Mission and Goals

Our mission

We promote a healthy Lake Wingra through an active watershed community.

Our vision

What will Lake Wingra and the watershed community be like 20 years from now?

The Friends of the Lake Wingra value Lake Wingra and its surrounding uplands as a natural and community resource. All who live, work and play in the Lake Wingra Watershed understand the lake’s ecology and are aware of how their actions affect the lake. We protect and restore the aquatic wetland, savanna and woodland communities of Lake Wingra. We effectively manage the storm water runoff and its associated pollutants in order to make Lake Wingra habitable for our native wildlife, and safe for fishing, swimming, and other recreation. Watershed residents, businesses, interest groups, schools and government collaborate to maintain this balanced ecosystem approach.

Our goals

What do we want to accomplish in the next 2-5 years? Our goals reflect our strategic issues and highest priorities within the following four areas of focus.

Citizen Stewardship

Grow present and future generations of watershed stewards.

  1. Increase citizens’ awareness of the Lake Wingra watershed and its ecological, economic, recreational, and cultural value to the community.
  2. Enhance citizens’ ability to understand, evaluate and advocate for policies and practices that protect and enhance Lake Wingra.
  3. Create a communication network of volunteer liaisons with neighborhood associations and interest groups to effectively distribute and exchange information on resources, best lawn and garden practices, volunteer opportunities, and events.
  4. Assist homeowners, businesses, and government in adopting property management practices that protect and improve the environmental quality of the lake and watershed.
  5. Connect students from the grade school through college levels to opportunities to participate in research, monitoring, and service learning.
  6. Connect the Lake Wingra watershed community to other watershed communities throughout the Dane County area and the Rock River basin.

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Integrated Watershed Management

Protect and improve the ‘lake as a system’ through innovative and coordinated management practices.

  1. Bring Wingra Watershed partners together as needed to develop a shared understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and interests of each partner (including agencies, nonprofits, businesses, citizens, FOLW).
  2. Work with the above partners to coordinate watershed management planning.
  3. Involve the partners in creating a long-term vision for the lake and watershed, and communicate that vision as the common ground that unifies many separate actions.
  4. Increase agency and citizen awareness of alternative, progressive management practices for stormwater and other issues.
  5. Support the effective implementation of priority management practices by each responsible agency or group.
  6. Include agencies, groups, and citizens in the periodic review of progress, celebration of successes, and recommendations for continued action.

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Long-term monitoring and research

Ensure that the information needed to address the mission is available on an ongoing basis.

  1. Work with partners to recommend high priority monitoring and research needs.
  2. Support partner groups as they seek funds and implement research and monitoring activities.
  3. Promote the involvement of citizens, especially students, in monitoring and research activities.
  4. Promote data accessibility and coordination among agencies.

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Organizational Capacity and Resources

Build the internal capacity to achieve the mission.

  1. Sustain mutually beneficial relationships with the key partner groups who provide essential administrative and support services.
  2. Develop and sustain our capacity for effective leaders, staff, and volunteers.
  3. Seek and pursue funding opportunities; expand funding to address priorities.
  4. Increase name recognition for the Lake Wingra Watershed and FOLW, building “membership” and community involvement.
  5. Maintain effective pathways of internal and external communication.

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