Yahara Lakes: Public input session to curb lake pollution

Public Input Sought On Policy Options To Curb Lake Pollution

5:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Rooms 1, 2 and 3, Warner Park Community & Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive, Madison, WI

The Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership encourages citizens to attend its open house and input session to discuss specific policy options to:
• reduce algae-producing pollution in lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa and Kegonsa as well as in the rivers, streams and marshes associated with these lakes; and
• clean up swimming beaches at Vilas Park, Bernie’s Beach, Brittingham Park, Olbrich Park, Esther Beach and Olin Park.

“Whether boating, fishing, swimming or just walking along them, we all enjoy our lakes in different ways,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said. “We welcome citizens to join this conversation and offer their ideas on the best ways to keep the waters we treasure clean.”

City, county and state agency staff will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. for informal discussion of past and present efforts, maps and studies of the Yahara watersheds. Then at 6:30 p.m., a summary of policy options to protect and improve beaches and to reduce pollution throughout the Yahara chain of lakes will be presented. The options range from new manure management approaches to creative wildlife management near public beaches. The information to be presented is the culmination of more than two years of research from teams of agency personnel, leaders from many local organizations and leading scientists from UW–Madison and Edgewood College.

The public is invited to participate in small group discussion following the presentations. Ideas generated during those discussions will help form clean-up efforts. This town-hall style meeting presents the Yahara community with the opportunity to not only comment on management options presented, but pose other suggestions to be considered.

Don’t miss this opportunity to share ideas and suggest solutions. Get involved. Learn more at http://yaharawatershed.org.

Warner Park Community and Recreation Center location: http://tinyurl.com/22l2p86