We’re looking for homeowners to help demonstrate salt-free methods for clearing snow from sidewalks, including solar snow removal. We’re testing some improved methods. But you can use any method, provided no salt and that it’s a showcase job. All the snow doesn’t have to be cleared at once. We’ll provide you with a small sign […]
Volunteers needed for Salt-Free Sidewalk demo Read More »
Key ideas… Prevent packing of snow Scrape so remaining snow lets light through to the pavement Let the sun evaporate the rest (ice can evaporate without melting) Forecast Two more days of sun before the next snow. Use that time to clear all packed snow. In the morning, scrape or brush any snow
Solar Forecast: Clear the Snow Without Salt Read More »
Welcome, Adrienne! Adrienne is our new Program Director at Friends of Lake Wingra. She is currently a graduate student at the Nelson Institute at UW earning her MS in Environmental Conservation. While not a Wisconsin native, she has spent nearly the last two years working in the Lake Wingra Watershed. First, she was a Canvass
Meet Our New Program Director Read More »
1911 Plat Book Cantwell Printing by Jim Baumann Odana Pond, the other natural lake in the Lake Wingra Watershed, is one of a number of glacial kettle ponds on the west sides of Madison and Middleton formed by buried ice chunks in the last glacial period 10,000 years ago. Similar to Stricker’s, Tiedeman’s, Esser’s and
Odana Pond: Lake Wingra Watershed’s Other Lake Read More »
by Susan Frett Recently, Friends of Lake Wingra Board and staff have been applying for grants for different projects that we would like to implement around the watershed. Generally, grant applications ask for the mission of the organization. Our mission is to “promote a healthy Lake Wingra through an active watershed community”. This sparked an
What does an “Active Watershed Community” Mean? Read More »
Maintenance team at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District learning from Connie Fortin and Craig Eldred Reducing the application of road salt is key to reducing chloride levels in Lake Wingra, which was identified as one of the three goals of the Lake Wingra Watershed Management Plan. The average chloride concentration in Lake Wingra was 115 mg/L
Friends of Lake Wingra hosts Road Salt Applicator Training Read More »
We know that a low salt diet is good for our hearts, it’s also good for our lakes! Winter has finally arrived and with winter comes the need for winter maintenance of streets, parking lots, sidewalks, etc. Road salts are often used by those doing winter maintenance and often over used as the above picture
A low salt diet for Lake Wingra Read More »
Friends of Lake Wingra has been involved over the last several months in an effort called Greening Monroe Street. The mission of Greening Monroe Street is that the Monroe Street Reconstruction be a sustainable process for the residents, businesses, the Wingra Watershed and the City of Madison. Our main partners in this effort have been
Monroe Street Reconstruction Alliance Read More »
(Overly salted parking lot – photo by David Thompson) Road salts are toxic to aquatic life in Lake Wingra and are virtually impossible to remove from the lake once they are put there. It is important to reduce the amount of road salts that are used throughout the Lake Wingra watershed. Many applicators use 5
Take Action about Road Salts Read More »
(Ho-Nee-Um Pond in Winter – photo by Richard Hurd) by Rex Merrill Anyone can walk on water, as long as it’s frozen. The real miracle is how the molecular structure of water makes life possible. The polar structure of water molecules allows them to stick together as a liquid over the wide range of temperatures
Life under the Ice Read More »
Besadny Check presentation at Wingra Park (L to R): Susan Frett, Friends of Lake Wingra Volunteer Coordinator; Ben Yahr, Friends of Lake Wingra Board Chair; Barb Roeber, daughter of Buzz Besadnyand NRFW member; Caitlin Williamson, Program and Development Coordinator at NRFW. Friends of Lake Wingra are pleased to announce that we have received a $1,000
Friends of Lake Wingra receives – Besadny Grant! Read More »
This fall, Friends of Lake Wingra has made some great new friends, the Badger Volunteers! Badger Volunteers is a program organized by the Morgridge Center for Public Service at UW. This program pairs university students with local community organizations (schools, non-profits or municipalities) to volunteer over the course of the semester on a weekly basis.
Badger Volunteers & Friends of Lake Wingra Read More »
