Lake Symptoms

Frequent algae bloomsExcessive weed growthBad smells, rotting weeds, dead fishClosed beaches due to high bacteria countHigh water levelsUndesirable plant and fish species

Current Conditions

The Problem is Phosphorus!

ManureRuns

Downhill!

ManureHappens!

For many years advocates and government have fought to reduce phosphorus use and runoff to our lakes

2005 NALMSNorth American Lakes Management Society

2007, 08 YLA ConferencesYahara Lakes Association

2007 YLLPYahara Lakes Legacy Partnership

2010 Yahara CLEAN reportCapital Lakes Environmental Assessment and Needs

This is not a new problem

A GREAT initial step in the processBUT…did not answer the 8 critical questions:

1. How do we sell to the public?2. Clearly stated goals?3. What, when, how long – to get what?4. Urban growth policies in place?5. Political will?6. How much? How financed?7. Metrics to track progress?8. Vision for the future?

Yahara CLEAN report

City of Madison Survey 2010

• We have a goal.• Creating an action plan using available technology and science that tells us what, when, how, …what do we get??• Building a Community Table

CLA is answering the call

The Community can do this!

The Benefits:• Fewer toxic algae blooms• Fewer beach closings• Slowed growth of weeds• Clearer water

Our Goal:50% reduction of phosphorus

runoff to the lakes.*** This number has been targeted by UW Limnology Scientists

Steve Carpenter and Dick Lathrop to provide noticeable improvement in water quality.

Community BoardRepresentation Name

Organization Stakeholders

STAKEHOLDERS      Friends Group Representative Jim Lorman Edgewood College Recreational Representative Chris Clark

UW-Madison Lake Business Representative Tyler Leeper Wingra Boats Farm Representative Jeff Endres

Endres Berry Ridge FarmYahara Lakes Association Representative Dick Adler

Yahara Lakes Association Mad-City Water Ski Team Representative Russell Tieman Kelly Financial, Inc.      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / BUSINESS      Business Community Representative David Lumley Spectrum Brands Business Community Representative John Kothe Kothe Real Estate Partners Business Community Representative Kristin Kirkconnell American Family Insurance Business Community Representative Tim Metcalfe Metcalfe’s MarketBusiness Community Representative Randy Peterson Lands' End   GEOGRAPHICAL Monona Representative Bob Miller

Mayor MononaMendota Representative Mike Gerner Michael S. Gerner CPA Waubesa Representative Louisa Enz

Stark RealtorsRegional Representative Bob Sorge

Madison Community Foundation Kegonsa Representative       Bryon ThompsonFriends of Lake Kegonsa           

Community BoardRepresentation Name

Organization Stakeholders       GOVERNMENT / MUNICIPALITY      Dane County Towns Representative Lyle Updike Dane County Towns Association Dane County Executive Designee Dave Merritt

Dane County Dane County Office of Land and Water Resources Kevin Connors

Dane County State of Wisconsin, DNR Lloyd Eagan

State of Wisconsin Lake and Watershed Commission     Melissa Mallot Clean WisconsinCity of Madison Mayor Designee       Katie Crawley City of MadisonMMSD Representative     D. Michael MuchaMadison Metropolitan Sewerage   

DistrictTALENT / KNOWLEDGE     Engineering Representative Lars Barber

Baird Technology Representative Tom Groth

Thermo Fischer Communications Representative Brennan Nardi

Madison MagazineEnvironmental Advocacy Jim Welsh

Natural Heritage Land Trust

CLA VisionThat everyone realizes that our lakes

are the center of our community.

Healthy Lakes. Healthy Community.

CLA MissionThe mission of the Clean Lakes Alliance

is to build a community of people, businesses, organizations and government dedicated to

continuously improving and protecting water quality in the Yahara Watershed.

Moving the process forward

Strategic Direction Committee

Yahara Pride Farm Conservation Team

Economic Impact and Resources Committee

Friends of Clean Lakes

Uncovering New Opportunities

Eradicating geese to reduce bacteria and

keep the beaches open

Winter “Cover Cropping” to reduce manure runoff

Uncovering New Opportunities

Yahara Pride Dairy Products to raise money

and awareness of good farm practices

Creating COW POWER and selling it to the community

Smith & Gesteland

Gordon Flesch

Ho Chunk

Metcalfe’s

CresaPartners

Kothe Real Estate Partners

Hammes

CG Schmidt

Placon

Harbor Athletic Club

Rutabaga

Skipper Buds

This Equates to Success

Creating the plan

• RFPs to 6 of the leading hydro-engineering firms in the Midwest.

• Strand Associates selected to create business/strategic plan for the watershed

• We will receive:* Top 10 Action items to reduce phosphorus

most effectively* Priority, price, benefit for up to 70 actions* A strategy and dollar amount to

reach our goal.

When the plan is completed, we will need:

• FundingPublic, Private, Grants, Foundations…

• Policy SupportAnimals per acrePhosphorus in feedWinter Manure SpreadingStorm Water ManagementGreen / Cow Power

Clean Lakes InitiativeTimeline

March 15, 2012 Report / Road Map Completed by Strand

April 21, 2012 Save our Lakes Summit- State of

the Lakes Report

Summer 2012 Develop outreach planDevelop

fundraising plan

November 2012 Unveil Clean Lakes Initiative at NALMS

conference