Bob Mahnke Kathy Marks Katherine & Joshua Marron Kathryn Schubert & Charles Martin James Matson Nancy McGill Michelle McGrath Ryan McGuire Regina Michaelis Jean & Steven Minga Kaytlin Moeller Robert Montgomery Patricia Moran Jamie & Josef Mueller Ellen Press Murdoch Anne & Charles Nahn Len Nosal Susan Nossal Tom Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Kelly Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ferrell Kenneth & Patricia Oasen Katharine Odell Suzanne & Burke Oehrlein Benjamin Peirce Lynn Persson RJ Pire Mark Porter Teresa Pratt

David Rabago Richard Reichardt Mark Reid Richard O. Reinke Doug & Katherine Reuhl Cheryl Robinson Amy Rock & Hugh Johnston Jim & Janet Ruwaldt Jim & Barb Sainsbury Donald & Barbara Sanford Rodney & Rhonda Scheel Jamie Schlachter Debbie Durcan & Eli Schmukler Thomas Schoenfeld Glen & Carla Schubert Andrew Schuster Paul & Patrice Schwartz Jenny Seifert Heidi Claire Strader & Sarah Shatz Judy Sidran Arielle Silver Karsh Nik Simonson Lloyd Sinclair Laura Skilton Verhoff Bruce Slaughenhoupt Charlotte Smith Claude & Elaine Smith Erik Sorensen Anna & Peter Stebbins Daniel Stephans Susan Stoehr Todd Stuntebeck Patrick Sullivan Peter Sveum Charlie & Vicky Talbert Leslie Tompkins Lyle Updike Brian Utter Georgene Vitense Patricia Wahl Chloe Wardropper Mike Warwick Carrie Weaver Debra Weitzel James & Katie West Mari Westin Steven & Diana Whayland Jean Willard Carol Ziesemer Mary Zins

Individual Donors 2015

Lake Forecasting Stewards

Cover Crops

Lake Buddy

Lake Forecast Stewards support our lake monitoring efforts by covering fixed equipment and staff costs for one volunteer monitor. Most stewards also donate their time as volunteer water quality monitors. See our efforts in action at www.lakeforecast.org.

Donations to the Conserve an Acre program support the installation of conservation practices on farmland in our watershed. For every acre invested in, an estimated one pound of phosphorus is kept from entering our waterways. A pound of phosphorus can produce up to 500 pounds of algae.

Lake Buddy donations support the Lake Explorer Camp, a hands-on series of camps at Wingra Boats on Lake Wingra serving students from the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. During eight weeks over the summer, students explore our lake ecosystem and gain recreational skills under the guidance of trained educators and bilingual staff.

Allen & Claire Arntsen George & Susan Benton Kathleen Brussock Kathy Carl Robert & Jenifer Gilbert Laura Graham G. Michael Horn Mark Jung Sasha Kerlow Joan Kirkhuff Carol & Mel McCartney Leigh Meier Karen & Michael Ostrov Dick & Noel Pearson Harmon & Nell Ray Karl & Juliette Schick David & Beta Joy Schroder Jodi & Ramzi Shehadi Tom & Mary Anne Smith Jacob & Karen Stampen Candace Stohs-Krause Jill Storms Ball Kai & Ann Thompson Matthew & Catherine Tye John Tye Janet & Michael Van Vleck Parker & Brijetta Waller Kenneth Walz

Teri Bell The Burish Group Mathew Fleming James & Yvonne Gern Carol & Bill Gillen Amy Golackson Jeff Grundahl Denise Holmes Ed Jepsen Carl Johansson Emily Jones Dr. Tim & Gillian Lechmaier Patricia Morris Eric Peyrot Chad Ruppel Jim & Janet Ruwaldt Dan & Patty Schultz Chuck Mitchell & Sally Weidemann

Jan Eymann-McConville Kristine Hallisy Chad Hopper Leslie Ann Howard Kurt Kravchuk Mendota Financial Group, LLC Kendall Rouse Sandy Oaks Foundation, Inc. Topf Wells Jim Welsh Jane Zimmerman

60

Financials 2015

REVENUE AND OTHER SUPPORT

2015

2014

$110,026

$206,755

Individual

184,594

116,666

Corporate

203,926

55,702

56,170

136,900

Programs and sponsorships

Through the generosity and growing financial support of our many donors, Clean Lakes Alliance continues to expand as an organization and strengthen financially.

In 2015, Clean Lakes Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net assets increased 91% and total assets increased 57% over 2014. This growth is testament to the expanding community awareness and financial support the organization has achieved though successful outreach, fundraising and educational programs. This growth will allow Clean Lakes Alliance to invest more in phosphorus reduction efforts.

After a three-year partnership with Clean Lakes Alliance, Yahara Pride Farms will now operate independently as a farmer-led conservation organization. This change will allow Yahara Pride Farms to grow as an organization and increase their fundraising abilities.

Going forward, Clean Lakes Alliance and Yahara Pride Farms will report as separate 501(c)(3) organizations. The 2016 financial report will reflect this change.

Grants In-Kind Occupancy Legal

80,616

11,520

149,408

111,619

Program services/supplies

55,831

58,196

Professional services

62,944

101,081

Management fees Miscellaneous income Agency endowment return

38,752 23 -322

907

$903,216

$838,098

Outreach and education

$465,018

$578,680

Watershed programming

409,178

344,395

Management and general

274,392

348,315

Fundraising

339,943

259,893

1,488,531

1,531,283

Net assets released from restrictions

837,185

644,357

Change in unrestricted net assets

251,870

-48,828

Total unrestricted revenue and support EXPENSES Program services

Supporting activities

Total expenses

TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS Contributions

EXPENSES

REVENUE

Net assets released from restrictions Change in temporarily restricted net assets CHANGE IN NET ASSETS Net assets at beginning of year Net assets at end of year

1,116,420

358,460

-837,185

-644,357

279,235

-285,897

531,105

-334,725

582,119

916,844

$1,113,224

$582,119

$291,422

$44,092

765,834

553,100

23,507

77,680

118,700

6,424

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION - December 31st

Fundraising 23%

Program Services 59%

Management & General 18%

Grants & Endowment Return 3%

ASSETS

In-Kind 20%

Cash Promises to give - cash

Released Restricted Funds 48%

Corporate 12% Individual 11%

Promises to give - in-kind (occupancy expenses) Receivable Prepaid Expenses

15,498

Frozen Assets Fund, held by Madison Community Foundation

17,906

18,228

Equipment - net

9,228

16,592

Intangibles -net

33,840

6,900

$1,275,935

$723,016

Accounts payable

9,751

23,119

Accrued payroll

8,201

4,533

Grants payable

91,700

100,000

Deferred revenue

52,885

11,290

Total assets

Programs, Sponsorships & Fees 6%

LIABILITIES

Capital lease obligation

174

1,955

162,711

140,897

Undesignated

75,784

-176,408

Frozen Assets Fund, held by Madison Community Foundation

17,906

18,228

Total unrestricted assets (deďŹ cit)

93,690

-158,180

Temporarily restricted

1,019,534

740,299

Total net assets

1,113,224

582,119

Total liabilities NET ASSETS

61

Acknowledgements 2015 Authors Dea Larsen Converse, Clean Lakes Alliance Contributors - Science Dr. Richard Lathrop, UW-Madison Center for Limnology Dr. John Magnuson, Center for Limnology Dr. Kirsti Sorsa, Department of Public Health - Madison & Dane County Todd Stuntebeck, U.S. Geological Survey Jake Walsh, Center for Limnology Kurt Welke, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Contributors - Action Clean Lakes Alliance Committee on Strategic Implementation Ann Anderson, Mead & Hunt Brenda Ayers, Town of Burke Jeremy Balousek, Dane County Brian Berquist, Town & Country Engineering, Inc. Brad Bruun, City of Monona Amy Callis, Dane County Allan Coville, Village of McFarland Lloyd Eagan, Friends of Pheasant Branch Rick Eilertson, City of Fitchburg Jeff Endres, Yahara Pride Farms Phil Gaebler, City of Madison Josh Harder, Dane County Gary Huth, City of Middleton Alex Jaeger, Clean Fuel Partners John Lindert, Strand Associates Kyle Minks, Dane County John Mitmoen, Village of Shorewood Hills John Reimer, Dane County Kevin Richardson, Town of Windsor Rodney Scheel, City of Stoughton Aaron Steber, Cardno Joleen Stinson, Village of DeForest Tom Veith, City of Sun Prairie Tom Wilson, Town of Westport Thanks Paul Dearlove, Clean Lakes Alliance Emily Jones, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District D. Michael Mucha, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Erin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Wisconsin Wetlands Association Chris Smith, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Dave Taylor, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Ben Yahr, Friends of Lake Wingra

Reviewers Kevin Connors, Dane County Land and Water Resources Department Phil Gaebler, City of Madison Engineering Kathy Lake, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District David Merritt, Dane County Executiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office Brennan Nardi, Madison Community Foundation Randy Peterson, LRP Consultants Jenny Seifert, UW-Madison Water Sustainability and Climate Project Kim Straka, HYPE Communications Amy Supple, The Edgewater Jake Walsh, UW-Madison Center for Limnology Photography Ted Bier Cal DeWitt Adam Fagen Phil Gaebler David Giroux Danielle Gries Richard Hurd Thomas Klingele Richard Lathrop Michael Leland McGhiever, Wikimedia Commons Brenda Mortenson Eric Parton Bryce Richter Jordan Richmond Phil Roeder Sue Vick Finley Aaron Volkening The Edgewater Kenneth Younger III UW-Madison Water Sustainability & Climate Project Printing Sponsor Royle Printing Special Thanks Justin Chenevert, Clean Lakes Alliance Watershed Maps Luke Huston, Clean Lakes Alliance Graphic Design Theresa Vander Woude, Clean Lakes Alliance Editor and Contributing Author

62

#cleanlakesWI

150 E. Gilman Street Suite 2600 Madison, Wisc. 53703

+ 1.608.255.1000

cleanlakesalliance.org

info@cleanlakesalliance.org