Office of Lakes & Watershed Home

2008 'Paddle to Work Day' (10th annual)

For 2008, the 10th Annual 'Paddle to Work Day' will be celebrated as part of Take a Stake in the Lakes Days on Thursday, June 19 (rain date: Friday, June 20), when people will paddle and row to their places of employment. Those who can't paddle on the 19th should paddle to work any day during Take a Stake in the Lakes Days, running between June 7 and 22. Click here for more information.

Announcing the Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission and staff at the Office of Lakes and Watersheds are part of an exciting emerging partnership effort to protect and improve the Yahara River chain of lakes, including Lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa. Lake users, residents, and other stakeholders will be asked to provide input in this process to create a 'practical vision' for the future of the lakes as well as a realistic set of recommendations for making the vision a reality. Click here for more information.

Aquatic Plant Management Project in Turville Bay

Low-level, selective herbicide application and cutting of aquatic plants on Turville Bay, the southwest area of Lake Monona, began on April 23 as part of a cooperative research project to evaluate control methods for Eurasian water milfoil (an invasive aquatic exotic plant) and to restore native plant communities.

Eurasian water milfoil begins growing early in the year, and creates a dense growth canopy which shades out native plant species. Controlling Eurasian water milfoil early in the season may give an advantage to native plants.

Water quality and aquatic plants will be analyzed for three years, followed by two to three years of post treatment monitoring.

Click here to read the April 22, 2008 press release.

Join Dane Stewards

Join the Dane Stewards listserv to stay up to date on events and information regarding Dane County's water resources!

Ordinance on Coal Tar Sealants

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission's ordinance regulating coal tar sealants was adopted by the County Board, and is effective July 1, 2007. Click here for more information.