Office of Lakes & Watershed Home

Water-Friendly Resolutions for the New Year

Resolve to contribute to the health of our lakes, rivers and streams - we can all make a difference in 2009. Click here to learn more.

Learn About the State of Dane County Waters.

If learning about Dane County waters and what is being done to protect and improve them is one of your new year resolutions, the new Dane County State of the Waters Report is for you!

Put Your Sidewalk and Driveway on a Low-Salt Diet.

The salt you put on your driveway and sidewalk ends up in our lakes and streams. It contributes to increasing lake chloride levels. Click here to find out how you can keep your sidewalk and driveway clear of ice and snow and still protect our lakes and streams.

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.

Blue-Green Algae

Click here to learn more about blue-green algae.

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.

Water Body Classification Project

Learn about this project to develop policies to protect and improve the health of county lakes and streams. Submit your comments on the Draft Dane County Shoreland and Riparian Management Plan by July 14.